The Raging Ones is Krista and Becca Ritchie’s YA novel expected to be published this August. A blend of sci-fi and fantasy, it follows the lives of three main characters – Mykal, Franny, and Court – all of whom live in a world where people know the exact day they will die. That is, until, they defy their death days.

The story tells us about their adventures, the lives they’re no longer content with living, and the emotional bonds they form – all while trying to beat a competitive selection for a space mission.

I have to say, my interaction with this book was unexpected. Familiar with K.B’s work from the past, I had a completely different reader experience with TRO. Given the genre it stands in, K.B are writing a plot-driven story which is vastly different from their previous character-driven ones. Safe to say, I was not at all disappointed.

The story is extremely interesting, and the authors do a good job of spooling together all the threads that tie together a good SFF novel – the plot, the characters, and the emotions. I genuinely felt for all the POV characters, as well as the cast of side characters that we were introduced to. Moreover, while the plot was set in an unfamiliar world, at no point did the world-building seem confusing or like a regurgitation of the plot bible. Everything was explained subtly and at the most relevant moments.

The highlight of the book for me was the interpersonal relationships between the main three characters. Their chemistry with each other was so unique (not just as a trio, but Mykal and Franny’s, Mykal and Court’s, and Court and Franny’s) and so palpable. Never did I feel like I was only being told what their emotions are towards another because it was evident in their behaviour. Their characterisation was also very consistent – which does not surprise me because K.B have always created good characters.

I’m going to keep this part review non-spoiler, so I won’t be adding how I feel about anything plot related, other than that I did not see a lot of plot twists coming (also something K.B have always been good with) and the ending absolutely blew my mind. Every subplot tied itself up quite well, I believe, and in the end, everything worked towards what (I think) they intended to achieve.

As far as criticism goes, I will say that there are certain parts of the book I highlighted as slightly confusing – and those would be the mid-POV scene transitions. Specifically, any time the setting changed within the same POV chapter, I found myself being confused because there was no indicator that the character had moved to a separate place or that a time skip had occurred. I would suggest that the editors include scene breaks to make the transitions clearer.

There are also a few scenes where the characters change actions in a confusing manner. For example, there is a scene where Court is driving a car but then starts doing things that would be impossible to do while driving – but it’s not made very clear that he has stopped the car. Nitpick-y things for me to be pointing out, but those are the only real things that took me out of the story.

I also feel like we could’ve learned more about what Court, Mykal and Franny look like. The only reason I was able to picture them very clearly was because of the Pinterest boards that include fancasts. I had no issue visualising the side characters, who were all well described and extremely intriguing, but we could’ve gotten more of what the main three looked like – especially Court. I had a hard time pinning down his appearance and ethnicity, unlike Franny and Mykal’s.

The romance in the story was pretty interesting to me but I wonder if there’s a chance of polyamory happening in the future – whether or not that happens, I still think that this is a very interesting dynamic between the three of them. I will say the romance caught me a little off-guard – not because it was unrealistic! I was just expecting some more on-paper build up and expected it to happen later in the story, so that threw me off, a little. It was still pretty sweet, though!

I’m going to wrap up this review here before I mention one spoiler that I think needs to be pointed out, but to anybody who is interested in a fun new SFF to read, I highly recommend The Raging Ones! It won’t disappoint!

[ MAJOR SPOILER WARNING: STOP HERE IF YOU WISH TO AVOID SPOILERS ]

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There is something that didn’t quite sit comfortably with me, at the 90% mark on the Kindle version of the book. After the final Saga 5 have been chosen, it says:

“Only a few candidates seem disheartened. If the mission had been to colonize a new planet, more might’ve been glum.”

I feel like this needs to either be removed or explained better. It’s confusing what the authors are implying – are you suggesting that more would’ve been disappointed if they decided to colonise a new planet because they’re against it, or would they have been disappointed because they would’ve wanted to participate in it?

I think either way, that’s (colonize) not a good word to use, especially with such a diverse cast that includes POC. Implying that any of them might want a hand in colonization – or are on the side of colonizers – becomes very tricky. It might’ve been something you could work around if it was an entirely reimagined universe or history was being coded, but since we know Earth and humans exist in this universe, it becomes worse. It will also bear on how Franny and Court are written, since they’re not just POC but also POC from Earth.

Please consider either rewriting this line or removing it altogether. Aside from that, I think the book was an amazing read. I look forward to re-reading the final copy!

