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booklovinalicia's review
5.0
Wow! I can't remember the last time I read an entire book in less than 24 hours! What a great debut! There is so much awesomeness in this book! I actually borrowed this from my library and it sat around for 2 weeks until I finally decided to give it a try. There are some books you come across and get sucked in quickly. This is one of those. This was a perfect post apocalyptic book. Don't let the sci-fi label scare you. It doesn't have to do with aliens or plagues, it was "real life". This book is raw, gritty, intense, and suspenseful. Told from the point of view of two teenage sisters, it will lead you through a journey you didn't even know you wanted to take. The author's quality of writing was flawless. Set in a perfect city for this wonderful plot with a cast of characters that are vivid and wonderfully brought to life by the author's writing. With as many books as I read, a lot of times authors' writing starts to seem all the same, but Lee Kelly's writing stole my booknerd heart. I look forward reading more from her.
literarylover37's review
4.0
Very enjoyable. Not necessarily "dystopian" per se which was a nice twist on the norm. The multiple points of view was very well done and it felt like both characters had their own voices which is not usually the case. I would read more by this author.
justwanna2read's review
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
lurdes_oliveira's review against another edition
3.0
There's a lot that I liked about this book, but there also things I didn't like so much. I liked the writing style and the double POV and it was a compulsive read. Even though it didn't always go where I wanted it too, I never once wanted to stop, but I felt like the book didn’t really have the action that I thought it would, considering this is a post-apocalypse world.
Speaking of world, the world-building in this book is a mess. The story is set two decades after World War III in which America has been defeated and Manhattan is now under control by their enemies, the Red Allies. Despite this being a constant theme throughout the story, we never learn much more about the war than those few facts, and I wanted to learn more.
Then there's the love triangle, I hate love triangles! Two sisters fighting over the same guy is a bit much for me. I get that this can happen in real life, and probably does a lot. But, surely, in a dangerous post-apocalyptic world with cannibals and warlords running around, there's more important things to think about…
The final thing that bothered me about this book, is the way the book suddenly becomes a completely book, with different plot; starting off with a rather ridiculous coincidence - a friend of their mother's from before the war suddenly encountering them in an huge city - and suddenly everyone is propelled into another, quite separate, adventure. And, for me, this adventure wasn't nearly as exciting, it had some interesting moments, but at this point my suspension of disbelief was stretched to the limit, and made the whole thing less interesting.
It feels like the author ran out of steam on one idea, or realized they'd nearly wrapped it up after only halfway through the book, and jumped onto another…
Speaking of world, the world-building in this book is a mess. The story is set two decades after World War III in which America has been defeated and Manhattan is now under control by their enemies, the Red Allies. Despite this being a constant theme throughout the story, we never learn much more about the war than those few facts, and I wanted to learn more.
Then there's the love triangle, I hate love triangles! Two sisters fighting over the same guy is a bit much for me. I get that this can happen in real life, and probably does a lot. But, surely, in a dangerous post-apocalyptic world with cannibals and warlords running around, there's more important things to think about…
The final thing that bothered me about this book, is the way the book suddenly becomes a completely book, with different plot; starting off with a rather ridiculous coincidence - a friend of their mother's from before the war suddenly encountering them in an huge city - and suddenly everyone is propelled into another, quite separate, adventure. And, for me, this adventure wasn't nearly as exciting, it had some interesting moments, but at this point my suspension of disbelief was stretched to the limit, and made the whole thing less interesting.
It feels like the author ran out of steam on one idea, or realized they'd nearly wrapped it up after only halfway through the book, and jumped onto another…
epgr's review
4.0
I liked this book, and I liked the premise, but I couldn't help but think something was missing from the writing. So it's more like 3 1/2 stars for me.
novelsbycaitlin's review against another edition
4.0
I'm struggling how and where to start this review, so I'm going to blurt sentences and hope something coherent comes out.
City of Savages is a dystopian. Wait! Don't fret! Don't run! I've grown weary of dystopians myself, but City of Savages at its core isn't your tag and bag dystopia. It's told through three narratives, two sisters and a mother's journal. Sky is the older sister who spends her time reading whatever she can find and dreams of one day leaving Manhattan. Phee is the younger, more rough and tough, more interested in the here and now who thrives in Manhattan. Their mother's journal is a voice of the past--how things fell apart--how she fell apart. And thankfully, all three narratives stand on their own two feet and have a beating heart.
