An ENEMIES TO LOVERS post-apocalyptic fantasy perfect for fans of Cruel Prince, Skyward, and Hunger Games.She should’ve died. She didn’t.Reborn into a damaged, depraved world is nothing short of a nightmare. In an instant, every hope Hazel harbors for the future disappears along with her humanity, leaving her with overprotective guarding and a useless mutation.With war brewing between Humans, the … brewing between Humans, the Tainted, and a new unknown enemy, Hazel is forced to pick a side before the world implodes once more and she loses everyone she loves.
Finding yourself is never easy.
If you can’t get enough of books by Brandon Sanderson, Annette Marie, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Amy A. Bartol, Laura Thalassa, and Jaymin Eve then dive into your next adventure.
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The Fallout is book three in Frost Kay’s Dominion of Ash series. This book continues with Noah and Hazel’s story as Hazel struggles with being exiled by her father after her attempt to get back home to her family. Along the way back she was bitten and infected, but she also crossed paths with a group of humans who call themselves “The Chosen.” While Hazel manages to escape from them, and make her way back to the Sanctum, now she must deal with the changes that are being set on by her infection.
The Fallout is a gripping novel that had me page-turning to learn what was going to happen next. I absolutely love the characters that the author has created. Doc is probably my favorite along with Abuela. While they aren’t the main characters they are the most engaging and honestly…the least irritating and infuriating. LOL! The first half of the book I was really annoyed with Hazel when the story shifts to her, but she and Noah are meant for each other if for nothing more than their irritating personalities half the time. Haha!
While Hazel is indisposed for several chapters of the book, when she is back with the world of the living she irritates me to no end for several chapters. While I get that her prejudice towards the “Tainted” has been taught into her for years, I had hoped that she’d put it aside after several of them have shown her nothing but kindness. But more often than not her prejudice rears its ugly head again and again and it causes me to really dislike her. Her life has changed, she’s not longer truly human, so for her to keep throwing at them that THEY are monsters and beasts is just disgusting and disappointing. Noah got on my nerves briefly as well in the initial chapters when things are questionable with Hazel. For one, he acts like he owns her and then two his reaction to ending her pain…I felt it was high handed. I questioned…would he have felt the same or reacted the same if it had been someone other than Hazel?
Once things get to a certain point in the story the annoying behavior levels off and tapers off a bit which I greatly appreciated because then I was able to enjoy the story more. The author does a good job piquing my curiosity concerning Hazel and what exactly her new abilities will be. Though I will say that I was disappointed that the author gives Hazel such an easy out with her changes. I wanted her to have to truly adapt to what she is now, and with how things are she can mostly choose to ignore it all if she so chooses. Hazel only truly adapts when she is pushed and this really isn’t pushing her.
I am choosing to rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I’m taking off half a star, because I felt that Hazel is excused and coddled too much. She lashes out a lot and everyone constantly excuses her behavior, and, sorry not sorry, but saying “sorry” just doesn’t excuse or negate what she’s said or done in anger or otherwise. I like the twists in this book and the pace is really well done. I was kept engaged from beginning to end and I can’t wait for the next book to come. The author has set the stage for a worse enemy to potentially show themselves and I’m eager to learn exactly who they are and what it is that they want. If you have read the previous books and enjoyed them then I encourage you to pick this book up and continue the ride.
This book picks up right after book 2. One of my favorite things about this installment is that we get a lot more from Noah’s POV and I adored really getting to know him. The beginning of the book is full of emotion and it seems that Hazel is going to continue with her prejudice since her worst nightmare just came true. However, I felt Hazel showed quite a bit of growth in this book. Yes she still battles her prejudice but she’s more aware of them and is quick to correct herself and apologize. Not to mention she isn’t the only one that has this issue if you will. I love these more realistic character developments – neither Hazel nor Noah just woke up one day and viola all was awesome. They both have grown as individuals and it was so sweet to see them become more than enemies and to learn to love each other.
