⇒ [PDF] Free Safe and Sound Fields of Elysium AB Whelan 9781499262780 Books

Safe and Sound Fields of Elysium AB Whelan 9781499262780 Books

Download As PDF : Safe and Sound Fields of Elysium AB Whelan 9781499262780 Books

Safe and Sound Fields of Elysium AB Whelan 9781499262780 Books

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

***There is a minor spoiler in this review if you haven't read the first book (Fields of Elysium).***

This was a fantastic insight into Victor's life, as well as Arkana itself. It was very well written, and once again, Arkana came alive. Ms. Whelan certainly has a way with words, and she made every scene spectacular, even the not so happy ones. The story is very fast-paced, however it flows well, and is never so fast that you're confused. While it's not too bad, I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone under the age of 16. It definitely has more mature moments, intense violence, and sexual situations. This novella is on the border between YA and NA in my opinion.

The one thing that I greatly enjoyed was the how deep Ms. Whelan delved into Arkana's history. By the time you are finished reading, you have a much better understanding of the world of Arkana itself, and its bloody, violent past. There are unspeakable horrors, and knowing what I know now, the Prophet was completely right (SPOILER ALERT) in putting the force field around Terraka City (END SPOILER). Ms. Whelan expertly weaves Arkana's history with Victor's story, and we see the events leading up to his birth and then the tragic events that followed. I loved how seamless the transition was from past to present, and I also appreciated that she stopped the novella when she did so that it wasn't just a repeat novel of Fields of Elysium.

We also see a much different side to Victor, and let me say, I'm definitely happy Molly has affected him in such a positive way. You'll see what I mean after you read this novella. I loved seeing this different perspective, and it gives the reader a much better understanding of Victor as a character.

This could easily be read prior to or after Fields of Elysium, however I think a reader appreciates the story a bit more if it's read after the first book in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Happy reading :)


Tags : Safe and Sound (Fields of Elysium) [A.B. Whelan] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Recommended reading age 16+ due to mild violence and sexual situations.</i> Safe and Sound is a prequel to Fields of Elysium. The story introduces the harsh life of Arkanians and follows Victor Sorren - the Byronic hero of the series - from birth until he meets Molly. Synopsis: In the world where freedom is no longer your right; where being in love and starting a family is not a blessing but a curse,A.B. Whelan,Safe and Sound (Fields of Elysium),CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform,1499262787,FICTION Fantasy Dark Fantasy

Safe and Sound Fields of Elysium AB Whelan 9781499262780 Books Reviews

I've been a complete fangirl of Arkania since I first started Fields of Elysium. I can't get enough of the excellent characters, exciting plot and engaging imagery that makes up this new world of the series. Still, I was a bit worried to start Safe and Sound. Sometimes it feels like novellas added to a series really only take away from them. Fortunately, this was not the case at all with Safe and Sound, which built onto the incredible world of Arkania through a different point of view.

I'm a sucker for a good back story when it is tastefully done, which is why I really enjoyed reading the glimpse into the story behind Victor's birth by actually looking into the minds of his parents instead of going through a simple retelling. It gives the information of a prequel without actually having to craft an entire one, which I thought worked for the best.

When the story switched over to Victor's point of view, I grew even more intrigued. Having already known Victor from the first books of the series, it was very cool for the opportunity to get inside of his head. My love for him as a character was only reinforced, as its always so refreshing to have characters with flaws. If I wanted perfectly perfect plastic Ken dolls, I would flip through magazine ads. Victor has layers beneath him, and he doesn't always make the best decisions, even with his heart in the right place. It's fantastic.

Not to mention, with everything that happened in the world of the series, it was nice to be able to go back and see the beginning - in which Victor and Molly meet for the first time. It had the feeling of relieving a good memory, only seeing it from a completely different angle. Despite the technical "retelling" of the start of Fields of Elysium, I wasn't bored at all. In fact, I probably could read the entire series retold from Victor's point of view and fully enjoy it. (Although I do understand that a feat as such would simply be tedious.)

Despite the shorter number of pages, Safe and Sound packs a really powerful punch. With a heartbreaking, action-packed romance making up the beginning and a voice-driven narrative rounding out the end, this novella did not lose my attention for a moment. I'm now even more excited to continue with this series in the future.
This story gives you a lot of background on Victor and his past. It starts with his parents while they were slaves for the Terrakas and their escape. It gives life to Victor's history and makes you feel more love for him. It makes you realize just how much he deserves to be loved. I really liked this book.
I enjoyed most of the novelette, but some parts made me squirm. That alone means A. B. Whelan’s writing got to my emotions. More on that later. First, note that it’s important to read Fields of Elysium before Safe and Sound to get background information not given here. Also note the parallels to the Bible. The first part of the book reminded me of the Israelites’ bondage, except Arkana is another planet with people who are supposed to lack the human gene for violence. It’s such an interesting concept, one the author puts to good use in both parts of the book, the first dealing with two slaves expecting a child they think will become their savior, and the second part focusing on that child Victor. I missed some of my initial wonder for the creative world, but the characterization and events more than made up for that lack.

This book was better written and edited than Fields of Elysium, yet I wouldn’t recommend it for teens due to sexual content. I think the adult content could be removed and still develop Victor’s character flaws within traditional YA limits. Even so, Safe and Sound is an excellent portrayal of Victor’s genesis from heartbroken boy to hardened teen. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him while wanting to chastise him for treating girls so badly. I was glad to see him start thinking about changing his ways towards the end. But in all honesty, I don’t want Molly associating with him unless he changes fast – even though they’re both fictional – another testament to the emotional impact of Whelan’s writing.

I downloaded Safe and Sound during the free days on . 4 stars for adults, not recommended for teens, more due to sexual content than the violence.
Actual rating 4.5 stars

***There is a minor spoiler in this review if you haven't read the first book (Fields of Elysium).***

This was a fantastic insight into Victor's life, as well as Arkana itself. It was very well written, and once again, Arkana came alive. Ms. Whelan certainly has a way with words, and she made every scene spectacular, even the not so happy ones. The story is very fast-paced, however it flows well, and is never so fast that you're confused. While it's not too bad, I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone under the age of 16. It definitely has more mature moments, intense violence, and sexual situations. This novella is on the border between YA and NA in my opinion.

The one thing that I greatly enjoyed was the how deep Ms. Whelan delved into Arkana's history. By the time you are finished reading, you have a much better understanding of the world of Arkana itself, and its bloody, violent past. There are unspeakable horrors, and knowing what I know now, the Prophet was completely right (SPOILER ALERT) in putting the force field around Terraka City (END SPOILER). Ms. Whelan expertly weaves Arkana's history with Victor's story, and we see the events leading up to his birth and then the tragic events that followed. I loved how seamless the transition was from past to present, and I also appreciated that she stopped the novella when she did so that it wasn't just a repeat novel of Fields of Elysium.

We also see a much different side to Victor, and let me say, I'm definitely happy Molly has affected him in such a positive way. You'll see what I mean after you read this novella. I loved seeing this different perspective, and it gives the reader a much better understanding of Victor as a character.

This could easily be read prior to or after Fields of Elysium, however I think a reader appreciates the story a bit more if it's read after the first book in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Happy reading )