Dissension (Chronicles of the Uprising #1) by Katie Salidas

[Eva Millien]

Blurb:

(Off Goodreads)

The great cataclysm wiped almost all life from the face of planet Earth, but tiny pockets of survivors crawled from the ashes, with only one thought: survival, at any cost.
But not all survivors were human.
In the dark, militant society that has risen in the aftermath, vampires, once thought to be mythical, have been assimilated and enslaved. Used for blood sport their lives are allowed to continue only for the entertainment of the masses. Reviled as savages, they are destined to serve out their immortal lives in the arena, as gladiators.
And there is no greater gladiator than Mira: undefeated, uncompromising...and seemingly unbreakable. When an escape attempt leads Mira into the path of Lucian Stavros, the city’s Regent, her destiny is changed forever.
Lucian, raised in a culture which both reviles and celebrates the savagery and inhumanity of vampires, finds Mira as intriguing as she is brash. An impulsive decision - to become Mira’s patron – changes more than just Lucian’s perception about vampire kind. The course of his life is altered in ways he could never have predicted – a life that is suddenly as expendable as hers.
Can Mira prove to Lucian that all is not as it seems? Can Lucian escape centuries of lies, bloodshed, and propaganda to see the truth? Or will the supreme power of the human overlords destroy them both?

My Review:

This dystopian fantasy is a riveting and intriguing future of humans and vampires that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.  Vampires have become slaves to humans and fight in the arena as gladiators and Mira is undefeated, uncompromising and seemingly unbreakable. Lucian is Regent of the arena finds Mira intriguing and becomes her patron and his life has become expendable and they are both on the run.

This fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps the reader on their toes with action, suspense and drama. The author brings this futuristic world to life with great details and descriptions that provide vivid images that captures the imagination.  The fight scenes are well orchestrated and believable and with each scene the reader gets drawn more into the story.  The strong compelling characters are easily related to and keep the reader’s attention from beginning to end.

There is no time to get bored with the non-stop action that takes place throughout the story with fights, escape attempts, snarky and humorous attitudes and intriguing twists that the reader doesn’t see coming.  There’s also no time for romance, though there is some hint of a romance blossoming between Mira and Lucian, of course they have to stay alive for that to happen. The series is obviously going to continue with Mira and Lucian’s uprising and it ended on a spectacular scene, and though it does end with a cliff hanger, the author chose a good spot.

The author has created a fascinating and thrilling futuristic world that has lots of future entertainment potential and possibilities and readers can’t help but get caught up in the captivating characters and their story.  I was totally engrossed in the story from beginning and the concept and characters inspire lots of curiosity and I can’t wait to read the next book, although I feel I must warn you that the story is very violent and bloody as while the author does inspire vivid images, she is not overly graphic. 

5 STARS

Purchase Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Dissension-Chronicles-Uprising-K-Salidas-eboo...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dissension-ka-salidas/1118479119?ea...

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dissension-6

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/dissension/9990043487887-item.h...

Chronicles of the Uprising:

 

About K A Salidas or Katie Salidas:

(Off author’s site)

I am Super Mom!

  
Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women,  I can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons.  I can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, I still find time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). I can do all of this and still have time to write my novels.

Sorry… I can’t even write that with a straight face.

Lies all lies.

Here’s the reality. I’m a sleep-deprived, overworked, mom who just doesn’t know the meaning of the word balance. I try so hard to do it all, (be super mom, wife, & author) and at the end of the day I fall face forward into the couch.

Yes, you read that right, I tend to sleep on the couch. It’s a point of frustration for my hubby and a thing of comedy for my daughter. Imagine waking up to your little child yelling, “Mom slept on the couch again!!!”
Because being supermom (or trying to) means a lot of time devoted to family, writing is often done when said family is peacefully snoozing away. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen asleep with my laptop, on the couch. It just happens. Then, bright and early at 7am either my hubby (on his way to work) or my daughter (getting ready for school) wakes me up.

Writing is my passion. It’s a part of me. More than just a hobby, it’s a compulsion. I have to do it. If I don’t do at least one writing related thing each day I get cranky.

Hopefully, my passion can be your entertainment!

Over the last two years I have written and published (via my publishing company, Rising Sign Books):

Where to find the author:

http://www.katiesalidas.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3395431.Katie_Salidas

http://www.twitter.com/quixotickatie

Books by K A Salidas or Katie Salidas:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3395431.Katie_Salidas