5 stars. Happy New Year! I’ve been absent for quite some time, 2023 has been a turbulent year for me and less books could be read than planned. I’m very behind on a few ARCs that I received, including this one, and I apologize for the delay in posting these reviews.

And what a book this was, it’s definitely one I will remember. Amongst other things I had been in a book funk for a while and it has been a long time that a book was able to keep me awake to ‘just read one more chapter’, but this was the one. If you like dystopian books or enemies to lovers storylines you want to read this tale of an heiress who is kidnapped by rebels, or better yet, a rebel and slowly falls for her captor. This book obviously has a romance, but this is not the main focus of the book. It is the world they live in, the politics and how it changes. When does something change for the better and what is the power of power?

The book is written in first person, something I’m partial to as you really get to know the person in who’s perspective you’re in but it also keeps some mysterie about (thoughts of) others. The characters are great, they feel real, they have shortcomings but still are likable. Besides the two main characters there are several side characters, all with their own personalities and there are several villains in this book, but who are the villains exactly? This is something I’m not going to say more about, you’ll just have to read it, but the book has some interesting twists and is hard to put down. The only drawback this book had for me is that it ends too soon, especially what happens in the last couple of chapters was surprisingly fast for me and I was suspecting a different turn of events there.

So, in short, a good reminder for those that have not read this book yet, go and read it. I absolutely recommend it.

<i>I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Title: The Order
Author: TJ O’Shea @tjosheaauthor
Summary: A smile, a dance, some flirtatious banter—and witty heiress Luciana Piccolo was swept off her feet. Literally.
When a mysterious, gorgeous woman whisks her onto the dance floor at her father’s masquerade ball, Lucy is thrilled to break the shackles of her privileged but purposeless life. But when the same woman kidnaps her and whisks her to the hideout of the rebels fighting to topple the regime she’s set to inherit, Lucy isn’t thrilled to be actually shackled as a prisoner. She is forced to accompany her abductor—a laconic, rigid assassin named Taylor—across the war-torn regions of the former United States as Taylor carries out perilous assassinations and leads the growing rebel army.
Relying on each other to stay alive, the antagonistic spark between Lucy and Taylor smolders into an ardent flame. Secrets unravel and the stakes get fatally higher, as the battle between new love and old loyalty may prove more dangerous than the war they’re trying to survive.
Copy provided by @netgalley in exchange for honest review.
Likes: Futuristic setting, powerful women from opposing sides, beautiful tension created between the main characters, love story isn’t the only plot. All around great read!
Dislikes: I felt the ending rushed after the first ⅔ of the book was so thorough.

Writing dystopian fiction requires a clear vision and effective world-building as well as an interesting story. It’s not an easy ask but O’Shea manages those aspects of The Order very well.

It’s disturbingly easy to imagine this future version of the USA. As an outsider watching the current events unfolding there, a civil war feels disturbingly close. Before Trump, I wouldn’t have credited that a political party that prided itself on morality and the rule of law would so readily defend a corrupt insurrectionist, but there it is.

Some aspects of O’Shea’s worldbuilding, like the rule of districts by what amounts to wealthy business people maintaining authoritarian control via military might, seem all too plausible. While I enjoy a strong, badass female lead, I find the character of Taylor to be less plausible, however. It may be ageist of me, but I would find her impressive range of skills – both physical and behavioural – to me more plausible in someone at least a decade older than Taylor’s nineteen years.

The rebellion has a very Hunger Games feel to it – which is an observation rather than a critique. Rebellions are generally a grassroots movement of those who feel disenfranchised rallying behind a charismatic leader. (I just realised that I probably described Trump and his supporters there, and though it made me gag to describe a moron like Trump as charismatic, it gives me pause.)

Am I taking a romance novel too seriously? Perhaps. But dystopian novels are meant to make the reader question the world we live in today. To ask ourselves if this is a possible future we could find ourselves in so that we can take steps to avoid it. Viewed this way, the romance provides a lighter parallel story to make the heaviness more palatable.

As a dystopian novel, The Order shines. The romance is secondary in the story but is also well done. It’s an enjoyable novel and one that I feel happy to recommend to lovers of dystopia.

