Today, we are absolutely thrilled to welcome Sara Baysinger to Lands Uncharted as part of the blog tour for her new release, Ashen City, the second book in her Black Tiger trilogy! You can learn more about Sara and her books below, but first, here are Sara's Top 3 Dystopian Novels!
Hello and thank you so much for hosting me today! When I was asked to post my top three favorite dystopian novels I squealed with excitement. The dystopian genre is my absolute favorite. I was writing in this genre before I even knew what it was or that there were other similar books out there.
For those who don’t know—dystopian is the opposite of utopian. While utopian means a perfect world with a well-functioning government, dystopian is defined as a place where everything is “unpleasant or bad.” Think The Hunger Games, Divergent, or the classic The Giver. I’ll post my top three favorites below and let you know why I love them so much (without giving anything away.)
I’m sure many of you have heard of Divergent, seeing as they made movies out of the trilogy. (Which were really well done!) The heroine, Tris, is a character with whom I identify most out of all the characters I’ve ever read. Because of the culture she grew up in, she’s timid, but once she steps out of her comfort zone, she discovers more about herself and becomes fearless and strong. I love the progression of her character arc. I love her compassion and her courage to fight for what she believes in. The writing is fast paced, the details vivid, the story unforgettable.
2. The Selection by Kiera Cass
Oh my gosh, how I LOVED this whole series! I’m not really into princesses, so it was one that took me years to pick up, but when I did, man, I could not put it down. I just love the royalty scene taking place in a dystopian world. I loved the way Cass approached politics in the story, and how she made the heroine, America, so compassionate and bold at the same time. The romance wasn’t bad either. ;) This is a nice clean read with a heart-swooning romance.
1. Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Ignite Me is actually the third book in the Shatter Me series. This is one of those series that starts out “okay” and slowly progresses to being one of your favorite series as you read through all three books. (At least that’s how it happened for me.) I read the first book, Shatter Me, and though I enjoyed it, I wasn’t compelled to pick up the second book. When I did finally pick it up, I got about 50 pages in and then sat it down for nearly a year. (A year, guys!) Then I stumbled across a bookstagram (that’s a bookish account on Instagram) where someone revealed a huge twist in the series. I knew I had to finish it, and boy am I glad I did! The romance is steamy, and the character arc in (I won’t say who) is so incredibly moving. Ignite Me is one of those books that I dog-ear pages to read over and over again. Another reason I really enjoyed this series was the lyrical writing style (which I might have attempted in my own books, The Black Tiger Series.) Mafi’s writing is beautiful and moving, and I highly recommend this series. However, if cussing and steamy make-out scenes bother you, I don’t advise you read it.I could go on listing all my other favorite dystopians (Legend by Marie Lu, A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins) but I’ll spare you my rambling. ;)
What are your favorite dystopian reads?
Thank you so much for sharing these, Sara! Top dystopian picks from a dystopian writer have to be good recommendations :)
And speaking of great dystopian reads, here's the back-cover blurb for Ashen City:
Make your choice, Ember Carter. And make it count. Ember Carter has escaped the flames of death. But will she ever be free from Chief Titus? When the orchard goes up in smoke and her family turns up missing, Ember returns to Frankfort hoping to find her brother and father, and to get Titus to drop the death wish he has against her.
But Titus is always one step ahead. When Ember faces him head-on, she’s captured, only to receive another death sentence. But on her way to her execution, plans go a little askew, and Ember finds herself traveling to the one place no one dares travel: Louisville. If the outskirts of Ky were a ghost town, the ashen city is the borderline of hell itself, but it’s the one place Ember can find refuge from the people who want her dead.
In the ashen city, Ember must learn that being a hero is more than doing what is right because she can, but doing it for the good of the people. And when plans take a turn for the worst, she must decide if it’s worth risking her life to save her country.
As you can tell, this series is intense! Constant action, lots of plot twists, and fabulous world-building, character growth, and romance. I'm very much looking forward to the final installment!! You can purchase Ashen City here.
And here's a little more about the author:
Sara Baysinger grew up in the heart of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador where she spent her childhood exploring uncharted lands and reading all things magical. She now lives among the endless cornfields of Indiana with her husband and two young children. Sara enjoys writing and reading anything out of the ordinary, and has a bad habit of zoning out at the most inopportune moments. She is currently considering seeking medical attention for her potentially life-threatening coffee addiction.
Connect with Sara on her website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Sara!!
Sara has some giveaways going in honor of her new release, enter below! (Open to U.S. residents only.)
