They say home is where the heart is. Now that Sleepwater’s on the run, home is just another place to hide.
Wyoming’s Sleepwater chapter is on the run, hunted for their ability to spin a beat. With little time to mourn the members they’ve lost, Bernadette Manney takes the group to the one place she swore she’d never see again: the cabin in Hollywood, South Carolina. It’s remote enough to lay low … remote enough to lay low and catch a break, but not for long.
Their beats are condemned as mutations, radical terrorist tactics, and felonies punishable both by and outside the law. Bernadette thought Sleepwater would be safe here, but returning to her Southern roots unleashes more demons than she left behind. Her past, her love, and even her own flesh and blood won’t let her move on through a venomous society intent on rooting out her people. Now, to bring a mother’s first child safely into an unsafe world, Bernadette must face her own shame from before Sleepwater itself was born. But redemption and forgiveness may be too much to ask, and it may just be too late.
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Book 1 was fantastic and #2 picked up right were we left off and did not disappoint. I was routing for the characters, learning about them, understanding the background more, and it was an epic cliffhanger! LOVED IT!
Sleepwater Static, crafted by Kathrin Hutson, is a near-future science fiction that glues you to the pages with a meticulous combination of nostalgia and momentum. While I haven’t read the first book in the series, this easily stands on its own, with the questions and callbacks well-crafted enough for me to enjoy the mystery, rather than be left wanting. The prejudice against those who can tell special stories is backlit with historic moments of racism and homophobia, a juxtaposition that is honest and pointed, without becoming didactic. This is exactly the series our world needs to see today.
Hutson slips from the present–a group of fugitive adults hiding out in an abandoned cabin while one of their members labors with childbirth–to letters and events from the main character, Bernadette’s, past. The characters, who can each spin a magical “beat” with their words, are unique and distinct. Huston weaves an honest portrayal of a found-family without slipping into the stereotypes of many ensemble casts. Like the “beats” themselves, this story oozes with intricate subtlety and pacing that slips between languishing summer and biting action.
5 out of 5 stars!
*I received an Advance Review Copy in exchange for my honest opinion*
I was at a bit of a disadvantage since I hadn’t read the first book, but once I figured out the characters and the plot, enjoyed it nonetheless. So, to start, I recommend reading the books in order., although really not necessary There are some explicit scenes that are not for the squeamish or faint of heart, and some difficult topics present in the here and now surface and give the reader a bit of a reality check. Overall, a well-told story that was surprisingly enjoyable, for me in particular because dystopian is not really my cup of tea. On a final note, if you don’t like cliffhangers, this book is probably not for you unless you don’t mind waiting for the next ‘chapter.’
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’m not quite sure which words to use to describe this outstanding book. I had fun reading it while rooting on the Sleepwater characters portrayed. I literally held my breath when the Sleepwater chapter had to run again even if it was only a 2-hour drive to where they were going. If at all possible, to get the full effect, Sleepwater Beat should be read before beginning Sleepwater Static. This book contains violence and profanity. plus the birth of a baby. In other words, blood and guts. Highly recommended for over 18.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wyoming’s Sleepwater chapter is on the run and unable to stop in order to rest nor mourn their lost members. Hunted for their ability to spin a beat, Bernadette Manney takes what is left of the group back to a place she swore she would never return to – Hollywood, South Carolina and to the cabin that she lived in with her parents hoping it is remote enough to lay low and catch a break, but not for long. Their beats are condemned as mutations, radical terrorist tactics, and felonies punishable both by and outside the law. It may have been Bernadette’s thought that they would be safe there, but returning to her Southern roots will unleash the demons she left behind there when she left. Things like her past life, love and even her flesh and blood won’t let her move on from the rest of society who are intent on rooting out her people. Now, to bring a mother’s first child safely into an unsafe world, Bernadette must face her own shame from before Sleepwater itself was born. But redemption and forgiveness may be too much to ask, and it may just be too late.
