Today I'm hosting a stop on the Colony East blog tour. This tour is organized by me and you can find the full schedule on the tour page HERE. This is the 2nd book in the Toucan trilogy and is a fantastic and unique take on a dystopian/post apocalyptic world.
Colony East (Toucan Trilogy #2) by Scott Cramer
ebook, 336 pages
Published: Sept 9th, 2013
Source: Author
When the bacteria that killed most of world's adults undergo a deadly mutation, 15-year old Abby must make the journey to Colony East, an enclave of scientists caring for a small group of children for reasons unknown. She fears that time is running short for the victims, but she's soon to learn that time is running out for everyone outside Colony East.
Night of the Purple Moon, book 1, is free for a limited time at Amazon, B&N, KOBO, iTunes, Smashwords, etc.
The Toucan Trilogy, for me, is a unique plot with a different spin on the dystopian/post apocalyptic genre. The adults have been killed by a deadly bacteria and all that are left are kids, except for a few adults who were in submarines or bunkers. As I said in my review of Night of the Purple Moon, I initially went in a bit skeptical of this. However Mr. Cramer provides a scientific explanation that I found convincing and didn't doubt it 'could' happen. In this book it starts out where Night of the Purple Moon stopped and it's filled with action and terrifying moments. Once they get through that bit of an obstacle we switch to a year later. I don't always like this tactic, but in this case I do like it. I like seeing how much things change and we don't really need to sit by and see all these things. Jumping to a point when some big things start happening works for me.
This book is told slightly different from the first. We are primarily in Abby's head (not first person) and then alternate chapters put us in Colony East and an adult that lives there. Later in the book we get more from Jordan's POV as well as he has some adventures of his own. I really liked the incorporation of the new character as we now see a much broader scope of the world and what's happening. We see the good, the bad and the ugly. Once again we are reminded how lucky Abby, Jordan, Toucan and their friends that live on the island are, as the mainland is a mess. Luckily we see things starting to take shape and hope is on the horizon. Unfortunately there's a new catastrophe as the bacteria has mutated and now children are getting a new sickness.
The characters in these books are younger (pre-puberty when the catastrophe struck) but they have to grow up fast. It's scary seeing the things that kids will do to others when desperate. At the same time we see the good ones, the ones that have a big heart. They may be harder to find, but they are there. And Abby always keeps her big heart, which nearly leads to her downfall many times. At the same time it makes her easier to connect with because I think most of us would feel similar. At least when reading. Facing it in real life? That could be another story.
I think that Mr. Cramer is a brilliant story teller. Going with younger characters is tricky, as it's not a middle grade book because of the violence, death and destruction, but mature middle grade readers should be able to connect with these characters quite well. There's no sex, cursing or anything like that. I like that there's less focus on romance and more on family, friends and just surviving.
I definitely recommend this series. They are fast reads and are incredibly hard to put down once you start reading. You just desperately need to know more.
Night of the Purple Moon is FREE, I suggest you grab a copy and give it a try!
Disclosure: I received a copy for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.
Night of the Purple Moon (Toucan Trilogy #1)
Abby Leigh is looking forward to watching the moon turn purple, unaware that deadly bacteria from a passing comet will soon kill off older teens and adults. The lightning-fast epidemic sweeps across the planet when the germs attack the hormones produced during puberty.
On a small island off the coast of Maine, Abby must help her brother and baby sister survive in this new world, but all the while she has a ticking time bomb inside of her -- adolescence.
Night of the Purple Moon is FREE on Amazon & for Nook.
About the author:
Scott Cramer has written feature articles for national
magazines, covered school committee meetings for a local newspaper, published
haiku and poetry, optioned a screenplay, and produced customer reference
accounts for a big computer company. His pursuit of a good story has put him
behind the stick of an F-18, flying a Navy Blue Angels’ fighter jet, and he has
trekked through the Peruvian mountains in search of an ancient Quechua festival
featuring a condor. He is the author of Night of the Purple Moon and Colony
East. Scott and his wife have two daughters and reside outside Lowell,
Massachusetts (birthplace of Jack Kerouac)
in an empty nest/zoo/suburban farm/art studio with too many surfboards in the
garage.
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Something Wicked Returns is still in full force. We're getting near the end of the month already! Be sure to stop by and visit the stops today. You can also find the full schedule HERE.