To be honest, I feel biased here. I have a younger sister who I'm extremely close to, despite our differences. She's the Phee to my Sky. We do (or used to) do everything together. Yes, this book about surviving and protecting your own, but ultimately this story is about family. Sky and Phee would speak about a wall forming between them, and I've been there. I could relate times a million. Instead of ingesting page by page, this book sort of rung in me like a bell.
BUT from a technical perspective, this book still shines! The first quarter of this book is slow, but necessary. But after that, you're thrown into horrifying and equally emotional loops. The girls switch back and forth, giving their own spin on the situations, venting their worries and desires. There was a bit of romance--even a love triangle played out between the sisters and a boy--but it wasn't overwhelming (thank god). There are some truly frightening things in this book that left me clawing at my face like "oHH NOOO." I would NOT want to be in that situation.
The only two elements that lacked was--of course--the science behind this dystopia. Yea, there were a few questions answered, but many more that were failed to be asked. Lastly, Ryder, the love interest. There's nothing essentially wrong with his character, although I found him TOO perfect. Like, what are the chances you meet the most gentle and kind and understanding person in the middle of a savage city? Like??? Really?
But, I for one am looking forward to whatever Lee Kelly writes next. She's proven she's capable of writing an good novel packed with action and emotion and some horror.
City of Savages is a dystopian. Wait! Don't fret! Don't run! I've grown weary of dystopians myself, but City of Savages at its core isn't your tag and bag dystopia. It's told through three narratives, two sisters and a mother's journal. Sky is the older sister who spends her time reading whatever she can find and dreams of one day leaving Manhattan. Phee is the younger, more rough and tough, more interested in the here and now who thrives in Manhattan. Their mother's journal is a voice of the past--how things fell apart--how she fell apart. And thankfully, all three narratives stand on their own two feet and have a beating heart.
To be honest, I feel biased here. I have a younger sister who I'm extremely close to, despite our differences. She's the Phee to my Sky. We do (or used to) do everything together. Yes, this book about surviving and protecting your own, but ultimately this story is about family. Sky and Phee would speak about a wall forming between them, and I've been there. I could relate times a million. Instead of ingesting page by page, this book sort of rung in me like a bell.
BUT from a technical perspective, this book still shines! The first quarter of this book is slow, but necessary. But after that, you're thrown into horrifying and equally emotional loops. The girls switch back and forth, giving their own spin on the situations, venting their worries and desires. There was a bit of romance--even a love triangle played out between the sisters and a boy--but it wasn't overwhelming (thank god). There are some truly frightening things in this book that left me clawing at my face like "oHH NOOO." I would NOT want to be in that situation.
The only two elements that lacked was--of course--the science behind this dystopia. Yea, there were a few questions answered, but many more that were failed to be asked. Lastly, Ryder, the love interest. There's nothing essentially wrong with his character, although I found him TOO perfect. Like, what are the chances you meet the most gentle and kind and understanding person in the middle of a savage city? Like??? Really?
But, I for one am looking forward to whatever Lee Kelly writes next. She's proven she's capable of writing an good novel packed with action and emotion and some horror.
raven_morgan's review
3.0
This was a case where I wanted to read the "shadow book" (to borrow a term from The Writer and The Critic's Kirstyn McDermott) instead of the book that this was. It's not bad, but leaned too far into generic YA territory for me.
wrenl's review against another edition
3.0
18300869
Amazon / Goodreads
It’s been nearly two decades since the Red Allies first attacked New York, and Manhattan is now a prisoner-of-war camp, ruled by Warden Rolladin and her brutal, impulsive warlords. For 17-year-old Skyler Miller, Manhattan is a cage that keeps her from the world beyond the city’s borders. But for Sky’s 16-year-old sister, Phee, the P.O.W. camp is a dangerous playground of possibility, and the only home she’d ever want.
When Sky and Phee discover their mom’s hidden journal from the outbreak of the war, they both realize there’s more to Manhattan—and their mother—than either of them had ever imagined. And after a group of strangers arrives at the annual P.O.W. census, the girls begin to uncover the island’s long-kept secrets. The strangers hail from England, a country supposedly destroyed by the Red Allies, and Rolladin’s lies about Manhattan’s captivity begin to unravel.
Hungry for the truth, the sisters set a series of events in motion that ends in the death of one of Rolladin’s guards. Now they’re outlaws, forced to join the strange Englishmen on an escape mission through Manhattan. Their flight takes them into subways haunted by cannibals, into the arms of a sadistic cult in the city’s Meatpacking District, and, through the pages of their mom’s old journal, into the island’s dark and shocking past. Sky and Phee are dependent on each other, and their ragged posse, for survival, but as their feelings grow toward the handsome English boy Ryder, love and jealousy threaten to break them apart.
