The Community is a dystopian novel that depicts human nature in all its hideous glory. It demonstrates the dreadful consequences for those who owe money to the community. In the Distribution Centre, a glass plaque prominently displays the rules established by an exclusive club of autocratic individuals. The primary rule is simple: work to pay off the debt or be sent to the Medical Waste Facility. Sometimes, out of greed, parents turn in their children, some as young as twelve, in exchange for money. Evie and her elder brother, Ryder, were destined for a similar fate. Now, all she wished for was the freedom and safety of her loved ones. She almost believed that was possible until her kind assignment, Oscar Hillard, passed. Elias Huntley, one of the most influential men in the community, owned her next contract. She soon discovers his obsession with her and is terrified of what might be in store for her. What are Elias's intentions? How much can Evie trust him? Will she succeed in freeing her family from the clutches of the community? Grab a copy of this incredible book to learn the answers and uncover many more surprises.
The author, Kristin Holm, has an impressive style of storytelling. The conversations and scene transitions were both wonderfully seamless. The characters have a lot of emotional and intricate backstories. It may occasionally cause you to feel sympathy, even for the bad guy. Even though this is a work of fiction, the events that transpire are entirely plausible and incredibly terrifying. The author has the talent to have her readers enthralled with her gripping story. I genuinely could not stop reading, and when I had to, I was eagerly waiting to get back to it. My favorite character, most definitely, was Evie. She was lovable because of her brave personality and strength. Her selflessness and tenacity kept me hopeful for a happy outcome for her.
This book is the ideal synthesis of mystery, drama, romance, tragedy, terror, and hope. I was astonished to discover that this was Holm's first writing project. I am looking forward to reading the next one. Although there was some explicit content and coarse language, it did not feel forced. It blended in well with the circumstances and was not out of place. My only criticism is the sheer volume of errors I discovered. Sadly, I had to deduct one star because of that. I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.
You can let your imagination run wild when reading this book. I will not be surprised if it's adapted into a television series or a movie. I recommend this book to lovers of fiction who do not mind a little profanity. Adult readers who enjoy not-too-gruesome dystopian stories will surely enjoy this book.
The Community by Kristin Holm is by far one of the most interesting dystopian novels I've ever read. It kept me gripped from the beginning to the end.
Seriously, I finished it in one sitting.
I've always been a fan of dystopias, which is why this book immediately caught my eye. And it's safe to say that I was far from disappointed. The whole aspect of the "Community" was clever and very intriguing to read about. I found myself falling into the world with the characters and imagining what my life would be, who I'd be if I was living in their society.
The author did an amazing job at developing the characters in the story. I found myself rooting for so many characters and later having conflicted feelings about some as well. It angered me but interested me all the more. And to me, that's what embodies a great book.
Going into the novel, I had lower expectations than I'd like to admit. But, I was definitely proven wrong by the end of it.
Along with the plot and characters, what made the story so fascinating was the relationships. I'm a total sucker for sibling tropes, so I thrived off of reading about the close bonds the main character, Evie, had with her older brother and little twin siblings. It made me resonate more with her character, who I ended up loving by the end of the story. Can't say the same for some of the other characters, but I won't say much more about that, to keep it spoiler-free. (Trust me, you'll want to read the book until the very end!)
Like I mentioned before, the book kept me reading for hours on end—consecutive ones, on that. And I have no regrets. I definitely look forward to reading more novels from this author if she does decide to publish more series (author, please do!), but until then, I cannot recommend this book enough.
If you are a fan of dystopias, family relationships, and boundless love in the face of despair, this book is for you.