"The Raging Ones" takes place on a planet far away from Earth where people have settled- the biggest change over time has been the determination of each person's deathday. On this world, everyone knows the exact day that they will die. They cannot die sooner- even trying to shoot oneself, the guns will jam. Everyone dies on their assigned deathday. According to the age you will be when your deathday arrives, you are labeled a babe (child when die), a fast-tracker (up to age 29) or an influential (someone whose life holds more meaning because it is lengthened).

The book begins with the fast-tracker Franny on her deathday. Her best laid plans go awry, and she is left on the streets when her deathday comes- and then goes. To add to her shock, she finds herself connected to two men, Mykal and Court, who have been connected to each other for a while. By connected, they are able to feel what the other feels as if it were their own. So an itchy nose on one will make them all scratch. Franny is shocked by this turn of events- no one escapes their deathday. However, she has little time to process as Mykal and Court reveal their plans to her. They plan to enter the mission to outer space. Details are vague, but you must be an influential to apply.

Set on this mission, they must work together- the penalty for them, unlike everyone else on the planet who knows their deathday, is death at any given moment, a reality somewhat terrifying to contemplate.

While the first third of the book was very slow, the last two-thirds was fantastic, and I was so glad I stuck with it. There are mysteries and friendships/enemies built throughout the book, I was completely caught up in Franny, Mykal, and Court's lives. They are each so unique and three-dimensional that it was fantastic to get to read from each of their point-of-views. The book ends with a cliff-hanger, and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the second! I wish the beginning had been a little faster-paced, but the last parts were incredible and unputdownable (making up a word here).

Overall, I highly recommend for YA lovers of fantasy/sci-fi. This seems like a fantastic and unique new series that I am excited to get into. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Krista and Becca Ritchie have done it again. I knew that I would love this before I even knew what it was about. You don't fall in love thirteen (now fourteen) books by an author without realizing that you really, really vibe with their writing style.

What I've loved about KB's Addicted and Like Us Series' so much is the way that they write unlikable, abrasive characters. I can't lie, this is one of my favorite tropes. If you can make me like someone I should hate, then I'm pretty sold on your writing. In this area, KB knocks it out of the ball park. In their Addicted Series, Connor Cobalt is arrogant and often rude, Rose Calloway is an ice queen, Ryke Meadows is rough around the edges, and Loren Hale is spiteful and cruel. Yet, I love those characters so very much. I feel for them and I CARE about them. (I wont tell you HOW I came to love them though. You'll just have to read Krista and Becca's other books. hehe.) KB made me so deeply invested in these unlikeable and sometimes hate-able characters and they do that again here with The Raging Ones. I found this especially true in Court. I went into the book wondering what his deal was that made him so closed off, but because I know KB's writing I anticipated that I was in store for something great. *hint* I so was.

Franny, Court, and Mykal all come from vastly different backgrounds, but they have one thing in common: they've all escaped their death day. In this world, Saltare 3, you're told the day that you will die and your life is organized into a category accordingly. Those with longer lives are afforded more affluence and opportunities because they have longer to live and longer to learn. Those with shorter life spans are given the awful, short end of the stick. They get the jobs that no one really wants. Needless to say, our three main characters get shafted in their lots in life. I wont spoil their backstories, but all three are interesting and help to build out and illuminate this scifi world that KB has created.

Each main character has their quirks and one of the main things that interested me was the psychology that KB built around death days. We see the panic around death mostly from Franny's point of view. Death in this book is treated so inversely of how we view it. In a world where everyone knows when they are going to die-- where people find this foreknowledge comforting because they have time to prepare and come into the world knowing and accepting their lot in life-- escaping your death day becomes even more dangerous than actually dying. We don't know why Franny, Mykal, and Court have escaped their death days, or even how they managed to do it. We don't know the particulars of why or how they're bonded together either. Obviously, I wont spoil anything BUT the way that KB reveals a lot of these answers left me on the edge of my seat! Especially when it came to everyones back stories. KB really knows how to pack a punch in the feels department!

For the most part I loved and devoured this book. I think pacing was a tad slow at the beginning because of all the world building, but to be honest this is something I expect anytime I read fantasy or scifi. By the 40% mark it really started ramping up and I most definitely binge read the last 25% of the book-- the end chapters were definitely the most fast paced.

