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mbenzz's review against another edition
DNF...just could NOT get into this book at all. Gave up at 21%. Characters feel forced and the setting is off. I can't put my finger on what it is, but what I read was incredibly juvenile and cardboard. Moving on. Life's too short to read shitty books.
likeboadicea's review against another edition
2.0
Caroline Tung Richmond's The Only Thing to Fear was a bit of a let down for me. When I saw that it was a history rewritten novel, set in a world where the Nazi's prevailed in WWII, I was super excited about reading it! I mean, what sort of potential DOESN'T a book with that storyline have? However, lack of believable characterization, some curious plot holes in the timeline, and a plethora of remorseless killing was a bit off putting for my tastes.
Perhaps I judge it so harshly because I held high hopes for it? The protagonist is a spunky little thing and the cause she fights for noble, but I question the ease with which some of their plots are conducted: the infiltration of the White House for the Nazi dictator, the strength the captives held after they were released from their time in what was more or less a concentration camp (how long where they stuck in there for anyway?). But perhaps the detail I had the most difficulty digesting was how easily the narrator could go about killing those on the other side. Sure, they were of differing opinions, but a life taken is a life taken. The ease with which she killed people never seemed to weigh down upon her and it was extremely troubling to me (it wasn't even that she had genetic superpowers! That I could accept-- this is fiction after all), especially as this is a YA novel, that it painted killing in such an acceptable light for an impressionable younger audience.
I think I would have liked this book a lot more when I was in high school and basically just ate up any book that was placed before me, but now it had too many conflicting moral standpoints for me to feel comfortable enough with the text to enjoy it. Still a very interesting concept though! I just wish it would have been executed with a deeper level of research and continuity and with a more steady moral compass.
Perhaps I judge it so harshly because I held high hopes for it? The protagonist is a spunky little thing and the cause she fights for noble, but I question the ease with which some of their plots are conducted: the infiltration of the White House for the Nazi dictator, the strength the captives held after they were released from their time in what was more or less a concentration camp (how long where they stuck in there for anyway?). But perhaps the detail I had the most difficulty digesting was how easily the narrator could go about killing those on the other side. Sure, they were of differing opinions, but a life taken is a life taken. The ease with which she killed people never seemed to weigh down upon her and it was extremely troubling to me (it wasn't even that she had genetic superpowers! That I could accept-- this is fiction after all), especially as this is a YA novel, that it painted killing in such an acceptable light for an impressionable younger audience.
I think I would have liked this book a lot more when I was in high school and basically just ate up any book that was placed before me, but now it had too many conflicting moral standpoints for me to feel comfortable enough with the text to enjoy it. Still a very interesting concept though! I just wish it would have been executed with a deeper level of research and continuity and with a more steady moral compass.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
An alternate history in which Hitler conquered the Allies by using genetically enhanced Anomalies with superpowers. I didn't find the created world entirely credible, but once the story gets going, the action is pretty exciting. Read my full review here.
nklosty's review against another edition
3.0
The premise drew me in. The sci-fi element turned me off. 82
kkdemarco's review
3.0
This book has a very interesting premise, and that's mainly why I stuck with it (imagine a world in which Hitler won WWII and eighty years later his descendants still rule over half of the United States. Oh, also there are Anomaly soldiers created during the war that have super powers.) It was also a really quick read. I liked the main character well enough. The writing, though, was subpar. Very repetitive and not very original.
sidneyellwood's review
2.0
I think my main problem with this book is that it's not alternate history. It uses history as a basis, yes, but what's missing is the strong sense of competing ideologies in the world building. For instance, Hitler and Stalin. Au doubt that either dictator would allow the other to survive. Hitler invaded well before the war ended in this timeline, and the ideology between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union was so different that they hated each other. No, really. If the USSR and US were pitted against each other in the Cold War with so much fear, this would be even worse, except with both Hitler and Stalin - two ruthless dictators - I doubt that either would have cared if they destroyed the world in an attempt to conquer each other. Communism and fascism hated each other. Hitler's nonaggression pact was so that he could lull Stalin into a false sense of security so he didn't have to fight the Soviets while he was attacking the other front.
