Book Review, International Giveaway & Apoc Love Interview: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

After war leaves most of the US in rubble, the Moral Statutes have replaced the Bill of Rights and what's left of the country is ruled by the "moral militia".  Ember remembers what life was like before, but she tries to keep her and her single mother from attracting too much attention.  Until the day the moral militia comes to arrest her mother for breaking Article 5 and to haul Ember away for rehabilitation.

Even though we don't find out much about the war, we do get a very clear picture of how extreme legislative morality might look. (And if you enjoy that sort of picture, be sure to check out Hillary Jordan's WHEN SHE WOKE too.)  Combine a zealously conservative leadership with an iron-fist mentality and an army of enforcers to back them up and you might just get a law that says only children born into wedlock are legitimate.  The moral militia weeds out moral criminals and makes a most chilling example out of them.

I enjoyed many of the world-building details here.  For example, Ember's rehab center is run by sadistic modestly dressed women whose favorite punishment is a painful knuckle rapping (shades of Catholic school nuns?).

But where the set-up is very thoughtful, Ember's nature was mostly reactive rather than reflective.  I get frustrated when the plot is propelled by a character acting rashly, which meant I yelled at Ember quite frequently during my reading.  She seemed too clueless about certain things regarding her mother and Chase (the love interest turned soldier that arrests her mother).  I will admit though that her rash actions brought about some genuinely harrowing scenes - so the novel redeemed itself with me.

Because Kristen is an Apocalypsie, we also get an Apocalypsies Love interview today!  Kristen tells us what she especially loves about her book.

What is your favorite scene in the book?

Well, I don't want to give too much away...but it involves a game of truth or dare...and possibly a kiss. I do love kissing scenes.

What is your favorite line?

I love the part where Ember finally allows herself to feel what she feels for Chase, while still recognizing that he's plagued by things she doesn't understand. She says, or rather thinks, "I couldn't speak, but if I could, I would have told him I'd missed him. That I accepted who he had become, with his guilt and his fears. That I would stay beside him as he healed." It's a powerful message for both of them.

What was your favorite setting to write?

I loved writing the Square in Knoxville. It's one of the busiest places Chase and Ember go in the book, and showcases just how bad people have it now. Starving people are everywhere, turning against each other, waiting for scraps of food that may or may not be there by the time they reach the front of the line at the soup kitchen. If our world turned to a dystopia, I could see places like this popping up across the country.

Who is a character you could see getting his or her own book?

Sean, Ember's guard at the Reformatory. He's just trying to survive, like everyone else, but hasn't managed to lose his moral compass like a lot of the other soldiers in the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Plus, some of the things he says and does sort of crack me up.

What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey?

The day my agent offered representation - that still goes down as my greatest day on this publication journey. Prior to meeting Joanna, I'd been on the agent search for a long time, and even after we connected, we didn't sign contracts until after several rounds of revisions. Finally reaching that goal was a huge milestone. I even have my agent contract framed on my wall!

Thanks Kristen!

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ARTICLE 5 is available now.  Find out more about it at the author's website.  You can also check out Kristen's preview interview from Dystopian August 2011.

Want to read copy?  I have two hardcovers up for grabs! This giveaway is open internationally. You can enter via this form until Feb 10, 2012 at 11:59 pm CST.  Good luck!

View index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore

FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher.