New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore – Dystopian YA Set In The Galápagos Islands
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New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore is a YA feminist fiction and indie dystopian novel set in the Galápagos Islands.
What We Recommend
New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore Book Information
Title: New Wave
Series: The Islands of Anarchy Series, Book One
Author: Jennifer Ann Shore
Publisher: Indie
Publication Date: 2018
Genre: Dystopian YA
We would like to personally thank Jennifer Ann Shore for sending us a free advanced copy of New Wave in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Grab your copy of New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore on Amazon.
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New Wave By Jennifer Ann Shore Summary
Imagine living in a world of extreme poverty and famine while those in power thrive just like the Capital of The Hunger Games.
Society is divided into sectors laid out across islands with each territory having a socialist purpose. Yet, no one is happy, people are being tortured and dying, and many residents resort to illegal activities to survive.
Mol is no different, caught in a world she loves but equally despises. Her entire life is about to change as she attempts to hawk her dead mother’s necklace for money to buy food.
Captured, she becomes a key player in a revolution while falling for the man who helped create the world that imprisons her.
Sound like Bel Canto?
Get ready for New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore.
A Book Review of New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore
A Family And Society Divided
Mol and her brothers, Luca and Julian, are not only orphaned but also split apart based on their Placements in society.
The Authority controls each island and after years of receiving an Education, each member is appointed a specific societal role and duty.
With the mysterious death of her parents, Mol is struggling to find her place in the world and unfortunately receives an earlier than expected Placement due to risky pawning activity.
Now a member of the Elite, Mol parades around on a royal ship like a modern-day Geisha, decked out in heels and makeup for the Guard and Commander, rulers of the Authority.
Despising her position and not being welcomed by others, Mol needs a strategy to relate to others and build her loyal tribe.
The Epitome Of YA Feminist Fiction
Like most feminist fiction, I envision Mol a Smithie.
Disgusted by her new job and enraged as the guards push around and mistreat the other women, Mol fights back, verbally and physically.
Instead of receiving a demotion or imprisonment, Mol’s feisty nature intrigues the young new Commander, Sebastian.
Promoted to one of his advisors and soon-to-be love interests, Mol debates her new position in society.
Will Sebastian tire of her? Is she his new plaything and just current entertainment? Not to mention that he is her captor and the reason why people are starving.
But he is just so damn handsome and endearing. He listens, seems to care, and wants to see her old life and world.
Troublesome Love
Conflicted, Mol debates her feelings toward Sebastian but also can’t help question if her mother believed in him too.
Maintaining her spunk and wits, Mol decides to ignore the warnings of her brothers—after a surprising reunification—to make her own decisions. Someone is growing up.
Quick-tempered, Mol must learn when and where to use her brashness while gently persuading others to follow her lead and innovative ideas.
A New Wave
Most notably, everyone is noticing changes in the Commander. Can Mol convince Sebastian to end the horrors inflicted on the islands?
Even if Mol successfully converts the Commander, there are also guards in power who don’t want change. Isn’t that how power works? Loyalties disintegrate.
On the brink of civil war within the Authority, who will survive and who will fight until the bitter end? What is this new wave in society, the Refuge, and who is all in?
Who Will Love New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore?
Captivating and thought-provoking, teens and adults will find New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore a quick read leaving you anxiously awaiting the next in the series.
Although I hesitate to suggest read alikes such as The Hunger Games and Divergent series—more so because I do not wish to detract readers who are tired of these dystopian novels—you will find similar worlds and questions with a unique twist.
There is war, love, and intense loyalty from the beginning of New Wave that sets it apart from its predecessors.
Readers watch as multiple characters grow, drastically change, and question all that is happening in society.
Families are constantly broken and put back together as jealousies rage. Find much more self-awareness and examination into the core of who we are.
Most notably, New Wave gives us a brand new female heroine. One who is strong and kickass but also flawed and working on herself.