Today's stops:
Ali@My Guilty Obsession: Susannah Sandlin:Penton Legacy
Oct. 23rd:
Tanja@Ja citam, a ti? :Kimberly Sabatini:Touching the Surface
Oct. 23rd:
Ali@My Guilty Obsession: Kelly Sheridan: Mortality Series/Hitchhiker Strain Series
Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings: Tina Connolly: Copperhead
Candace@Candace's Book Blog: Cat Winters: In the Shadow of Blackbirds
Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings: Tina Connolly: Copperhead
Ginny@Gin's Book Notes: Melanie Karsack- The Harvesting
J.A.@J.A. Garland: Dysus Dreamer by J.A. GarlandCandace@Candace's Book Blog: Cat Winters: In the Shadow of Blackbirds
Damn....I wish I was part of the tour and could have read this series already. Guess I'll have to get my own copy now. This section of your review sold the series to me --
ReplyDelete"I think that Mr. Cramer is a brilliant story teller. Going with younger characters is tricky, as it's not a middle grade book because of the violence, death and destruction, but mature middle grade readers should be able to connect with these characters quite well. There's no sex, cursing or anything like that. I like that there's less focus on romance and more on family, friends and just surviving. "
Thanks for the great review, Candace! I picked up Night of the Purple Moon and hopefully will get to read it soon.
Mutations, huh? That sort of thing always piques my interest! Thanks for the review, Candace, and for letting us know about the freebie, too.
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
The perpective of which this is written interests me, in someone's head yet still not first person? Awesome.
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Candace! <33
I just read Sarika's review for this one and I must say that you both have got me really interested in this series. I saw that you were organizing blog tour but right now I couldn't read it as I don't have time. Great review Candace :)
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds great, Candace. I have read something similar in the past and have been daunted with the sufferings of the characters. But it was something that I was kind of have a morbid curiosity on just because I like to know how the characters would fare. Thanks for the heads up on this series!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an awesome series. I will need to check it out. Great review.
ReplyDeleteWow! This sounds like it has a unique concept to it. I can't imagine what it must be like for the kids to actually live in a world all by themselves. At the same time, they must be a lot more independent than the kids these days.
ReplyDeleteThe author sounds like he writes really well. I will definitely look more into this.
Thanks for the lovely review, Candace!
I feel like this is a story that's been told a hundred times but, if the author can make it unique, then that's a win in my book!
ReplyDeleteI remember really liking the Purple Moon, I am glad this was a good sequel.
ReplyDeleteGreat review Candace!
Certainly sounds like an interesting read and kinda scary too. Great review. I think my son would like this series. :)
ReplyDeleteI have not heard about this series before, Candace, so thank you for spotlighting it! I usually like post-apocalyptic books more than dystopians and this one sounds like something I could actually get into. I don't know, guess I'm just attracted to drastic plot lines and weird disease outbreaks? I know, I know, it can't be healthy :P Thank you for sharing your review!! I'll be checking this series out for sure!
ReplyDeleteI really like that he gives a plausible explanation for the bacteria, I always need a more complete explanation for things in dystopian worlds. I want to know how that world came to be, and if there's a virus or something involved, I tend to want to know how it started and why it affected those it did:) So glad you get those types of answers in this book, wonderful review Candace!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway and the heads up on the free book. This sounds different.
ReplyDeleteLovely review! I'm glad you liked this one a lot. I think it's fascinating to see kids in horrible situations; it's like Lord of the Flies, etc.
ReplyDeleteWith these books, believability is a huge issue for me, and I admit to being a bit skeptical at first, but if you say it was written in a convincing way, then I more than believe you. :)
ReplyDeleteI think it sounds interesting, although I'm a bit tired of post-apocalyptic scenarios.
Great review!
Oh this sounds good and well researched. Usually makes it more real. I also see that I do have that first book on my tbr! Sweet! So need to get into this series.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that there are more explanations so you can believe the world is possible. I have the first book on my Kindle, now I really need to give it a try! Glad to hear you enjoyed book two. Wonderful review!
ReplyDeleteI lvoed purple moon! Look forward to reading book two!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting although dystopia is hit or miss with me. Makes me wonder how these kids are running the planet, it's like a throwback to the olden days when people don't live beyond their 30's.
ReplyDeleteThis has me curious, especially the world-building and why adults dies. Wonderful review Candace, I am off to snag the freebie!
ReplyDeleteSounds like something I have never read before. Good review and hope to have a chance at this one!
ReplyDeleteOooh, this looks really good! I love stories about disease (sounds terrible, haha); this is such a great premise!
ReplyDeleteYes! These books are right up my ally! I'd love to read them :)
ReplyDeleteOMG this book sounds so creepy
ReplyDeleteSounds amazing! Love the cover!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance....this series sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteOhh, I want these books! Pleeeease! Pick me. Pick meeee! xD
ReplyDeleteI actually have the first book in this series and hope to get time to read it in the near future. It does sound different with only the children surviving. Great review Candace.
ReplyDeleteSounds really interesting! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book
ReplyDeletelove freebies! thank you for letting us know, wonderful way to learn about a new author and series. Looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really great series, one that my husband could get into also!
ReplyDelete