I couldn't put it down!

Reading The Scarlet Harvest reminded me of several incredible books, from Aldous Huxley's Brave New World to Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale and Philip Kong's Man in the High Castle, plus other dystopian and sci-fi novels.

I love the character development and level of detail in this futuristic world.

I look forward to reading more by Kate Ashbrook!

"The Handmaid's Tale meets Divergent". Well, that was accurate! What an amazing and suspenseful story! Wren is such a strong, fierce and just overall badass character. I definitely still have some questions after reading it, but it makes me all the more excited for the sequel!

<b> Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC, in return for a honest review.</b>

I personally did not love this book which was a shame because it was so highly rated. There were too many elements that seemed force and were incohesive. I did really love the authors writing style and found myself truly immersed in this dystopian world she created, even though I was very confused about what was going on and why. There seemed to be many underdeveloped subplots that had no weight to the overall plot. I felt lost at times because the plot was so choppy. Wren went to different "sections" in the plot that did not connect with each other and were difficult to understand why because they did not always follow the clearest line of reasoning. I also felt the characters and their relationships to one another were poorly developed. The love interest between Fritz and Wren seems so forced and rushed for the "feelings" they have for each other and the plot just throws it in your face even though the interactions between the characters are not meaningful enough to build the type of relationship the author is trying to portray.

The Scarlet Harvest is the first book in the Ovation series by Kate Ashbrook. It is an action-packed story full of unexpected twists and turns, gut-wrenching betrayals, and lots of drama. The characters are well-written with captivating backstories that create a roller coaster of emotions for the reader with each page they read.

The Scarlet Harvest is a book with a very interesting concept : What if people were divided depending on their genes. How would we have become that society?

We have Wren, this teenager who will soon have to take a test to know where her genes will take her on the Island. If her gene production is good enough, she might be able to keep her life as it is, but what it isn't? However, when a strange boy appears in her life, and reveals that nothing is as it seems on the island, Wren sets her mind on finding out the truth.

First of all, I thought it was a very fast paced book. You need to be aware of this before going in this read. If not, you might make my mistake and read more or less fast, which ultimately made my reading experience a bit disappointing. I couldn't keep up with all the action. There was something happening in almost every page, be it physical action or plan making. I often had to go back and check again something I had just read. My brain wasn't wired for this haha

I think this fast pace led me to not understand everything. I kept on reading, but inside, my brain was on full speed to try to catch up with the events. But on the bright side, it kept me engaged and entertained.

I also was very entertained by the theme itself. I thought it was pretty original, and I don't think I have read a similar dystopia. The plot construction was also well-thought. Of course, the main plot is more or less foreseeable, but the details around it were really good, and I didn't see everything coming. In some ways, it reminded me of Divergent (and I loooooooved Divergent). I was glad to find the littles things I loved in Divergent in The Scarlet Harvest (Union of a group against a big entity, strong bonds, a war-ish atmosphere sometimes,etc.)

As for the characters, I can say I'm very pleased with Wren's development. She goes from a smart, but obedient girl (due to her family background) to a leader in a time of crisis, and it was an enjoyable growth to follow. I couldn't care much about her love interest, whose name I have already forgotten, but I adored the little sorority we discover at some point in the book.

Wren managed to find friend of infortune, who later became true friends. I especially enjoyed Everly, this seemingly mean girl, who we actually discover a bit more through the book, and in the end, I just loved her evolution. I just have a thing for this type of arcs.

Finally, I would have loved to read more about Wren's family. Since her parents are Reproduction enforcers, whose job is to check whether people have the right amount of kids depending on their genes or not, which is something Wren grows to despise, it could have been interesting to learn more about them. We do get some kind of confrontation towards the end, but it wasn't much, and I didn't really understand the parents views of their work etc.

In the end, it was an entertaining book, but VERY fast-paced, with a somewhat predictable main plot (even if some subplots were fairly good).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an early e-arc of this book to read and review!

While I believe the premise of this book has potential, I sincerely hope that more edits are completed before allowing this to be published.

My main issue with the book is the main character, Wren. Her inner dialogue demonstrates a strength that fails to actually show up until very late in the game. She also talks about how she is not very trusting of those that live in the valley but within a few chapters, she randomly meets a boy, shares deep secrets with him, takes a very dangerous journey with him and has what felt like ista-love from the start with him... and this all happened prior to their 3rd meeting. Once we get further in the book, she doesn’t even question the role she is placed in. Sust accepts it... until she is placed in actual peril herself. I honestly felt that the book would have been better off narrated by another character or perhaps multiple POV.

I did find the plot to be interesting. The structure of the society and how it has evolved into the mess that it is, is explained well. Although, I’m sure we will still learn more along the way. The last 25% of the book, I highly enjoyed. There was action, the main character finally stepped up and was more consistent in her actions. Questions were answered. More questions were introduced. And this book does end on a cliffhanger.

The Scarlet Harvest also leans heavily on issues that we are currently seeing take place. So if you are triggered by anything to do with Covid 19, I would avoid this one.

The summary of this book seemed so interesting. However, upon reading, I felt like it was not progressing successfully for me. The plot was disjointed and the characters flat. There was not a lot that was keeping my attention as I read unfortunately.

"WHAT?!?!"
That's the reaction I had at nearly midnight, after not being able to put the book down for several hours. And now I am, of course, annoyed that I have to wait for the second book to be released.

I was super interested in reading that this book was similar to the Handmaid's Tale. I love dystopian books, and the fact that there is a little romance certainly doesn't hurt. I felt that the characters were really well-developed, I could easily picture them as I read. I was on the edge of my seat through most of the book, not knowing who to trust or what would happen next.