Mol is neither dainty nor helpless. Beautiful and aware, she builds relationships, falters, and learns how to fight like a warrior with her words and weapons.
Fearless, she leads an army for a greater cause, even taking a bullet. Nothing can stop her.
Although Mol also falls in love, her love is not blinding. Mol never loses conviction, herself, her beliefs, or her family for a man. She is cautious and brave. You go, girl.
I cannot wait for the second in the series. Please don’t kill off anyone good. Please.
Where You Can Find New Wave Reviews On TUL
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About New Wave Author, Jennifer Ann Shore
Jennifer Ann Shore is a writer, journalist, blogger, and traveler. She currently lives in Washington State.
You can read more about Jennifer here and follow along with her Twitter and Facebook musings.
More books by Jennifer Ann Shore On TUL
The Extended Summer of Anna & Jeremy
Metallic Red – Located on our YA Vampire Books & Fav Vampire Books reading lists
In The Now – Read more on the Best Books of 2020
Everywhere, Always – Contemporary Books Set In NYC To Love
Loving New Wave? Looking for more YA books? Check out:
Blood and Sand
One Paris Summer
Christine Frascarelli
Christine (she/her) is the owner, lead editor, and tipsy book sommelier of The Uncorked Librarian LLC, an online literary publication showcasing books and movies to inspire travel and home to the famed Uncorked Reading Challenge. With a BA in English & History from Smith College, an MLIS from USF-Tampa, and a U.S. Fulbright Fellowship in Christine's back pocket, there isn't a bookstore, library, or winery that can hide from her. Christine loves brewery yoga, adopting all of the kitties, and a glass of oaked Chardonnay. Charcuterie is her favorite food group.
Like most feminist fiction, I envision Mol a Smithie. I… Well, I just love you.
Sweet, more feminist dystopia! Totally my jam. I’ve never been a huge YA fan (for example, I didn’t touch ‘The Hunger Games’ OR ‘Divergent’ and gave up pretty early on Harry Potter – yeah, I know, I’m the worst), but with blogging I have a lot less time for reading, so I’ve been reading more of it. It is also, annoyingly, quite often the best way to find fiction books about interesting world events. Like, seriously, I LOVE a good 500+ page clunker about WWII by Professor/Historian Whatever, but sometimes I don’t just want cold hard facts, I NEED A NARRATIVE, PEOPLE! WWII was a bad example, but you know what I mean.
I’m glad more books like this are being written (even I think some of them are rubbish – this one doesn’t sound like rubbish, though)! I’ve always loved dystopian literature and while the market seems a tad oversaturated now, it’s still awesome to see bad ass women taking centre stage and the patriarchy and misogyny being questioned/taken down. Billy Pilgrim, Winston Smith & D-503 are great and all, but they’re all men and their female counterparts normally one dimensional side notes.
Another one for the pile!
My one confession as a book blogger: The first time I read Harry Potter I quit around book two or three. I just could not get into the series. Then, a few years later after the final one published, I decided to try again. I enjoyed Harry Potter, but I am not an undying fan. Harry is not my soulmate. I did like The Hunger Games and Divergent series, but after the movies, I felt ruined.
Dystopian YA hit a major over saturation point after those blockbusters, and while I am always a sucker for them, I needed a break too. Realistic YA is one of my favs. What I love about New Wave is that the characters focus more on relationships and politics than just bringing down the authority that you see in most dystopian novels. While they are fighting for a cause, they are fighting themselves and each other too.
I love a female character that is strong, self-aware, flawed, and can have romance without taking away from her feminism. Mol is that! P.S. Head over to IG to enter to win the book and the mug! It’s up until the 22nd ; )
I need to get this book pronto. I love me a good dystopian YA novel and what could be better than a strong female lead? Now I just need to get one of those awesome mugs by Tasty Itinerary and I’ll be all sorted for my low key Christmas week!!
Did I see that you got a shirt from Kathy too? Or were getting one? My mind is so jumbled from Twitter and all of my socials lately. I have used that mug every single day since I got it! I love it!! And she sent me a BIG one. It’s perfect.
