The Wise Ones by Rebecca Maston

I remember seeing Rebecca Maston's debut novel, The Wise Ones on Amazon (and then again on Facebook, through the joys of remarketing) and thinking that it looked interesting.  That same week Rebecca contacted me about me reading the book.  Wait...didn't I just start Sunday's post in a similar way?  Should I be concerned that authors are somehow tracking me through the internet or maybe my webcam?!

OK, moving on from sarcastic paranoid land...

So. Rebecca contacted me, I read the book, and we talked about it on today's episode of the GSMC Book Review Podcast.  Here is the synopsis:

Source

A corrupt queen. A brave daughter. All of humanity at stake.

​Adella feels trapped under the punishing rule of the power-hungry and corrupt queen, her mother - a woman fanatically bent on ruling the world even at the possible expense of humanity itself. Although she is one of the heirs to the throne Adella has no desire for power, and when she falls for one of her mother’s enemies she knows she must escape to save her own life, and possibly the lives of her subjects. Her only hope is to find the Wise Ones, a group of the world's greatest former inventors and scientists, of whom she is deeply suspicious and fearful. But would an alliance with them to topple the queen be enough to save humanity ... and the whole world? (Source)

The Wise Ones is a dystopian novel set in the not-too-distant, post-apocalyptic future.  World War III has happened and almost all of humanity, and most of creation, has been wiped out.  A small pocket remains but the population continues to war, North against South.  Adella (also known as Ella) is a princess of the north, but as she matures she starts to view the world differently, especially differently from the way her mother, the Queen, views it.  This is a young adult novel and has all of the great elements of that genre: a young woman coming into herself as she navigates the world, forbidden love, contentious family relationships, and a journey of discovery.

The Wise Ones is the first book in a planned trilogy, so there is much more of Ella's story to come.  The first book ends with a cliffhanger wherein Ella has to make a rather momentous decision that will affect many more people than just herself.

Genres:

• Young Adult
• Dystopian
• Post-Apocalyptic
• Romance

What I loved:

• The evolution of Ella as she learns more about the world, the war, herself, and her family.
• That Ella is willing to sacrifice the comfort and sheltered-ness of her royal life to pursue what she believes to be the right course of action.
• That there is more story to come!  I am eager to find out what happens next and what choices Ella will make.

Who should read The Wise Ones?

• Fans of dystopian and/or post-apocalyptic stories.
• Fans of Young Adult novels.
• Fans of stories featuring strong but human young women as the main character.

Quotes:

• “Hatred had both united and divided what was left of humanity.”
• “When she was very young, before she was a princess, she’d believed that princesses held power. Now she knew better. Queens had power.”

Where you can find Rebecca online:

Website: https://rmastonwrites.weebly.com/

Blog: https://rmastonwrites.weebly.com/blog

Instagram: @rmastonwrites

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Author Bio:

I am an adventure specialist and an expert dreamer. I am self-diagnosed with an incurable sense of wanderlust. I love to read, make art, travel and ride my bike. Since I was a child it's been my dream to become a published author. I currently live in Long Beach, California.  If you are seeking adventure, please join me by reading my first novel in a 3 part series: The Wise Ones.

Feel free to contact me anytime! I would love to hear from readers and book lovers alike or just discuss Game of Thrones fan theories. rmastonwrites@gmail.com

For the interview with Rebecca on the GSMC Book Review Podcast please click here.