The Twenty by Claudia Carozza
Book One in The Barronlands Trilogy
Format: EBook
Genre: Young Adult
My Rating: 5 out 5 Stars
Synopsis: Imagine living in a time
when infertility runs rampant and babies are no longer being born. The
world is crumbling around you as people start talking about the end.
This is the world Hazel DeSales grew up in. After her mother dies from a
mysterious cancer, Hazel finds herself taking care of her younger
sister Netty and alcoholic father.
It's not until twenty
women, known as the Elect, become pregnant all across the Barronlands
when things start looking up. Hazel and Netty apply for jobs working as
domestics in the Antioch Center where the Elect will be taken care of
and protected. Hazel feels change in the air and her outlook for the
future starts to improve.
But she soon learns that change is not without consequence. Rumors are brewing about a government cover up and Hazel finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. So begins the unraveling of secrets that uncover things from her past and rattle her future. Hazel is determined to seek the truth and promises herself to do whatever it takes to succeed.
But she soon learns that change is not without consequence. Rumors are brewing about a government cover up and Hazel finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. So begins the unraveling of secrets that uncover things from her past and rattle her future. Hazel is determined to seek the truth and promises herself to do whatever it takes to succeed.
My Review: The story begins with Hazel DeSales, who is a young woman older than her years. She had to raise her younger sister, Netty when her mother died of the affliction - cancer - and her father became a complete drunk.
Bartering and selling items has become a way of life for Hazel to keep her sister and her fed, clothed and of course supplying her father with alcohol.
The scene of the story reminds me of The Hunger Games, as in this post-apocalyptic setting, the remaining people and towns have been divided into wards from one to eight.
Ward One is very ghetto like and definitely not a place you would like to live, whereas Ward Eight is the polar opposite and is where all the people with money and the "Officials" reside. The further you get from eight the worse it gets. Hazel lives in seven.
After meeting a young man named Shane, on her mission to Ward One to purchase a gun for protection, Hazel begins to find some happiness in an otherwise bleak existence.
In the beginning of the novel, Hazel and Netty apply for Jobs at the Antitoch Centre which is in Ward Eight and part of the officials headquarters. After not hearing anything back, she forgets about it. As jobs are scarce, Hazel didn't think they had much of a chance anyway.
But as luck would have it, both of the girls secure jobs there. Netty in the cafeteria and Hazel as a Nurse taking care of one of the Elect. The Elect are the 20 girls who have fallen pregnant.
This is where the story really starts to unfold as twists and turns, secrets and death threats begin to play out.
Hazel meets some wonderful people at the Antitoch Centre and a very handsome young man named Luka...The love triangle begins!
Upon realizing that Hazel has no choice but to fight back, the group begin to concoct a plan to bring them down.
This isn't a book that i would normally read, but I'm so glad i did! I absolutely loved it and cant wait to read the next book in The Barronlands Trilogy.
Claudia Carozza has shown herself to a be promising new Indie Author and I recommend giving her novel a read.
Available on Amazon and B&N.
To find out more about Claudia, click on the links below:
Happy Reading,
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