I was originally excited to read The Order. The problem for me was that it took way too much time for the story to pick up. That, plus being in first person (which it takes a really special writer to pull me in when it comes to first person narrative) – it was really hard for me to get in to. I didn’t really understand the attraction. It felt a bit forced. I did like the world the story took place in, and O’Shea is a talented wordsmith. The story itself just wasn’t for me, but if you have the patience, the story will pick up and you will have a good ending.

I really enjoyed this book!

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but even though our circumstances were different, I bonded with almost all the characters, except Theia. I wanted to smack her silly, but she would, and likely would, kill me. All the others were memorable and well-developed. They were all pretty well fleshed out, although we don't discover most of their backstories for some time.

The premise seems pretty simple, but the execution of the premise builds into a multi-layered plot that blended itself naturally to pacing that kept me up looong past when I should have been sleeping.

It's a terrific book that I didn't want to end, and I believe would even make a gripping mini-series one day (HINT, HINT BELLA BOOKS!)

This is one of the books I'll be re-reading every year, if only to hang out with these people for just a little while longer.

A TEN STAR BOOK!

This was a very engaging read. The author had me engaged from the start to the end. The main characters were excellent and had amazing chemistry. The secondary characters were also likeable. TJ did an amazing job with this one. Well done 4.5 stars

I do enjoy Ms O’Shea’s writing style and ability to create a world. That was certainly on show here. Starting the book, I was unsure I’d enjoy it as it’s not my usual fare. It’s a dystopian, sci-fi, militaristic, Stockholm Syndrome story… But I’m glad I stuck with it. The beginning is slow as you try to figure out who does what and why but about 20% in, I was totally hooked and racing through the story.

Taylor is an excellent lead character. She is honourable and brave but incredibly naive. Lucy is a spoilt brat with no real purpose in life. They make a very odd couple indeed. But because the author has the action front and centre with the relationship building slowly and organically in the background, it does feel credible.

The ending is complex and clever and shows a master storyteller keeping all her plot lines flowing nicely. Recommended if you’re looking for something a little different in your lesfic reading.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

This was my first time reading this author. The book was so engaging I finished it in one sitting despite it being quite long - it was a long day but I just couldn’t put it down! The two main characters had chemistry jumping off the pages and both were very relatable. The rebellion storyline was really gripping. It was quite gory at times but I did not mind. Having Taylor’s point of view earlier in the book and splitting the two POV’s 50-50 may have potentially improved the book but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and hope this turns into a series. I will keep an eye out for this author.

I love TJ O’Shea’s first two books, so I was excited to read this, especially after some positive early reviews. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. While I did love the ending (yay!) and it picked up about 70% through, the beginning dragged. The politics were interesting and world-building was creative, but the romance wasn’t there initially for me. The author excels at putting two very different characters together - a writerly feat! - but in this case it took me a long time to understand why these 2 would be together. There were a couple plot points I didn’t understand- like why isn’t Lucy simply imprisoned and why the code names? The pros: the ending is sweet, interesting alternate reality, O’Shea is masterful at similes/metaphors, great side characters, and I did find myself wondering what would happen to these two as I went about my day. The cons: slow and not enough chemistry, a bit anti-climactic.

Short summary: in a dystopian US, there are the rebels and the wealthy region leaders. When Taylor (rebel) abducts Lucy (leader’s daughter), Lucy is pissed that the gorgeous woman dancing with her was all an act. Worse, she’s forced to accompany Taylor on assassination missions. The further Lucy gets from power, the more she starts to see the truth, the more she evaluates which side (if any) she wants to be on, and the more her attraction to her captor grows.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

In T.J. O'Shea's latest novel, she masterfully delves into the realm of dystopian fiction. I absolutely adored her last romance novel, To Be With You, but to be honest this was just as good but with a more compelling storyline. The Order absolutely captivated me with its intriguing plot which was packed with twists and turns. Although this novel starts untraditionally with a kidnapping and then a slow burn romance between the kidnapper (Taylor) and victim (Lucy), the way O'Shea turns this tale makes the romance itself feel beautiful and organic, rather than perplexing. A feat seeing as though we are privy to Taylor's actions throughout and she does not hold back as an assassin.