I've only ever read contemporary new adult books from Krista and Becca because that all that they've written. I wanted to see how they were going to delve into a whole new genre and even a whole knew audience (since this series is YA) and I wasn't disappointed. On the contrary! Now I'm waiting for the sequel to The Raging Ones on top of already dying for Tangled Like Us, the latest book in their Like Us Series. All in all, Krista and Becca never disappoint! In the last year since I started reading their books they've easily solidified themselves on my list of top 5 favorite authors. I can't wait to see what else they have in store for this series. I have a feeling that-- like all their books-- each installment just gets better and better.

The Raging Ones is going to stand out from other titles in my mind for a long time. From the beginning, readers are fully immersed in the icy world the Ritchie sisters have created. Court, Mykal and Franny have seemingly beaten death. In this world where everyone knows when they will die, these three are bonded because their death days have come and gone, and yet they still stand. They are all so different, but each individual has a history that would make others bend under the struggles they've overcome. That indomitable spirit will be something they all feed on when they need renewed strength. They are each going to need to draw on that bond. Now that they've cheated death, they've decided the only way to stay safe is to compete in a space training academy to be on board the next flight off the planet. Splitting up is not an option with their senses so closely tied together, and they need to stay safe from exposure and safe from the past that is nipping at their heels.

This title wraps up as an Act 1 of sorts, and I can't wait to see where the sisters will take us next. The ending was something I pleasantly didn't see coming.

First off I have to say that I have absolutely loved the Addicted series as well as Amour Amour from this duo, so I was beyond excited to be able to receive an arc copy from Netgalley!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from their first venture into ya sci if but I was happily surprised! This was such a fascinating and unique world they were able to create and it felt so utterly real. All of the details about the world and the future sucked me in and had me asking for more.

While I loved the world and the storyline the real star of the show for me was the characters. Franny, Mykal and Court were developed so well and by seeing each of their perspectives we really got to understand their motivations and what made them tick. I loved how the three of them were so different but also worked so well with each other. Mykal and Court’s relationship was just swoon worthy and you could really see the depth of their devotion. For Franny I loved seeing her relationship really develop with both of the guys in different ways.

To me the beginning of the book did drag a bit and there were some sections and details that I don’t think needed to be explained as much.
But the last quarter of the book really picked up the pace and that ending!!! I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Review can also be found at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2418922221

***5 Stars***

*ARC generously provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This book was fantastic!! The relationship between Franny, Court, and Mykal was intense, passionate, and beautiful. These authors have a talent for character development and are excellent at showcasing all different types of love including romantic, friendship, and familial.


I seriously could NOT put this book down! It was exciting, unique, and kept me at the edge of my seat!! The world building was fantastic. The Ritchie twins painted a clear picture of their world.


I felt every single emotion that these characters felt. Fear, love, frustration, anxiousness, and more. Because these characters are connected through their senses, it was important that the authors would be able to convey all these emotions and feelings shared between three different people to their readers. They did a damn good job. I highly recommended this book! It will not disappoint!

5 Raging Stars

The Raging Ones by Krista Richie, was simply unforgettable. A truly mesmerizing tale that left my heart racing and goosebumps spread onto my skin. Becca and Krista Richie's writing delivered a romance story that was breathtakingly beautiful. It's a story that is so unique that I savored every word!

This story resolves around three teenagers, Franny, Court, and Mykal in a futuristic world.
In this world, you know when and how you will die. It is inevitable, but somehow they survived. If word got out there would be consequences. And a bond is born. A bond that is truly unbreakable.

This was a fast paced, angst worthy read that I loved immensely!
Krista Richie has rocked my world yet again.

The Raging Ones by authors Krista and Becca Ritchie is an absolutely sensational YA science fiction novel that blends perfectly together elements of dystopia and sci-fi with tangible romance, exhilarating moments of love and friendship and heart stopping excitement.

