“You are strong. Unbreakably so.”
“I love you. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to say it, but I’ve loved you for a while now.”
“Little did I know that I had just met the person who would change the world for us.”
“It’s what you choose to do now that will define who you become.”
Oh my gosh, I’d quote the entire series if I could.
I don’t usually write reviews on book series because that’s a lot of ground to cover. Alas, I felt The Hollis Timewire Series deserved a review of its own because (1) Danielle Harrington is an independent author, and I want to assist my fellow Indies in any way, and (2) this series was truly remarkable and more people need to know about it. I am so honored to have been a part of the beta reading team for this series. A huge thank you to Danielle for providing a copy of The Empowered Ones, as well as the other three books in this series!
>No Spoilers<
Briefing
She was raised to be the perfect society member in a world where emotion was eradicated. She was raised to hate the Diseased Ones. They were murderers and monsters, after all, weren’t they? She couldn’t possibly be one of them, could she?
Hollis Timewire has her entire world flipped on its head when her perception of the government is threatened by those deemed dangerous. When she finds herself at the mercy of an unknown power right at her fingertips, Hollis must determine which side to take and which truth to believe. As she pursues truth and justice, Hollis creates friendships she never thought possible, experiences emotions ruled to be foolish, and discovers the world was never what she believed it was. But one thing is for certain: the truth will always win in the end. The question is, will she live long enough to see this truth finally revealed for all to witness?
First Impression 5/5
I had no idea what to expect with this series. I didn’t know what it was about. I didn’t even know the genre. NOTHING.
And when I tell you I was pleasantly surprised with the creativity and storytelling in these books, that is an understatement. Book 1, The Diseased Ones, was a brilliant introduction to this heart-wrenching and suspenseful story. It was fast-paced, actionable, and unpredictable right from the very beginning.
The Unseen Ones, book 2, was filled with even more plot twists and frustrating scenarios, and these twists were continuously elevated in books 3 and 4. The overall concept of The Hollis Timewire Series was infinitely unpredictable and clever. It reminded me of the Divergent Series by Veronica Roth, yet wonderfully original. The powers Danielle created, the character qualities and conflicts, were so imaginative and nothing like I’ve ever read. Although we see some classic powers, like fire, speed, and flight, even these were made with originality through the lovable characters Danielle created. Out of all these incredible powers, the main character, Hollis, had one of the most unique abilities that never failed to manifest conflict–both with others and within herself as she wrestled with her mentality and the lingering darkness beneath her skin. To find out what her power is, you’ll have to read this series for yourself.
As for the action, it was astounding, which is to be expected with so many strange powers and the unusual environment, although this series exceeded my expectations in every way. The action was constantly upped in each book, with heart-pounding, near-death experiences and plot twists that had me literally sobbing.
Character Development 5/5
The character arcs in this series were some of the best I’ve ever read; they’re right up there with Caraval, The Maze Runner, Throne of Glass, and other fantastic characters that make their stories come alive.
First and foremost, we have our main character, Hollis. She went through so many hardships, but these trials transformed her from a brainwashed and untrusting girl into a leader filled with compassion and a desire to bring justice to those who had been wronged. She truly grew into such a powerful and fierce fighter, and it was a beautiful thing to read.
Then we have Ashton, once a horrible and unlikable character, completely changed into a hero with a fiery determination to fight for the good of the world. I hated him in book 1, but after reading TEO, he is now a favorite character. Many authors can make a reader love the antagonist, but few can transform an antagonist into a heroic companion. But it doesn’t end with Hollis and Ashton. Each character, whether critical to the plot or supportive of it, all had a depth to them that made them so real I often forgot I was reading a fictional story.
If I listed all the characters I loved, Keith, Maddy, and Jonah, to name a few, along with the depth they individually gave to the story, this review would have to be turned into a book. The realistic qualities, flaws, and overall growth of each character brought life to the story in a whole new way. And let’s not forget the unique powers of the Diseased Ones, which added a magical feel to the narrative. Like being able to put emotion into food, placing a thought in a person’s mind and having them think it’s their own, or being able to replicate another’s power. The possibilities were endless, as were the plot twists. But the best part about these powers was that they didn’t define who the characters were. What defined them was their actions and what they chose to do with that power to better the world and achieve freedom. What defined them was their hearts and how they loved one another (except for the villains, of course).
Along with the lovable characters, we have the deeply hated ones. I honestly did not know I could hate an antagonist as much as I hated Arthur Evandrum. Danielle formulated superb conflicting characters, and there was never a dull moment. They were vicious and horrifying and never failed to provide utter shocking twists to the story. The villains in this series were some of the best representations of evil I’ve ever encountered.