This book is long at 396 pages but not once did I feel as though it was unnecessary in its length. I couldn't wait for my day to end so I could spend an hour or so in this dystopian world that featured fantastic characters and a thrilling plot. The Order is another absolute must read from O'Shea.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley for the adv anced reading copy of the order. this was such a cute and romance lgbtq book. I really enjoy this and the writing style.

If you are looking for an amazing Sapphic, action/adventure tale with a simmering slow-burn romance and characters that will worm their way into your heart, then The Order by T.J. O’Shea is the book for you. Honestly, this novel grabbed me on the first page and never let me go. I almost cried when I reached the end because I didn’t want to leave this world and the folks I’d come to love.

The story takes place in a future time where the United States has broken apart into regions. Each region is controlled and ruled by a rich and powerful upper class group while the rest of the population (the underclass) lives in wretched poverty. We see the story mostly through the eyes of Luciana (Lucy) Piccolo, the only child of the ruler of the Northeast Region. Lucy’s life takes a dramatic turn when she is kidnapped by the lead assassin of The Order of Prometheus, a rebel group fighting to overthrow the upper class rulers and bring the regions back together under a democratic government. The assassin is called Eos, but her real name is Taylor, and she’s been with The Order her whole life.

This novel is one of the most expertly crafted tales I’ve read in a while. The main characters are both loveable and flawed at the same time. Even the bad guys have their good moments…most of them anyway. The setting is kind of terrifying because I could see the U.S. devolving into something not that different than what you will see here.

The Order is a well-written, remarkable adventure and romance novel that you do not want to miss. It has my highest recommendation.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

Definitely one of the best books this year, The Order is a book that will stay with me and be on my re-read list for the foreseeable future. This book fills so many categories it’s difficult to pin down how to describe it. The post apocalyptic backdrop is a favorite of mine, but the story adeptly focuses on Taylor and Lucy. The plot weaves around these two amazing and different women in a fight for their lives and their love, not just for their physical survival but for their psychological survival as well. Neither woman is a true hero with their inherent and sometimes despicable flaws, but they are heroic nonetheless. This is an amazing story not to be missed. Thank you to the author, Bella Books, and NetGalley for the advance read in exchange for an honest review.

4/4.5. An eat the rich dystopian novel. Love TJ O'Shea novels! I would of enjoyed 3 books in this universe. This novel takes place in a dystopian setting where the US is split into regions controlled by birthright. There is a revolt taking place where the poor want to override the rich. A rich heir is kidnapped during a mission by the revoting class. Follow a soldier bred to kill, teach a princess how to survive and thrive, also maybe change her views on life. The story starts off with action and you don’t really get a shift until the POV changes at like 80%. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Order is a story of enemies to lovers, learning to deal with what is thrust upon them, events that shake the foundation of what they thought they knew and who they thought they could trust. Set in an alternative dystopian United States, this massive story (150k or so) starts slow, as would building information is given, and the two MCs interact. It was a decent story overall; it felt like some parts felt drawn out and a bit repetitive for me, but the twists and turns kept me hooked.

On January 10th I reviewed O'Shea's second book, To Be With You, and in that review, I gave some of my highest regards to this author and I'm happy to say that I still stand by every word.

The Order follows the story of two characters who are initially on opposite sides of a rebellion. We have Lucy, an upper-class heiress and Taylor, an assassin for the anti-upper-class rebel force.

The book starts off with Taylor botching a mission to initially kill Lucy and her father but ended with her kidnapping Lucy to use as leverage.

I don't wanna give too much plot away so that's the most I'll say about that.

There also is not much that I can say that has not been said so I'm gonna just say some things that I had an appreciation for.

Writing: In my review of the first book by this author, I stated that it felt a bit stiff, almost as if she were playing safe with her debut and I'm so happy to report that this was anything but stiff.