In a futuristic and icy world, every individual knows the day they will die. Living with the knowledge of your deathday is both a privilege and a curse for those who call this world home. Until three teens defy the odds and outlive their deathday. Franny Bluecastle is a tough city kid, wanting to spend her final day in the city’s most opulent hotel….until her deathday comes and she’s still alive. Court Icecastle is no stranger to opulence, but he’s also no stranger to pain and death. Having spent five years in the infamous Vorkter Prison, Court has experienced his fair share of suffering and agony. Mykal Kickfall is a fighter and above all he’ll fight for those he loves. The rugged Hinterlander is used to surviving in the harshest of environments but it’s the connection he shares with Court that is his biggest challenge yet. Then he and Court connect with Franny, drawing her into their link of shared senses and emotions. Knowing the danger they face if it’s discovered they’ve beaten their deathdays, the three teens come up with a plan; they’re going to enrol in a state of the art program where five chosen cadets will be sent into space on a top secret mission. Fighting to beat their fellow cadets in tests and training, Court, Mykal and Franny will have to be the best they can be if they hope to succeed.

I have no hesitation is saying that The Raging Ones by Krista and Becca Ritchie is nothing short of spectacular. From the perfect pacing of the storyline, to the complex, layered characters we have the pleasure of following to the beautiful and vivid connection they have together—everything was just perfect. The world was fully realised and depicted and just came to jarring life with the turn of every page.

The concepts explored by Krista and Becca Ritchie in The Raging Ones were something I really found myself getting behind. Introducing readers to three different classes of people; categorised as Babes; those who would live only to early childhood as babies and children, Fast-Trackers; those who lived as teens and at the latest twenty-nine and Influentials; individuals who would live until a hundred and who were educated and prioritised as they would live longer and therefore be in a position to give more to society and the world. Personally I thought this was a fabulous idea and the way the authors executed it was superb—it really made for intriguing reading.

The Raging Ones unfolds through the varying POV’s of Franny, Court and Mykal who were just a joy to follow. I’m honestly in love with these three characters so much. They have heart, soul, personality…..and gosh to they have a wonderful connection together. The link shared between them remains a bit of a mystery throughout the novel—no one knows its origin or exactly how it works, but it brings such a closeness to the characters and you truly feel how deeply they care about one another—it’s really perfectly written.

And in saying that I would also like to commend Krista and Becca Ritchie on the beautiful way in which they wrote the relationship and connection between Court, Mykal and Franny without needing to resort to the dreaded, and overly used, love triangle. There is absolutely no love triangle in this novel, although there is still passionate and building romance within the story. Readers who are romantics at heart won’t be disappointed with the romance in The Raging Ones and I already have hopes for more romance from other characters in the future too!

Featuring some fantastic dynamics shared between the protagonists and the minor characters included within the story that are just brilliant; Zimmer, Kinden, Gem, Paget…they all bring such life to the story and make for a lot of entertaining interactions with Franny, Court and Mykal. I honestly adored the dynamics between everyone and see nothing but potential in the future.

Brilliant from beginning to end, The Raging Ones was a joy to read and without a double one of my favourite novels of 2018 by far. The ending was unexpected and mind boggling and authors Krista and Becca Ritchie have left me beyond eager to discover what it all means and what they have in store next. Simply incredible!

Wow! This book is amazing! The story is so good! The writing is flawless. The characters are well developed. I give this book 6 stars and a strong recommendation!

The Raging Ones takes place in a futuristic world in which people are born knowing the exact day they will die. Because of this, people are put into different classifications that determine how their life will go. This story follows three teenagers who should have died, but haven’t.

I’m a character-lover, which made this book fantastic for me. I grew close with Court, Mykal, and Franny. I loved them each in their own ways. I especially loved that I could tell how very similar, yet completely different they were. I could just tell how they needed each other. The only thing that could have made it better was if the characters were funnier. They were very dramatic characters and I would say that this is a pretty dramatic book. Which almost takes some of the adventure aspect away. I think Mykal was the funniest, but he was to sad to be a comedic character. I’m not sure if that entirely makes sense, but I still loved the characters. I just hope they become more comfortable with one another.

As for the plot, I was a little unsure of how the plot was going to develop. I didn’t really know what kind of book this was going to be. The plot was going in different directions and things were very confusing at times, but I just followed the characters and it really got me through. Along the way, I was definitely making predictions about some of the side characters, that came true at the end. Which really excited me because it means for more intrigue in the coming books. Not to say the book didn’t have any surprises for me because it did.I’m also really impressed with the way that this book successfully gives attention to all three main characters and had all plot stories tie up nicely at the end.

I think this series has a lot of potential to be great and I’m very excited for its release!

