To celebrate New Year dawning I thought I would give away a book. And to keep with the theme of 2012, the world ending and all that it will be the apocalyptic and dystopian novel, Pure by Julianna Baggott. I’ve actually read this one and the review will be live on January 15th. Without spoiling the review, all I will say is that the novel is utterly superb. Below is a sneak at my review, the official book trailer and blurb:
Baggott captures a battle of good Vs evil wonderfully and we all love this traditional archetype, it’s almost a David and Goliath narrative. The foreboding dome strikes quite the image, particularly shown in the opening of the novel with a message deliver unto the wretches.
“We know you are here, our brothers and sisters. We will, one day, emerge from the dome to join you in peace. For now, we watch from afar, benevolently.”
It’s that message that sets the tone and the pace becomes ever more suspenseful and thrilling. Pure is the first part of a proposed trilogy and it sets the tone of what’s to come incredibly well. The plot lends itself to a drawn out, tense story and I for one am pleased to be along for the ride. There is always an uncertainty as you read Pure, you can tell that Baggott loves her creations, but loves her story enough to tease their fates.
Blurb: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters. We will, one day, emerge from the Dome to join you in peace. For now, we watch from afar. Pressia Belze has lived outside of the Dome ever since the detonations. Struggling for survival she dreams of life inside the safety of the Dome with the ‘Pure’. Partridge, himself a Pure, knows that life inside the Dome, under the strict control of the leaders’ regime, isn’t as perfect as others think. Bound by a history that neither can clearly remember, Pressia and Partridge are destined to forge a new world.
This is an ARC of the novel, as it isn’t released until 2nd February.
So what do you do to enter? Just tell me, in the comments below, what your favourite dystopian/apocalypse style novel is and why. The giveaway is open to UK residents only and the winner will be drawn, at random, on Monday 9th January.
dogeardiscs.wordpress.com 
I am a HUGE fan of dystopian novels, and I could write a massive list of my favourites, but if I have to choose one I would have to go with The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood. A vividly drawn world, a moving story, incredibly relatable character, and a strong warning of what already are real problems in our world. I don’t think I’ve ever been so strongly affected by any book!
Gate to Women’s country. Have read it so many times, and get something different every time I read it.
I’d love to say Divergent, or even go old school with Hex, by Rhiannon Lassiter (I actually wrote about it in my A-level English coursework, comparing it to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), but for me it’s got to be The Hunger Games. That great combo of female strength, the battle for the individual, and a sly look at what’s wrong with today’s reality-tv-loving society makes it a real winner for me. Can’t wait for the film adaptation!
This book looks amazing, and it has one of the best trailers I’ve seen for a book yet! I’ve only just joined the Headline mailing list so I missed this one – could you enter me for the giveaway please?
I think my favourite dystopian novels so far have been THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins (cliche, I know – but it’s an amazing book and I barely looked up from start to finish!) and THE CHRYSALIDS by John Wyndham, which is surely a classic in dystopian fiction and delivered some thoughtful messages about societal values and tolerance.
Thanks!
Ellie @ Musings of a Bookshop Girl
I’d most likely say The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. It’s my all-time favourite series of books, with it’s strong characters and it’s tendency to blur from real world Chicago (as real as you can get with a wizard PI running around) to the “Undertown” version. It’s got plenty of action and a fair bit of humour in… Can’t beat it!