I loved New Wave–and be on the lookout: Tuesday, on IG, we are doing a giveaway for the mug and the book. It will be an easy entry for you ; ) I’m excited as both these ladies are fabulous.
Oooohh!!! Thanks for the tip!! I’ll definitely keep my eyes peeled for that!! Sounds like the perfect combo ?
Haha, I was going to message you that the giveaway is officially up on IG, but you were ON IT!!! Good luck ; )
This cover is gorgeous and I love YA dystopian stories. I’m just sooo behind with my reading but I hope I can fit your some of your recommendations into my next year because they really do sound great!
I love the name Sebastian too. I use it for my fav character in the fantasy book I’m writing too. =) & one of my fav anime/manga is the Black Buttler and his name is Sebastian as well.
I loved the cover too! Dystopian YA romance gets me every time.
I cannot even begin to tell you how long my TBR pile is. I am praying that authors who sent me books aren’t getting mad. Although I never promise a review date, I am pretty behind. Sadly, I’ve been turning down a lot of authors too. New Wave only took me a day or two to read–it’s a fast one. I’d be interested to hear your take on New Wave as well as Empress of All Seasons.
Can’t wait to see your fantasy novel. Happy holidays! Cheers to a great new year for us both. Xxxx
Sounds like my kind of read! I love all kinds of books, but I always come back to ones with a strong female lead. I can’t wait to read this one! I always need a new series to pull me in.
If you don’t mind my asking, what do you use to edit your photos? They look great.
2018 has had some great books with female leads. Empress of All Seasons rocked this arena too, and I think you would appreciate the ending there. I always love when an author gets the female character right. Mol is incredibly strong, has a direct and testy mouth, and brings so much to the table. I cannot wait for the second in the series.
Thank you! I use Lightroom for most of my edits. I am just learning so they aren’t perfected yet. Adobe has a pretty cheap package for around $10-$15 a month. I use Photoshop to make other minor edits and Spark for Pinterest covers and some pinnable images. It’s worth the expense since I live on IG too.
The cover alone would have me intrigued! I love that there’s a hint of romance in this; I’m a sucker for that :’) Dystopian YA wasn’t always my favourite genre, but over the years it’s really grown on me, and I find myself really drawn to it. This book sounds like it deserves to be added to my TBR on Goodreads haha
I am SUCH a sucker for teeny romance too. It’s my weakness. I am also a sucker for dystopian lit. I always think that I am over the whole authoritative society killing its people while a few stand up deal, but then I get sucked in SO fast. Like Netflix. I swear I am over it, and then there I am, binge watching Queer Eye. And loving every second…
Definitely add this one to your list. I hope all of your exams are over for now. Fingers crossed you did great, too!
It’s settled! I need to read this book! That’s why I just purchased this book via Kindle and will starting reading very soon! It sounds like a page turner. Okay, let’s see if I can manage to not read before posting my next blog post because the moment I get into a book, I can’t put it down and nothign gets done. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those times.
Thank you sooooo much for the mention! The mug looks amazing next to the book cover. Feeling so honored to be part of the bookstagram. Enjoy your new mug! Thanks again for your support!
Hey! That is how I feel about those presets…like I need them NOW. Maybe on my next blogger payday ; )
I loved reading New Wave on the plane to and from Germany. I plowed right through it–I am such a sucker for teen romance. Like you know you want Sebastian, girl, so got get him. I just love that Mol is incredibly self-aware, which a lot of authors forget about. Mol also never gives up who she is while still successfully finding love and family. That’s the new wave of feminist fiction.
This book is a fast read–so if you accidentally forget to blog, you’ll only be slightly behind. That will give me time to catch up on reading your posts 😉
P.S. I love this author too–so I am thrilled to support her adventures. She blogs as well.
I had a lovely homemade hot chocolate (not laced with booze) in my new mug tonight. It’s amazing. Thank you! And once you read the book, you’ll see why it was PERFECT!.