Summary

Franny, Court and Mykal all meet on a planet where everyone has a 'deathday': the day where they are destined to die. But, in some cases, a deathday is escaped and fleeing the planet is the only possible solution. This is what happens to Franny and she meets Court and Mykal along the way. There is an exclusive space mission that is only open to 5 teens: and all 3 enter in hopes to escape their lives on their planet. But, will they be able to survive or crush under the pressure? 

Likes

I want to start by saying that I really love the authors. I have known of them since they were small in the new adult book community and I devoured their Addicted series as well as the spinoffs and their Aerial Ethereal series. I was drawn to their writing and how it portrayed so much emotion and rawness, in a way. I have to say that this book is similar in evoking emotion from the reader. I thought that the premise was interesting and reminded me of a Black Mirror episode, with an expiration date on your life that you're aware of. I liked the idea of having the teens possess this power that allows you to emotionally connect to one another in a way that isn't just "feelings": it's a genuine connection beyond that in the style of empathy. There is also a love triangle of sorts in this story and it isn't one of those cheesy Hunger Games ones--sorry to anyone who loves the Katniss/Peeta/Gale thing--so that was actually refreshing to see in a young adult novel.

Dislikes

Unfortunately, I disliked more about this book than I liked. It was a quick read for me, so I definitely had the intention of finishing it even if I wasn't crazy about it. I couldn't really connect to the story at all, other than emotion-wise. I wasn't enveloped in what was going to happen next and it seemed a little disconnected, in my opinion. Part of the book was about them escaping and the other half was about them competing in the competition to go on the space mission. I feel like the space mission competition was much more intriguing and interesting to me, which kept me reading. It reminded me of countless other YA books that I have really enjoyed. I also didn't feel much of a connection to the characters individually: I wasn't 'rooting' for one or another during the competition. I was disappointed about the fact that I didn't like this book because I really wanted to but it just didn't strike many chords with me. 

Recommendation

I would recommend this book to someone who is a fan of love triangles that actually make sense and who enjoy a different kind of YA sci-fi book. I feel that the authors brought their own spin and take on YA that included their NA writing, which was unique!

Back in the day, I used to read a ton of YA sci-fi and fantasy. I think I kind of burned myself out on it because, recently, I really haven't had much of a desire to read most books that fall into that category. But it's no secret that Krista & Becca Ritchie are two of my favorite authors of all time, so The Raging Ones ended up at the top of 2018's most anticipated list. I honestly wasn't expecting to be approved for an ARC of this book, but it happened and I can't thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley enough for the opportunity. I also went ahead and preordered it anyway because this is a book that I need to have on my physical bookshelf.

To start off, let me just say that I love the aesthetic of this world. It's freezing cold, it has a lilac sky, and everybody knows exactly when they'll die. Half of the world lives in opulence while the other half is fated to live fast and die young, all of this decided by their predetermined deathdays. This is such a concept and not one that I've really seen before. Leave it to these authors, I swear to god. Everything they write is gold.

One thing that I really dislike in a sci-fi/fantasy book is a lot of infodumping. It's overwhelming, it takes me out of the story, and it's often just unnecessary. I much prefer to be immersed in the new world and left to figure it out for myself. That said, I might've preferred a bit more information here because even after finishing the book, I'm unclear on how exactly a lot of things work. I mean, no spoilers, but I'm not sure that I 100% understand why the Saga 5 thing had to be a competition, how the emotional and physical link between our three main characters works, and how the whole deathday thing came about. Really, though, that's a pretty minor criticism when you consider how much I truly enjoyed this book.

If you've read anything else by the Ritchie sisters, you'll know how talented they are at writing three-dimensional characters. They could make me care about anybody, and that's really saying something. I loved Court (I got a bit of a hybrid Moffy/Farrow vibe from him) and Franny, but Mykal was my favorite. I always root for an underdog, and I just wanted to protect this big, burly kid from all of the pain and suffering in the world. I love that this book focuses on a friend group of two males and one female and there's no love triangle whatsoever. THANK YOU.

It's so weird to me that this is considered Krista & Becca Ritchie's debut novel when I've previously read fifteen of their books, but I guess that's how it goes since this is their first traditionally published novel. For me, this really showed in the editing. It's not that Krista & Becca's books are usually poorly written or anything (they're really not!) but everything in this book felt so much more polished. I'm not sure if it's because it's traditionally published and has therefore probably gone through a lot more rounds of edits or if it's just because I'm used to reading a totally different style of book from them.