Also, the genetic engineering didn't ring true to me, especially as there's no scientific basis in it. Atomic bombs, super strength - yeah, but I don't buy -kinesis.
I guess I was looking for a novel that explored the after effects of an Axis win. (The Soviet Union was Allied, by the way.) What I got was a dystopian I've read several times before.
Also, the genetic engineering didn't ring true to me, especially as there's no scientific basis in it. Atomic bombs, super strength - yeah, but I don't buy -kinesis.
I guess I was looking for a novel that explored the after effects of an Axis win. (The Soviet Union was Allied, by the way.) What I got was a dystopian I've read several times before.
asimilarkite's review
3.0
Review written for WASHYARG, Washington Young Adult Review Group
It is 80 years after the end of World War II, and the Axis has won the war. The Nazis are in control of the Eastern half of the United States, and the Japanese have taken control of the West. The Nazi’s genetic experiments during the war were successful, and the creation of a breed of super-soldiers with immense super powers (known as Anomalies) clinched the Axis victory. Washington, D.C. has been renamed Neuberlin, and non-Germans live in fear. One of these non-Germans is Zara, a half-Japanese teen girl living in Nazi territory with her uncle, a member of the underground Alliance dead-set on removing the Nazis from power. Zara has a secret: not only is she a half-breed (as the Nazis term her), but she is an Anomaly with the power to harness the wind. An Anomaly who may just be the key to the Alliance’s success in taking down the Nazis for good. Turning the popular dystopia genre on its head by using real-world historical villains, Richmond has created a page-turning adventure filled with espionage, alternate history, budding romance, and super powers. World War II buffs and dystopia fans alike will find a lot to like about the fast-paced story and spunky teen heroine.
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Again, this seems like a really positive review for only giving it three stars. This book has a LOT of teen appeal. I can already think of a bunch of middle schoolers (esp.) I'll recommend it to. Anyone who says they like World War II history will be getting this as a recommendation from me. But for me, the story kind of fizzled out toward the end. I REALLY liked the first half (the surprise of the super powers really worked for me), but it started to feel a little rushed through toward the end. I really like that it'll work for both dystopia fans and WWII fans -- just wasn't as strong as it could have been toward the end.
It is 80 years after the end of World War II, and the Axis has won the war. The Nazis are in control of the Eastern half of the United States, and the Japanese have taken control of the West. The Nazi’s genetic experiments during the war were successful, and the creation of a breed of super-soldiers with immense super powers (known as Anomalies) clinched the Axis victory. Washington, D.C. has been renamed Neuberlin, and non-Germans live in fear. One of these non-Germans is Zara, a half-Japanese teen girl living in Nazi territory with her uncle, a member of the underground Alliance dead-set on removing the Nazis from power. Zara has a secret: not only is she a half-breed (as the Nazis term her), but she is an Anomaly with the power to harness the wind. An Anomaly who may just be the key to the Alliance’s success in taking down the Nazis for good. Turning the popular dystopia genre on its head by using real-world historical villains, Richmond has created a page-turning adventure filled with espionage, alternate history, budding romance, and super powers. World War II buffs and dystopia fans alike will find a lot to like about the fast-paced story and spunky teen heroine.
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Again, this seems like a really positive review for only giving it three stars. This book has a LOT of teen appeal. I can already think of a bunch of middle schoolers (esp.) I'll recommend it to. Anyone who says they like World War II history will be getting this as a recommendation from me. But for me, the story kind of fizzled out toward the end. I REALLY liked the first half (the surprise of the super powers really worked for me), but it started to feel a little rushed through toward the end. I really like that it'll work for both dystopia fans and WWII fans -- just wasn't as strong as it could have been toward the end.
ameschreiber's review
4.0
Check out this and other reviews at my blog http://wereadya.blogspot.com.
