In this first installment of NY Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins’s debut adult trilogy, a frighteningly realistic wartime America is brought to life, entwined with searing romantic tension that will leave you eager for more. ***Amber Tate believes the worst thing she’ll suffer in life is dealing with the unrequited love she feels for her brother’s best friend, Rylen Fite. She also believes … also believes war is something unfortunate that happens places far, far away from her rural Nevada town. She’s wrong on both counts.
When an unknown organization meticulously bombs major cities in the United States and across the globe, a trickle-down effect spreads to remaining towns at an alarming speed—everything from food and water sources to technology and communications are compromised. Without leadership, the nation is split between paralysis and panic, but Amber isn’t one to hide or watch helplessly. She’s determined to put her nursing skills to use, despite the danger, even if it means working alongside the man she can never have.
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Resembles the movie Red Dawn in that a group of 20 year olds have to become rebels against a force that has just about wiped out the world’s population.
Angst galore. The whole premise reminds me of that old show called V. Amber and Rylen belong together. The angst was killing me. The story was giving me goose bumps with the reality of it.
Title: Unknown
Series: Unknown #1
Author: Wendy Higgins
Publisher: Wendy Higgins
Edition: Paperback
Amount of Pages: 326
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Military, Apocalypse/Dystopia
SPOILERS AHEAD
Cliffhanger: yes
HEA/HFN: Not really. Still left open.
Cheating: No
Triggerwarnings: yes. Miscarriage, not detailed. Rape, only mentioned, not detailed. Happened to a secondary character.
Insta Love/ Insta Lust: No
Love Triangle: Not really. Amber loves Rylen, but he is with someone else at some point.
Single Parent/Kids/Pregnancy: No
END SPOILERS
Date Read: 1st 19-03-2018 2nd 30-01-2020
Favorite Quote: “Because this was life. Laughter, love, friendships. We had a way of life to protect. We weren’t perfect by any means, but we were good . And we sure as hell weren’t giving it up without a fight.”
Review:
I remember reading this book the first time and loving it, I couldn’t put the series down and had to read it back to back. The same happened this time I read the book. I got pulled right back in and didn’t want to get out. I loved it as much as I did the first time and that says something about Wendy’s writing skills.
What is this book about:
This book is told from Ambers pov but it’s more a story of many character. Amber and her brother Tater meet Rylen when they where kids. Rylen lives next door but not in the most stable house hold. Both of them are taken with Rylen the second they met them. Tater and Rylen become best friends immediately.
Another main character is Remy, Ambers best friend who she met in high school (if I remember correctly)
Over time Amber develops a huge crush on Rylen but he doesn’t seem to notice. When Amber turns 16 the world biggest amusement parks get attacked by an unknown terrorist. This spars the boys into enlisting in the army.
Over the years nobody hears anything from the unknown attackers again. Rylen, Tater and Amber see each other a few times over the years and remain close. Amber tries to get over her crush buts can’t seem to do it. She became a nurse but didn’t get hired due to not many jobs available so she got a job as a paramedic and found her calling.
Just when people thought that maybe the attack was a one time thing, the whole world gets attacked again. Massive fall outs every where. Things only get weirder from then.
What did I like/love:
I love the build up, I loved that we got to know the characters and their history before diving in to the dystopia/apocalyptic part of the story. We can see things slowly getting worse over time.
I love that we also see how different people react to events differently. Amber felt more suspicious and didn’t fully trust what was going on, while Remy believed what she was being told.
The tension between Rylen and Amber killed me. Especially when he came home. The people that read the book know what I mean. I was like are you kidding me. I knew it was coming but I still felt my heart racing.
Overall a great read.
What did I dislike/hate:
Nothing.
Rating:
5 amazing Stars
Scary that this might happen but an awesome book.
Just finished this and want to purchase the next in the series. Takes an ordinary family put in a challenging and scary world and tells of their devotion and love for each other as they struggle to survive. And there is a love story unfolding on the pages as well. Loved this one!
Left some things hanging for next book.
Great read
Unfortunately, the author took a l-o-n-g, roundabout way to f-i-n-a-l-l-y get to the main plot of the story…but by then, I just didn’t care. The author even starts the book by saying, and I’m paraphrasing here ‘before I get into alien plot, you probably need to understand this budding romance between 2 of the characters that starts when a main character was 4(!). By the time it gets to the alien plot, she’s 21(!)…and 1/3 of the book is gone.
I was taken with how believable the story was. The way that the ‘others’ were able to trip the citizens of the US to comply with their orders, under the guise of helping them thru a bad situation made my skin crawl.
This was a really good read. Highly recommended
I am NOT a dystonian fan, but this is a great read with nice character development and a smart projection of how America would react to a well plan subversive attack.
It was a good story, with characters I could understand. I’m reading the second book in the series now.
I loved this book, I’m currently reading the second book of the series, Unrest. Trying to slow down before I’m to the last book in the series,Undone. Loving the story line and the characters. I will be sad to be done.
Great characters, made me care about them. Can’t wait for 3 rd in series.
I love first contact stories and she took her time to build the story and the characters. Cannot wait for the final book.
YA apocalyptic story. Easy reading with a romantic storyline. Good story line.