My mind is blown by that ending and I don't know if I can reasonably be expected to wait until next year for the sequel. This book completely reignited my spark for fantasy and I honestly can't recommend it enough.

“Humanity,” the commander says in the background of our struggle, “what a tragic thing.”

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I am beyond impressed that this is KB's first YA dystopian novel, considering their past works. I love the Addicted/Calloway Sisters, I like the Like Us series, but those novels could be the furthest thing from this one. While it was a bit slow at the beginning, once Mykal and Court met Franny and they really got to know each other, things started to get more interesting. Especially once they enrolled in Stardust.

I had a hunch that there was going to be some sort of plot twist considering they're the only three in their world that missed their death days. What I didn't expect was that ending - to find out that these five planets are preparing for war against earth, and this entire world we've been reading about since the beginning of the novels aren't even humans. Except for Franny, Mykal, and Court. How they got these other planets, we don't know yet - but I'm excited to find out. The plot was really well done for a science fiction novel, just the kind of stuff I look for in this genre, since it's so hard to find something unique.

Another favourite aspect I loved was the development of the relationship between Franny, Mykal, and Court. I knew once Mykal and Court kissed (kudos for the LGBT+ rep!) I knew Franny would most likely be paired with Zimmer (which I hope not since I hate the idea of them being together). What I really want is for Franny, Mykal, and Court to all be in love with each other. I mean I'm pretty sure they are - Court literally refers to both of them as their soulmates. Franny loves her boys more than anything in the world. All three of them would die for each other. Yes I'm aware there are other types of love, but I personally interpreted romantic signals between all three of them. I felt that they were all in love with each other. I realize that this probably isn't going to happen, but I am happy that Mykal and Court at least admitted their romantic feelings for each other.

Also, I'm wondering if the connection between the three of them would also last on earth - it reminded me of Sense8, except without the vision. I guess we'll find out in the next novel!

I know there's still three months until this book is actually released, but I'm already dying to get my hands on the next instalment. Once again, well done KB!

The Raging Ones is unique as the perspectives are intermittent from each chapter balanced perfectly between three different character viewpoints as well as them being of another race than human. I greatly enjoyed the vast detail the author put into developing these characters and world's created within this novel. I found myself unable to put down the book due to needing to know which character was I going to read as next. Very interesting concepts are laden within, such as how these beings are able to track how long each citizen will live and their social standing is based around it completely. Eagerly anticipating the sequel!

OMG, what to say about this book without giving a single thing away?
The writing was beautiful, flowing effortlessly, with vivid descriptions and captivating characters. From the very start it gripped my imagination completely, right up to THAT ending because I totally was not expecting that ending at all. I love it so much when stories surprise me and this one thoroughly did from beginning to end.
The Raging Ones is an intense, utterly riveting book for any reader. An ABSOLUTE MUST READ. I SERIOUSLY CAN NOT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH because I sure won't be forgetting it anytime soon. It will forever have a very special place in my head and in my heart.

Franny and Court should have been dead before 29. Mykal before 8. Yet, somehow, they managed to dodge their deathdays. In a word in which everyone knows the precise day that they will die, if anyone knew that they had survived, it would likely mean their deaths. Connected by a mysterious bond, they will do whatever it takes to raise the money for a chance to leave their ice-covered world to be able to live among the stars.

So, we have two guys – Mykal and Court and a girl – Franny. I can already see the love triangle forming...except it doesn’t. In probably the most refreshing, and pleasantly surprising subversion of a popular trope, Mykal and Court are the two romantically involved. Franny is awesome, and totally cool to be friends with them. I cannot even emphasize how amazing to read a story that didn’t assume a heterosexual relationship as the default, and which ALSO manages to have platonic friendship between men and women.

There were some issues with pacing in the book. I also found the first few chapters a bit confusing, since we’re just thrown into the world with not a lot of context about the meanings of some of the words or names. The bond was also a tad weird at time, but overall, I found the book a refreshing change.

This book is just not for me, so I'm leaving it with a neutral rating. I'm sure it will appeal to other readers!

4.5 stars.

[I was provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review]

I've always loved Krista and Becca's books, they always suck me in their worlds and make me not want to leave. Last night I think I dreamed the whole night about this world, about Franny and Court and Mykal. I loved that it wasn't solely focused on romance, I loved that there was plot and fantasy and it was different from the other books written by these authors.