This dystopian story was at times an intense read which explored how Bernadette got into the situation she is currently in from the point of view of her history. She is an elderly woman with arthritic knees and this looks at the events of her younger years in the Hollywood area. I did find the frequent changes in pace as we went back in time to another event from her younger years a bit frustrating in the end even though I could see that the author had tried to highlight the change by changing to a more italic style font. It was well written in that it was clear and easy to read and understand, however, I started to get lost between whether I was in the present or the past as my attention had drifted off at some point. You should read the first book in this series before reading this one as I think a better understanding of Sleepwater would help a lot.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sleepwater is a group of specially talented people who use their beats (words) to captivate others. Each one has a different beat.
Bernadette is a wise, elderly woman with beats. Sleepwater Static is her story. The strength and courage that it took over the years to endure racism, political gain, drugs, riots, abuse, murder, homeless, death, betrayal, lgbtq and much more.
Sleepwater is on the run once again from the government who are determined to use them as lab rats. Bernadette is in charge of the group trying to keep them safe. Even more so since half pint has joined there group.
You begin to feel them as part of your family feeling their happiness, pain, fear and desperation.
This series would be an excellent mini series!
Fake news. Toddler tantrum. Loved it!
I strongly recommend this series for anyone who likes dystopian.
Thank you BookSprout and the talented author for an incredible complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Beat goes on…
This second book in the series is well-written and picks up where the first book left off. The world is now aware of the Beat and people without the ability are fearful of its power. Bernadette and the other remaining members of Sleepwater are on the run in the south trying to stay off the radar of the government and others who would either kill them or try to use their ability.
The world that Kathrin Hutson builds is unique and frightening but I felt this book moved at a much slower pace than the first book. It fills in Bernadette’s backstory but I would have liked more action. I received a review copy but my review is voluntary and honest.
Kathrin Hutson so successfully animates the struggle for survival against insurmountable odds of Bernadette and her compatriots in this book that it had this reader (a straight white male who acknowledges his inherent privileges in this world) actually feeling the characters’ fear of pursuit, persecution, and whatever other horrors their enemies may have in store for them. It opened my eyes in a new way to the sense of near hopelessness that marginalized communities must feel when faced with the challenge of standing up to a system designed to keep them down, keep them silent, or extinguish them entirely…
The characters are deep, complex, and fully fleshed out, each and every one, whether you’ve read the first book in the series, Sleepwater Beat, or not. The narrative simultaneously evokes the sweet molasses pace of life in the American south, and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat!
If you chose one new book to add to your reading list, you’d do yourself a favor to make it this one.
Interesting Story!
This is another very interesting and intriguing story in the Blue Helix Series. It will definitely keep you captivated, on the edge of your seat and highly entertained from beginning to end. The story-line and characters are all very fascinating and well thought out. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
We met Bernadette in the last book, she’s one of the original members of the group. They are now on the run, the government want them, the public don’t understand them, and they don’t understand what’s going on themselves.
You don’t need to read the first book, but it does help. There is lots going on in the first book that will put stuff into perspective.
Again this book jumps from past to present, this time showing us Bernadette’s story, I liked the messages from her friend, it actually filled in a few questions, without going into too much detail. We get the why she left South Carolina, what her ability or “beat” is and why she is the way she is……
It’s been six months since the last book. They are on the run from the government facility that captured a few of them. The Doctor that captured them did something to them, something terrible and half of the group will never be the same again. Sadness fills the air, losing friends that feel like family hurts them all. But Bernadette has a job to do, she needs to get them to safety, her family cabin seems like the best option.
I have to admit I did like the first book better. But this one had its own good points. You expect a main character to be young, well Bernadette isn’t, she’s not a young woman, she’s not even middle aged, she’s an elderly woman with arthritis!!!
She’s seen a lot in her time, a bully for a father, a jealous sister, a club owner who took advantage of her gift, friends who turned on her. But the turning point was when she turned her gift on her daughter!! She couldn’t take the guilt, and so Bernadette ran, and never stopped running. She’s collected strangers along the way, turning them into a family of sorts.
We also catch up with a few old friends from the previous book, and a few surprises along the way.
I really like Bernadette, she’s a very complex character, a hard life made easier with a few wonderful years, then given a second chance with her new family. She also comes into contact with her old family, how will she react with that?
The ending definitely ended a little abrupt, so I’m hoping it’s not the end.