While primarily a thriller, City of Savages is also a story about the many meanings of sisterhood, told across two generations of New York women—those who survived a terrible tragedy, and those who were raised to live in its aftermath.
For the characters...I liked the bond between the two sisters.
Sky was really cool. She is a reader. (Which is surprising in this world.) Someone who keeps her emotions in check. I felt a connection to Sky. She was older, but she was ignored. In this new world, she was not good for much. At least in her eyes. She was a scholar. Not a fighter. It was interesting. And she forgot about reality in her books. I do that as well. (That's why I read.) She was interesting. Her mindset is this way for most of the book. Until she meets Ryder and starts to think otherwise. She does end up doing something quite amazing. I did like that. She had hidden in the shadows for a long time. But then she broke free.
I didn't really like Phee. Sure, she was pretty badass. But I didn't care too much for her personality. She was a bit cocky. And, as Sky said, she was accepting of things. The Standard. Rolladin's Park. She wasn't a bad sister or anything. She just didn't pique my interest as Sky had.
Is anyone else wondering the odds of two book-lovers in a post-apocalyptic world? Seriously. There aren't that many people left. There can't be that many people who rather read than survive...
The plot wasn't bad. It was pretty interesting. The different places. The different people. As well as the sisters' mother's life unraveling. (Did anyone else guess the Rolladin secret?) We got to know not only the After but the Before. (Before and After the world ended.) It was fascinating. It gave depth to the story. The premise didn't promise much actually. At times, I was wondering why the story went like that. It had times when I wanted to stop. It was a bit...long. It was pulling it out a bit. I didn't like that.
The action wasn't bad. It was complicated. It was twisted. It was really interesting. It was fast-paced. And it was something I needed. The action was good. But there were times when I wanted something more. More fighting. More bloodshed. (Dark, I know.)
The love triangle. Ugh. I didn't like it. I ranted about it to anyone who could hear. I hated it even. Why are good books ruined by love triangles? Families torn apart even! I didn't like it. It tore the two sisters apart. For this one guy. Seriously? Wow. That doesn't make sense. I didn't like it. In general, I don't like romance.
I felt like he shouldn't have chosen either. Then maybe they, the girls, could have gotten together. And become better friends and made raunchy jokes about Ryder's lack of kissing experience. I dunno... But it seems like everyone was pairing off. Geez. I didn't like that. Was there a hint of a Sam-Phee relationship? It seemed so. Barely. Maybe. Maybe not.
I didn't care for the way the world ended. It didn't seem right. The premise wasn't...accurate? China wouldn't really attack the US. I don't think so. I was told that China wouldn't dare. They rely on us. But...if China's broke, so is the US. And a lot of other countries as well. That doesn't seem quite likely. I didn't particularly like that the story was told that way. A nuclear war seems more likely.
I'm not trying to sound like a smartass. I'm just stating facts I've learned in my different classes. This doesn't seem possible.
Also. Did China like...just bomb us? I mean...the US has a top military. You don't just bomb the US. I mean...seriously?
The ending is meh. Well...not the best. It's vague. It doesn't truly suit the story. It gives the impression of hope. But we never learn where they end up. I feel that a sequel is coming... (Not that I would care for one.) I don't know if I like how they just...leave. They don't even consider exploring the US. Hey, for all you know, the border with Mexico is fine. You never know. You're assuming other clans/communities never tried to rebuild society. And that isn't necessarily true. There is alway a what if.
Also. It's an ending that reminds of me 'The Sound of Music'. They're going somewhere. You don't know where. But they're going somewhere. You know they are. Are they just going to travel until they find civilization? Or until they run out of food?
Weather:
Sunny with a 50% chance of rain
3/5
Amazon / Goodreads
It’s been nearly two decades since the Red Allies first attacked New York, and Manhattan is now a prisoner-of-war camp, ruled by Warden Rolladin and her brutal, impulsive warlords. For 17-year-old Skyler Miller, Manhattan is a cage that keeps her from the world beyond the city’s borders. But for Sky’s 16-year-old sister, Phee, the P.O.W. camp is a dangerous playground of possibility, and the only home she’d ever want.