Release Date: September 2014
Genre: dystopian/speculative fiction
When and Where: near future, in an alternative world where the Axis powers won World War II
Protagonist: 16 year old Zara
The Story: 80 years following World War II, the former United States is occupied by Nazi soldiers who enforce the will of the Fuhrer. Hitler's super-soldiers, genetically altered in a timely fashion that allowed the Axis powers to crush the Allies, are feared and respected. Zara, only 16 years old, lives with her uncle. She desperately misses her mother, who died in an act of rebellion. When Zara witnesses a terrible act against a beloved family friend, she joins the resistance, determined to remove the Nazi government from power and ensure a different future for those she loves. Added by an unlikely ally, Zara has a secret she's ready to use to support her cause.
Reaction: At times disturbing and distressing, The Only Thing to Fear is a wildly imaginative speculative fiction novel that mixes history, science fiction, and hints of romance. At times the novel read like an X-Men comic book, but I enjoy that style of writing, so I found the tale very entertaining. There were some similarities to The Hunger Games (is Zara similar to Katniss, or what?), but I think fans of the genre will appreciate more of this type of character.
If You Liked... The Hunger Games and Among the Hidden, then The Only Thing to Fear is right up your alley.
Rating: 4
Release Date: September 2014
Genre: dystopian/speculative fiction
When and Where: near future, in an alternative world where the Axis powers won World War II
Protagonist: 16 year old Zara
The Story: 80 years following World War II, the former United States is occupied by Nazi soldiers who enforce the will of the Fuhrer. Hitler's super-soldiers, genetically altered in a timely fashion that allowed the Axis powers to crush the Allies, are feared and respected. Zara, only 16 years old, lives with her uncle. She desperately misses her mother, who died in an act of rebellion. When Zara witnesses a terrible act against a beloved family friend, she joins the resistance, determined to remove the Nazi government from power and ensure a different future for those she loves. Added by an unlikely ally, Zara has a secret she's ready to use to support her cause.
Reaction: At times disturbing and distressing, The Only Thing to Fear is a wildly imaginative speculative fiction novel that mixes history, science fiction, and hints of romance. At times the novel read like an X-Men comic book, but I enjoy that style of writing, so I found the tale very entertaining. There were some similarities to The Hunger Games (is Zara similar to Katniss, or what?), but I think fans of the genre will appreciate more of this type of character.
If You Liked... The Hunger Games and Among the Hidden, then The Only Thing to Fear is right up your alley.
Rating: 4
lornarei's review against another edition
3.0
This seemed to have such a unique, interesting concept for dystopian YA that I was excited to read it. So why is my review only three stars (a rounding up from 2.5)? Well, because despite the seemingly unique idea I had the feeling that I’d read this all before, many times over. I’m all for girl power – bring it on, but can we have a different kind of heroine occasionally? It’s the Hunger Games/Divergent/The Testing all over again (with a splash of the movie Dave thrown in, lol) – where a seemingly milquetoast/ordinary girl all of the sudden becomes kick-ass warrior/symbol for the good guys/the rebellion’s only hope.
That said, it did hold my attention and I did keep thinking about it, wondering what was coming next. It certainly seems set up for a series. I would like to “see” more of this world and see what happens, I would just like a little more variety in my dystopian plots.
Spoiler
In this case I was puzzled by the fact that she didn’t even discover her fire power until almost halfway through the book, didn’t really know how to control it and yet a short time later the entire climactic plan to assassinate the Fuhrer is built almost completely around her. And of course she succeeds, with a little help from the final part of the formula … the boy. Are there any YA dystopians that don’t have the star-crossed lovers?That said, it did hold my attention and I did keep thinking about it, wondering what was coming next. It certainly seems set up for a series. I would like to “see” more of this world and see what happens, I would just like a little more variety in my dystopian plots.