I have so many unanswered questions...and now I have to wait for the next book!! I would highly recommend this. Excellent storytelling. I can't wait to see what the next book holds.

The story does indeed resemble a cross between The Handmaiden’s Tale and Divergence but does have a very juvenile presentation of situations. I appreciate that the book is fast-paced and has an interesting premise, but I found it could use some more polishing.

The characters all seem to be very single-minded and come off as flat. Any problems that arise always seem to have ‘back of the book’ answer where there is always some secret entrance or tunnel to get them where they need to go or the villains writing our heroes off as unimportant to allow them to plan.

Overall, the novel has potential but could do with some editing and polishing to make the characters and situations more pulpable.

this book was cringy in the best way. as i was reading it it was so upsetting to think that this could be a possible future. but i also couldnt stop reading. it was fantastic but also horrible to read about this.

The Scarlet Harvest is the first book in the Ovation series. It is post World War III, and The Nuclei are in control. Wren, her siblings, and parents live in Hillcrest. All of the houses are the same and government flags hang from every house measuring genetic traits. Here in Hillcrest there is a two-child policy. In the Valley, it’s a one child policy. The Valley houses what are referred to as the genetically inferior. People are segregated based on their Assessment results.

Now imagine war zones, raids, and “illegal pregnancies”. Wren’s parents are Enforcers for The Nuclei, conducting raids in the Valley. If an illegal pregnancy occurs, and the child policy is broken, then The Nuclei determines what happens. They are essentially in control of women, their bodies and babies. Wren knows she doesn’t want to be an Enforcer, she wants to be a doctor. She meets Fritz, a teenage boy her age, who lives in the Valley. Fritz wants to show Wren a facility he discovered that he thinks he hears the cries of babies from inside. They both have these unexplained heightened senses and are on the cusp of taking their own Assessment.

The two of them place trust in one another to try and uncover the secrets of a government that neither of them wants to conform too. They both want to be more than what they are destined for. The book takes all sorts of plot twists and turns and the storyline moves quickly. It does give me a bit of an uneasy feeling with all of the “government control” over people, but overall it was a great book! It wrapped up nicely to lend itself into the next book in the series!

A special thank you to Kate Ashbrook, NetGalley, and Kincardin Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“I have to find happiness here. But how can I find happiness when the path chosen for me is not a path I would have chosen for myself?”

Set in a time post WWIII, Wren is a strong minded and driven teenager that doesn’t want to follow in her parent’s footsteps. In a world of strict pregnancy regulations, class systems, and a controlling government, known as the Nuclei, Wren is determined to score high on The Assessment and become a doctor. Little does she know that everything is not as it seems…

When Wren meets Fritz, her small little world suddenly becomes very large and an impossible mission leads to quite the discovery. When the time comes for Wren to take The Assessment, her world is further thrown into chaos and the story really begins.

Filled with endless plot twists, I couldn’t put this book down. I was constantly on edge waiting to see what happens next. A definite mix of Divergent and The Handmaid’s Tale but with many more elements mixed in. I felt that the characters were so well written and dynamic. I did feel that at times the plot moved along a little too quickly and left me feeling like I might have missed something, but it quickly would begin to all make sense again. There was just SO much happening. The book ended perfectly to set it up for the next installment, which I will definitely be picking up when it is released!

*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

The Scarlet Harvest is described as “The Handmaid's Tale meets Divergent,” but I liked it as much as The Handmaid’s Tale and far more than Divergent. Wren Weiss is living after World War III in a segregated world. She’s the daughter of Reproductive Enforcers, and while her parents want her to follow in their footsteps, she wishes to be assigned to a new home area and become a doctor. But that is not to be. Just after she reaches physical maturity, government officials take her to a secret place (Ovation), where “egg harvesting is a sport and, to her devastation, she is the newest competitor.” Ashbrook keeps the reader engaged from the outset with a fast-paced plotline that touches on so many themes: freedom and choice, classism, individual and society, obedience and more. The Scarlet Harvest is the first in the Ovation series, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

This book is the pro-birthers worst nightmare in book form.

*May Contain Spoilers

The Scarlet Harvest jumps right into the action. It's after World War III, The Nuclei controls everything, including family planning. Nobody is allowed to own guns. How many children you have depends on which cell you test into after the assessment, and there is no traveling between cells. Unauthorized pregnancies come with harsh consequences.

Wren comes from a family of enforcers, the people who make sure no one falls out of line. Wren doesn't want to be an enforcer though, she wants to experience more out of life. She hopes to test out of her cell and become a doctor.

When she meets Fritz she realizes things may not be as they seem. Why is there a building full of babies in what's supposed to be a barren wasteland outside of their society? Why do the guards there have guns?

First, these two characters put far too much trust in each other immediately after meeting. Like why would you tell someone about the weird secret building you found while you were illegally crossing borders after you met them once and know nothing about them?

Other than that, this story did not go in the direction I though it would go in. Wren ends up in place she had never expected.

I really enjoyed this book, it I kept going any longer I wouldn't be able to keep from spilling the entire plot. The characters are relatable and enjoyable to read about. The story was well written, fast paced and definitely worth the read.

Wow. I could not put this book down. I was intrigued when I saw that it was a similar to The Handmaids Tale mixed with the Divergent series. It's that and more. While it has the feel of those two it is unique and original at the same time. The premise is so disturbing and the author does such an amazing job of showing you the world and the history without boring or lecturing.

This book takes place after ww3 and similar to The Giver maturity is met with suppression. Mass sterilizations and the government surveillance of women's cycles are the norm. It touches on themes of classism and sexism and how notions of how poor people as seen now could become such an extreme.

The relationship between Wren and Fritz is so genuine and fun. The action is fast-paced and the setting is forever shifting and evolving as new developments take place.