Published by: Paper Gold Publishing
Release Date: July 22, 2018
Genre: Contemporary, Dystopian, Fantasy, Thriller
Purchase here, AmazonA Dystopian Urban Fantasy Desperate times have come to Emma Maya Ando’s country. A totalitarian regime with no tolerance for deviation has marginalized thousands. Neither physical exceptionality nor freedom of thought has a place. All is conformity. But Maya doesn’t conform, and time is running out on her ability to conceal her condition. Can Maya find a cure before she is swept up in a purge… or will she take her secret to the grave?
Review Samples:
Freedom is something that a lot of people, especially in stable Western countries, take for granted. We tend to think that freedom has always been a feature of our life and our society, and that it will continue to be here for us. "Vortexes" is a reminder that freedom is something that has to be fought for in each generation. While this book is a dystopian fantasy, it addresses real issues, such as the ones that were faced by people who lived in Hitler's Germany, people who lived in the USSR, and people who live under oppressive regimes today -- there are plenty of those still left in the world. Good story, interesting plot twists, and a thought-provoking message.
This was an excellent, if disturbing, story that echoed the German arrogance of the 'master race', that gene purity was essential, thus eliminating all else. Though why they thought 'they' were elite, I don't know...can only be arrogance tinted by insanity and ignorance.
It's brilliantly told, fast-paced with a great writing style (despite the need for proofreading). It was all about the story rather than that in-depth character development, however, it was extremely well done.
It tackles themes such as power, control of media, eradication of 'certain people' and more. It also has an element of fantasy, which was cleverly done.
Overall, a suspense-filled dystopian fantasy with fabulous storytelling.
Highly recommended.
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I am reading fiction less and less as I age (unfortunately, have become a news junkie), so the fiction I do read has to be gripping and entertaining. Vortexes meets both those criteria. The characters are engaging, the plot very interesting and compelling, and the occasional twists quite engrossing. I will not try to recapture the plot, as it has been summarized by others quite well, but I found myself telling my wife not to interrupt while I was reading, and occasionally let out an audible “ooh” when some harrowing events happened to the characters. Definitely can highly recommend this book. I liked it so much, I think I’ll check out her other works.
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And an editorial review for Vortexes
ReadFree.ly "Loved it!" "Vortexes is set in a future where the government is obsessed with genetic purity, where the merest sign of a shiver could be an indication of Parkinson's, Huntington's Disease or Essential Tremors and could set you on a one-way trip to torture and execution. Holly Barbo does a great job of painting a society immobilized with fear; it calls to mind Nazi Germany, but even more scarily, you can see echoes of today, of the societies we live in now."