When Sky and Phee discover their mom’s hidden journal from the outbreak of the war, they both realize there’s more to Manhattan—and their mother—than either of them had ever imagined. And after a group of strangers arrives at the annual P.O.W. census, the girls begin to uncover the island’s long-kept secrets. The strangers hail from England, a country supposedly destroyed by the Red Allies, and Rolladin’s lies about Manhattan’s captivity begin to unravel.
Hungry for the truth, the sisters set a series of events in motion that ends in the death of one of Rolladin’s guards. Now they’re outlaws, forced to join the strange Englishmen on an escape mission through Manhattan. Their flight takes them into subways haunted by cannibals, into the arms of a sadistic cult in the city’s Meatpacking District, and, through the pages of their mom’s old journal, into the island’s dark and shocking past. Sky and Phee are dependent on each other, and their ragged posse, for survival, but as their feelings grow toward the handsome English boy Ryder, love and jealousy threaten to break them apart.
While primarily a thriller, City of Savages is also a story about the many meanings of sisterhood, told across two generations of New York women—those who survived a terrible tragedy, and those who were raised to live in its aftermath.
For the characters...I liked the bond between the two sisters.
Sky was really cool. She is a reader. (Which is surprising in this world.) Someone who keeps her emotions in check. I felt a connection to Sky. She was older, but she was ignored. In this new world, she was not good for much. At least in her eyes. She was a scholar. Not a fighter. It was interesting. And she forgot about reality in her books. I do that as well. (That's why I read.) She was interesting. Her mindset is this way for most of the book. Until she meets Ryder and starts to think otherwise. She does end up doing something quite amazing. I did like that. She had hidden in the shadows for a long time. But then she broke free.
I didn't really like Phee. Sure, she was pretty badass. But I didn't care too much for her personality. She was a bit cocky. And, as Sky said, she was accepting of things. The Standard. Rolladin's Park. She wasn't a bad sister or anything. She just didn't pique my interest as Sky had.
Is anyone else wondering the odds of two book-lovers in a post-apocalyptic world? Seriously. There aren't that many people left. There can't be that many people who rather read than survive...
The plot wasn't bad. It was pretty interesting. The different places. The different people. As well as the sisters' mother's life unraveling. (Did anyone else guess the Rolladin secret?) We got to know not only the After but the Before. (Before and After the world ended.) It was fascinating. It gave depth to the story. The premise didn't promise much actually. At times, I was wondering why the story went like that. It had times when I wanted to stop. It was a bit...long. It was pulling it out a bit. I didn't like that.
The action wasn't bad. It was complicated. It was twisted. It was really interesting. It was fast-paced. And it was something I needed. The action was good. But there were times when I wanted something more. More fighting. More bloodshed. (Dark, I know.)
The love triangle. Ugh. I didn't like it. I ranted about it to anyone who could hear. I hated it even. Why are good books ruined by love triangles? Families torn apart even! I didn't like it. It tore the two sisters apart. For this one guy. Seriously? Wow. That doesn't make sense. I didn't like it. In general, I don't like romance.
I felt like he shouldn't have chosen either. Then maybe they, the girls, could have gotten together. And become better friends and made raunchy jokes about Ryder's lack of kissing experience. I dunno... But it seems like everyone was pairing off. Geez. I didn't like that. Was there a hint of a Sam-Phee relationship? It seemed so. Barely. Maybe. Maybe not.
I didn't care for the way the world ended. It didn't seem right. The premise wasn't...accurate? China wouldn't really attack the US. I don't think so. I was told that China wouldn't dare. They rely on us. But...if China's broke, so is the US. And a lot of other countries as well. That doesn't seem quite likely. I didn't particularly like that the story was told that way. A nuclear war seems more likely.
I'm not trying to sound like a smartass. I'm just stating facts I've learned in my different classes. This doesn't seem possible.
Also. Did China like...just bomb us? I mean...the US has a top military. You don't just bomb the US. I mean...seriously?
The ending is meh. Well...not the best. It's vague. It doesn't truly suit the story. It gives the impression of hope. But we never learn where they end up. I feel that a sequel is coming... (Not that I would care for one.) I don't know if I like how they just...leave. They don't even consider exploring the US. Hey, for all you know, the border with Mexico is fine. You never know. You're assuming other clans/communities never tried to rebuild society. And that isn't necessarily true. There is alway a what if.
Also. It's an ending that reminds of me 'The Sound of Music'. They're going somewhere. You don't know where. But they're going somewhere. You know they are. Are they just going to travel until they find civilization? Or until they run out of food?
Weather:
Sunny with a 50% chance of rain
3/5