Overall the story arc keeps moving along. They all have a new enemy to face and this brings in Hazel’s biological family into the mix. I would be interested to see how this is going to play out and who the new enemy is. I’m also extremely curious about Hazel’s brother Jo. I’m glad that things between Matty and Hazel worked out and Abuela is still one of my fave characters. Looking forward to whatever comes next in this series.
The beginning of the series started with a novella that was so well written and interesting I could not wait to delve deeper. In the first book of the series, time has passed and the writing is also extremely different. We meet Hazel, our female protagonist, and learn about her post apocalyptic world. From the town she calls home, her sheltered upbringing, and the fact that her family are the ones who govern. There is also the extreme hatred and prejudice against those who were (against their will) changed by bio weaponry. Humans who look different, live and act different, and are reviled as The Tainted. I’m just going to mention the first books showed how easily we can be led astray in our belief of others who are different from ourselves by family, friends, and the society around us.
The Fallout is to be the conclusion of the narrative of Hazel and Noah. It is billed as an enemies to lovers dystopian novel. Now I am going to do a tiny bit of spoiling so that my rating of only three stars is understood.
Hazel is an ungrateful brat. At least half of this book has her being unkind, ungrateful, violent and rude. Yes, there is trauma and we all react with trauma. I applaud the author in not stepping away from the after effects. But. This is supposed to be a conclusion, the enemies become lovers, instead Hazel is still calling every single kind person caring for her “monsters”. Her own family wouldn’t let her return because she had been outside of the gates too long. She was welcomed by those changed humans and yes, some bad things happened, because what is a book without drama?
I felt like I did when reading the POV of Jane Austen‘s Emma. My most disliked book by this vaunted author because the character is such a spoiled, ungrateful, little brat. So Hazel is not really high on my list right now of protagonists I enjoy reading.
I did enjoy having so much of Noah‘s point of view throughout the novel. I got to know him better and understand his motivations. He is not a monster, but a man fighting against instinct and growing feelings for someone who is supposed to be his enemy. Someone who keeps treating him terribly despite all of his kindness and character growth. Yes, he is kind of an ass, but what can you do? Boys in these sort of novels are stereotypically written to have the jerk gene.
Cliffhangers are not my thing. Now I’m not saying this has the Standard cliffhanger that leaves you upset and the book thrown across the room. But as this is the conclusion of these characters, there is no resolution of their feelings for each other. It is one of those cases of the last 10 pages the heroine decides to be nicer and then the book ends with no HEA.
Hopefully, since the author has said there is to be perhaps nine books in the series, we will see Hazel grow and accept who she now. I would have to say I am begging the author to write a proper happily ever after for Hazel and Noah because they deserve it. I am interested in finding out about the new big-bad in the Dominion of Ash universe and what Adventures await around the corner.
Thank you to the author for this advanced readers copy and you have my honest review.
The worlds a mess, the lines between good and bad are totally blurred, and survival demands a steep cost.
Almost another year from book 2 to 3 so I needed a recap once again. This series so far is great but you should definitely wait until several books are out before picking it up. There is some resolution present, but there is still more to come. On a broader note, this epic tale truly does illustrate that love is capable of transcending all barriers. Brilliant tale! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
I adore this series. So funny to enjoy a post apocalyptic series based on a pandemic considering the current state of affairs in our world. This is such an enjoyable read, though. I fell in love with Noah from the first time he popped up in the series. This story cemented that. He has grown as a character in fantastic ways. The interactions between him and Hazel are both heartwarming and, at times, hilarious.
One of the things I appreciate about Ms. Kay is her ability to write characters that have been through trauma. So often, writers will gloss over the aftermath and recovery process that should occur after major trauma. She doesn’t. She lays her characters bare and shows all their broken pieces and how they, slowly, begin to put them back together. I’m thrilled this series isn’t over yet. Can’t wait for the next one!