World-Building 5/5
In many fantasy and dystopian settings, the world descriptions can sometimes become too much. However, the world Danielle created was as natural to me as Earth and yet so very different. Every detail, big and small, poured out of the pages and into my mind to create a vibrant, fear-filled, emotional, and broken but hopeful world. The setting itself was effortless to imagine, with the twisted society and corrupt government, as well as the fractured state of Earth as we know it. It was inevitable that I’d get lost in the physical and worldly details of this story. The setting blended perfectly with the characters and plot.
Emotions 5/5
*releases enormous sigh*
From the start of this series, there’s an emphasis on the importance of emotions. They are, frankly, portrayed in such a stunning way. In this new society Danielle developed, emotions were outlawed and considered foolish–a perfect foundation to illuminate the power and influence of emotions, as well as their importance. There’s a reason why we feel, and it should never be suppressed but exposed and confronted, yet also embraced. This series showed the dangers of what would happen should emotion overcome a person, and the beauty of these emotions if they were guided by love and compassion.
This series was a perilous rollercoaster of emotions, starting with excitement and anticipation, spiraling to frustration and sadness, then twisting toward anger and pain, and soon coming to the peak of absolute sorrow and grief that had me choking on my own tears. It’s been a while since a book impacted me so powerfully. This series made me feel in a way not many books have. It’s relatively easy to make me cry, but it can be difficult to get me to sob uncontrollably. Danielle accomplished all of the above.
Style 5/5
I will say the pace was a bit too fast for me at the start of The Diseased Ones, particularly where the romance was concerned, but it was still well-balanced and fitting for the dystopian setting and the story itself. The way things begin, fast and diving right into the action and suspense, was the perfect strategy for getting a reader caught up in the plot and wanting more to the point where one could not put the book down (until Danielle slashed our hearts in two and we could no longer read with our eyes blurred with tears. *sighs* You’re still one of my favorite authors though, Danielle).
There was a lovely consistency with the pace throughout the entire series. I never felt like Danielle’s writing shifted in style or direction. Each book held a new element of surprise and profound twists and turns that had my heart racing and fists clenching.
Cleanliness 4/5
This young adult dystopian was refreshingly clean. The reason I rated the cleanliness 4/5 is because of small details that don’t produce a huge negative impact but are there all the same. There’s minor profanity throughout the series, but nothing like most YA books these days (the cursing isn’t frequent or profuse and only used sporadically; however, there is one F-word near the end of The Empowered Ones). As for the romance…
*extreme squeal of overwhelming and utter delight*
…It was lovable and enjoyable in every way. The romantic relationships between characters were kept clean and steady, free of explicit and sexual insinuations. Instead of the characters focusing on the physical and sexual activities of a romantic relationship, they focused more on their love for each other as individuals and who they made one another when they were together. It was beautiful to read about relationships based on the foundational and lifelong details that make those romantic connections unbreakable.
The level of gore in this series isn’t too overwhelming, but with the action and battles that take place, blood and brutality aren’t out of the question. As one who isn’t a fan of violence or disturbing details, I’m here to tell you it wasn’t unbearable, but it was also very intense at times. It was thrill and heartbreak rolled into one emotion-infused story. There is much death, grief, and portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks, as well as a few scenes depicting torture. The way Danielle tackled these heavy and intense topics threw an entirely new realness to the story. Though it was painful and difficult to read at some points, it was powerful.
Conclusion 5/5
I have nothing bad to say about this series, except maybe: “WHY HAVE YOU DESTROYED ME EMOTIONALLY?!”
But, in all honesty, I would read this series again. It was an adventure I wasn’t expecting to take, and I am so grateful to have found it. To describe this series more simply, I’d use these words: betrayal, love, found family, thrilling, emotional, grief, hope, and breathtaking.
The conclusion to this series alone was one of the best finales I have ever read. It was incredible–and heartbreaking in every way–and could not have been better articulated in emotion and action. If you love dystopian, clean romance, action, and adventure, look no further. This series will take you on a transformative and emotional journey.
Final Rating: 5/5 Stars
Recommended Age Group: 14+
!Trigger Warnings!
death, violence, anxiety, grief, gore, fear, mild profanity, mentions/depictions of torture
Genres: dystopian, young adult, romance
Follow the author on Instagram: @djharringtonwriter
Follow Acorn Publishing on Instagram: @acornpublishing
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Julia Rose Books 