Curling Up With A Good Book: Blog Tour & Review: The Breeders (Katie French)

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Blog Tour & Review: The Breeders (Katie French)

Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches-- moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything- the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they're hunting Riley.When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender-- a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico-- escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is shot and forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother—a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out.

The Breeders on Goodreads
Get a copy: Amazon | Lulu

Released: August 1st 2012
ARC provided by Author for an Honest Review

Katie French imagined herself an author when her poem caught the eye of her second grade teacher. In middle school she spent her free time locked in her room, writing her first young adult novel. Though her social life suffered, her love for literature thrived. She studied English at Eastern Michigan University, where she veered from writing and earned an education degree. She spent nine years teaching high school English. Currently she is a school counselor, doing a job that is both one of the hardest things she's ever done and the most rewarding. In her free time she writes, reads great books and takes care of her two beautiful and crazy children. She is a contributor and co-creator of Underground Book Reviews, a website dedicated to erasing the boundaries between traditional and non-traditional publishing. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two children.

Contact Katie French

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

When I begin a book and it grabs me within the first PAGE then I know I am going to love it. I mean this book was intense from the first page to the last. I began this book and finished it a day later…I literally, I mean LITERALLY could not put it down. It was INTENSE…There are no other words but INTENSE!!!

I love dystopian novels so when I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it. The next thing that grabbed me was the cover. Creepy, horrific…yeah pretty much awesome! Even the font that is used for the title is awesome! It fits the story so perfectly. It looks like the font that someone would use for a horror movie…LOVE IT! A good cover can pull a reader in even if the synopsis is lacking. So with the synopsis being incredible as well as the cover?? WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

The story begins with the main character, Riley and her little brother, Ethan being thrown into a cellar to hide. The writer has so much passion in her writing and you instantly feel scared and anxious right along with the characters. Her stepfather, Arn, and her mother place them in the cellar in order to hide them from “The Breeders.” In this dystopian world girls are rarely born and therefore the breeders take the all the girls and ship them off to a “hospital” where experiments are run on them in order to repopulate the world. Yet of course, there are secrets around every corner and everything is not as it seems.

They make it thru the first visit with the breeders without being caught but then Arn goes into town for supplies and doesn’t come back. Riley then dresses herself as a “bender” (a experiment gone wrong which is neither girl nor boy) and takes off to town to bring back her stepfather. She runs into trouble when she is there but makes it out with Arn. They make it back home but it doesn’t last long. Another visit from the breeders and her mother and Auntie are taken. Riley and Ethan survive in the cellar only because a young man that Riley met while in town locks them in the cellar.

Then begins the real story. Clay…where do I start with Clay?? I love his character. I love that he is so strong and protective over Riley and Ethan. He has such strong emotions and yet is so hard and serious. He tries to make up for the abduction of her Mom and Aunt by bringing them meds, food, and other items. Riley tries her best to not accept his kindness but in the end realizes she needs him. She knows her can protect her and she yearns for his companionship. I love that their relationship is built so strong even though Clay does not know Riley’s true gender. He immediately loves little Ethan as his own brother and that definitely pulled at my heart strings.

They go on a journey that will affect them all emotionally and physically. I could continue to type and tell this story because I loved it so much but that would take away from the effect the events have on the reader. I was so absorbed in this story. It is intense and creepy and at the same time emotional and beautiful. It is one of those books that grabs you and just holds on. I find myself wishing there were more pages…. What happens next? Where do they go from here?? Yes it was that good! Please if you love books that are filled with intense situations, an emotional story, survival, and triumph then you MUST read this book. 5+ stars and I would give more if I could! Great job Katie French! You are now on my author to watch list! I can’t wait to read more from you!!!