The Traveler is a brand-new novel from fellow indie author E.B. Dawson, and it comes out tomorrow! [cue fireworks and confetti] I'm super excited for you guys to read it, (hint: it's awesome), but since we have to wait another whole day for that, here's a profile of the main character, and afterwards my non-spoilery review of the book to get you ready. (Also, as an author, I of all people know that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but I have to say, the one sitting just to the left of this paragraph is lovely). But first, a synopsis, so you know what it's all about. Anissa Robson is becoming an adult in a society she never really identified with. Forced to choose a career path, she becomes an apprentice to a young, headstrong politician who seems to stand for everything she disagrees with. The dreams she has refused to report grow more alluring to her as she becomes disillusioned with her job. But the lines between reality and her dreamland begin to blur and cross over, launching her onto a path she would never have chosen for herself. Is the government medicating dreamers to protect them? Or to hide something from them? So without any further ado, I give you Anissa. How old is Anissa when we meet her? Anissa is 22 years old at the beginning of the book. In her society, young adults choose an apprenticeship after grade school (so around age 18), but Anissa is just starting hers for reasons that will be disclosed in the first chapter. Is she at all like your protagonist from your sci-fi series, Logan Bailey? They are both stubborn, but I think they are quite different. I would say Logan's a bit more of an internal processor, while Anissa processes things externally. Naturally, Logan likes to think before she responds. Anissa tends to say what she thinks, even when it isn't a good idea, and she tends to be a bit more impulsive. If she were an animal what would she be and why? I have decided that Anissa would be a fox. For reasons that will become clear, she's a bit of an outsider in her society. She's very clever and observant, but can be a bit prickly on the outside. What do you like about her? What don't you like about her? I love her boldness. She's honest when she disagrees with something. She stands up for what she believes, even if she is a little misguided now and then. Also, she is tough as nails. She can be a bit blunt and argumentative. Also, she has her blind spots (but don't we all?). What's Anissa's favorite thing to eat? She loves any type of fruit. Is she more introverted or extroverted? Good question! I think I might classify her as an ambivert (balanced between introvert and extrovert). She definitely needs her space sometimes, but there is also part of her that doesn't want to be alone. What does Anissa like to do in her free time? Her life has been disrupted the last few years and so honestly she doesn't have a lot of hobbies. When we meet her she is starting a new chapter of her life and kind of trying to figure out who she is. Does she have a pet? If not, what would she have? She does not have a pet. She isn't super sentimental so I think she'd need a pet that can kind of take care of itself and be semi-independent (no fish! They'd die). Maybe a cat? Honestly, I'm not sure I'd trust her with a pet. (lol) She might forget about it... What is her favorite article of clothing? This sort of changes throughout the story. But I would say...khaki pants? Comfortable, flexible, multi-purpose. Who is the most influential person in her life? Her father. My Review for The Traveler Now that we've learned all about Anissa, here is my review of The Traveler. E.B. Dawson was awesome enough to send me an ARC in exchange for an honest review, so here it is! (Naturally, the following opinions are my own). ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Four and a half stars, rounding up to five. The Traveler is a thrilling ride. From the moment I first met Anissa, sitting on a piece of driftwood and looking out over the angry ocean, I knew wanted to learn more. Who is she? Why is she there alone? And then—why is she beginning her apprenticeship late? I also wanted to know more about her world. All the senses were used to describe the latter, and I felt as if I were not only seeing it, I was living it, right alongside Anissa. The world was well thought out—from the people, to the politics, and even the plants—it was all there. As for Anissa herself, she was a very likable character. Tough, but not invincible. She's definitely human, and I loved that. She speaks before she thinks a lot of times. And haven't we all found ourselves in that situation at least once? The other main character that I really want to mention is Carson. I won't say much, at risk of spoilers, but he's the kind of character I have a hard time classifying for most of the book. xD Those kind are maddeningly frustrating, but are always so fulfilling in the end when I finally figure out "who" they are. One minor gripe I had was the fact that sometimes there were so many characters introduced all at once that it just wasn't practical to describe them all. I wished I had at least something to associate with them, because otherwise they kind of just felt like names floating around in space. Ultimately, however, this problem was resolved through the course of the book. It just took a while for that mental image I needed to show up. Another plus was the fact that The Traveler dealt with a lot of serious issues, (such as right and wrong, finding your place in the world, and whether there's more to life beyond what science can explain), but it wasn't completely serious, either! Serious books have their time and place, but I have learned that the message has a better reception when there's a pinch of humor added in—especially when it comes to fiction. And The Traveler delivered! (My personal favorite vehicle for this was Anissa's house. That AI really knew how to give the "cold" shoulder, let me tell you). All in all, I loved reading The Traveler. The story is fascinating, and the climax pretty much swallowed me alive. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a fast-paced, twisty plot and three-dimensional characters, all wrapped up in a sci-fi/fantasy setting. ------------------------------------------------------------- And there you have it. The Traveler will hit shelves tomorrow (September 15th), so don't forget to look it up!
2 Comments
9/14/2017 09:04:03 am
Thanks so much for hosting me and Anissa on your blog!! It was a blast!
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Katelyn Buxton
9/14/2017 09:07:41 am
Oh, no problem!! It was a lot of fun!
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Welcome!Welcome to Katelyn Buxton Books! I'm a Christian author and blogger, with a passion for writing stories that are not just enjoyable, but also lead people closer to Jesus. Feel free to look around, and enjoy your stay! Archives
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