The book was a little slow at first and it was hard for me to get fully into it, however since the beginning I felt the interest to keep reading and to get to know what was happening, even if I really wanted to speed things up a bit.

About romance [Speculation, might be SPOILER-ISH, might be not]

[About the romance, I'm still uncertain about this, so far it does not seem there's a triangle (romance wise) but I'm scared it could develop in the next books. I hate triangles, but for these authors I'm willing to give it a shot, I'm also tempted to guess that they will surprise us and there will be no normal labels to what will happen, I'm looking forward and receptive if there's some polyamory somewhere in between the story line, or maybe even some fourth characters come into play? Well this is just speculating...

Now I can't wait to keep reading about this world and what happens next but this books has not even released yet! I will hate the wait, but I'm sure it will be worth it!

The Raging Ones is Krista and Becca Ritchie's first foray into the young adult genre, bringing together their wonderful characterisation and friendships to a fantasy setting. I first fell in love with Krista and Becca's books last year (I know, late to the game as per usual) when I finally picked up the Addicted series. After hearing that their dreams of publishing their first young adult book were coming to fruition, I was so there and couldn't wait to strap in for the ride.

The Raging Ones is set in on a unique planet called Saltare-3 — a world that's permanently Winter, with skies covered in purple clouds that obscure the stars. On this planet, everyone knows the day they will die. Those with a death day between 0-12 are called Babes; those that live till 29 are called Fast Trackers; and those that live beyond 30 are known as Influentials. It's a unique class system that's horribly discriminatory, but none the less interesting. With Babes and Fast Trackers not believed to amount to much, they are often stuck with the manual jobs while Influentials are given the chance to study and flourish as they have more years to impact the world.

This all changes with three characters that discover they have survived their death days, even though this is impossible and has never happened before. Connected to each other through emotion, touch and taste, Franny Bluecastle, Mykal Kickfall and Court Icecastle bands together to escape the planet on the one and only spacecraft that Saltare-3 has. And good thing is, they're recruiting Influentials for their secretive Saga 5 mission.

As with any Krista and Becca Ritchie book, The Raging Ones has a wonderful focus on friendship and relationships. Court, Mykal and Franny's friendship is beautiful, and it was really interesting being able to be in each of their heads as they come to terms with how their lives drastically changed with the passing of Franny's death day. With no one to turn to but each other, the three of them navigates through the difficulties of a three-person link, all the while disguising themselves as Influentials for the StarDust program to become one of the Saga 5.

I think the strongest point in this book is definitely the relationships that Krista and Becca have built. There's not a huge focus on romance, but I can say that Court and Mykal's relationship is definitely one that many readers will fall in love with as they battle with their feelings and not being able to touch, especially when they're both linked mentally and emotionally with Franny (who can feel everything that they do).

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I expected more in this book. It's a very unique concept, but the plot felt quite rushed and lacking overall. I'm not sure if it's because The Raging Ones have gone through publisher edits, but it doesn't feel like it's of the same high quality as Krista and Becca's other contemporary works. Or perhaps because I'm so used to their contemporary writing, young adult fantasy just doesn't seem to click well for them?

Regardless, I felt like a lot of important plot points are skimmed over or have been left unanswered — eg. why does everyone have a 'castle' last name?! Secondary characters were not fleshed out (which is very different to the twins' other books), and even the simplest question like 'what would Mykal, Franny and Court do if all three of them didn't make it into the Saga 5 mission?' is skipped over

I enjoyed the book overall — and that cliffhanger ending did leave me wanting more! — but I can't say that this is their best work. I will, however, pick up the next book in the duology as I want to know what the heck is going to happen next.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an eARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Raging Ones is currently available for preorder.

Firstly, Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

This is a wonderfully crafted YA sci-fi/romance that keeps you thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The story begins with Franny who manages to skip her death day in a world where everyone knows the day they will die. She then meets Court and Mykal who have also skipped their death days and these three now become linked sharing each others feelings.

In order to avoid detection, they apply for a space mission to spend the remainder of their days on a different planet if they are one of the five chosen. There are so many things happenening to each of them as they try and work their way through the space mission, including not being kicked out early as well as remaining undetected.

The final chapter is an absolute doozy and has been set up well to lead into the next story of their journey. I loved the inter-woven feelings they each shared throughout and really felt connected to them. A fantastic and epic YA journey. Loved every minute.