After the success of books like The Hunger Games and Divergent, books dealing with rebellions took a popular format almost trying to replicate the feel of those books. Authors would ditch any specialization in a halfway attempt to replicate that angsty atmosphere. So I must say, I was initially hesitant when finding out this book took place in such an era.

But again, so happy to say that Tj O'Shea took this plot and made it her b****.

The writing is so beautiful and again usually with books like this authors flock to over-description to try and create a more tense setting but O'Shea stays away from that dilemma and gives us a very easy-to-read yet not too surface-level interaction with the plot.

There are also handfuls of quotes and one-liners which stopped me in my passionate reading because of how beautiful they were.

Characters: She gives us very complex characters with their own levels of personalization and lovable traits. Taylor is initially a hardass and guarded assassin but as the book goes on you see the cracks in the tough exterior she built and out comes an adorable sweetheart who deserves the world.

Lucy is... unexpected. She's caring but understanding and very adaptable. I'm not too sure how the ending suits her character but I'm not mad about it, to be honest.

Taylor and Lucy are hard not to love and you just can't help but root for them the entire book. Their chemistry ran rampant from the very second they meet and it only grows exponentially. Even the side characters wiggle their way into your heart with Mason and Delilah being two of my favourites as well.

Plot: Very original plot, again not too complicated but also not too simple. There are also several plot twists and emotionally draining moments that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was gonna happen next. There are no fillers also, every chapter, every line, and every plot point contributes to the storyline. Something to appreciate in this day and age of media.

I did have one very small discomfort with this book though. Their ages. The book begins with Taylor at 19 and Lucy presumingly a bit older than that. I just feel like for their ages, for Taylor to have that rank and level of respect along with Lucy ending up where she does by the end of the book is a bit odd. It's not a big problem for me but it does seem a bit unrealistic and unnecessary, I don't see the harm in her being a bit older.

She is supposed to be groomed to be an assassin and leader so it's not the most illogical step at the beginning of the book especially seeing that she is talented and trained others. But the end sees a big power shift in the rebellion forces and I'm just not totally sold on the idea of Lucy getting the place she does.

Again, not a significant problem just a questionable one.

I both loved and hate finishing this book because it was just too soon!

O'Shea has done what has never been done before- added two books one right after the other to my list of favourites. It goes without saying that I HIGHLY recommend this and any other book by this author, I've yet to be let down.

ARC from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review!

A bit of world setting at the start. Although set on earth, it is a very different, but unfortunately not unbelievably different, former US.
The first chapter is action packed. The writer has the ability to describe action in such a way I can picture it as I get swept along, but not so much detail I am bogged down.
The action continues for pretty much the whole book. One of the aspects of this novel I am loving is we are being shown on the page, the love developing between the mains, not just “told” told how characters are feeling.
There is humour in this book and some wonderfully constructed sentences. There is also violence.
I have not been so riveted by a book for a long time. I've had romances that have been compelling, how will it end? How will they surmount the insurmountable? But this is more!
When the voice of the narrator changes almost 3/4 way through, it is quite a change. Totally in keeping with the story but an obviously different voice.
I think every part of the plot I guessed, I got wrong. It didn't matter cos the actual plot twists were better!
I found the change of narrator for the last part of the book impacted my reading. Because it was still told from the narrator’s point of view, which was the other main, I kept forgetting it was a different view. I understand the writers choice, possibly only choice due to a plot twist, but it interrupted my reading. This interruption is the only reason this is not a 5 stars. I do feel slightly mean about it because it was 5 for the rest of the book, but the line has to be somewhere.
This is a long, enjoyable novel.

This is an dystopian epic story filled with action, philosophy and love. Luciana Piccolo is the privileged only daughter of the Northeastern Regional Leader of the old United States He rules his area and his subjects with little regard for their well-being. The US has had a rift and each region has a leader with their privileged families and friends and an army to keep the underclass at bay. On the night of a masquerade ball Luciana is captured and taken prisoner by the rebellions greatest soldier, Taylor. Taylor has been raised from birth to be a fighting machine and is highly skilled. Her adoptive mother, Theia, is the leader of the rebellion and she is a ruthless and very tactical general.

This story is filled with many great side characters and continuous plot twists. As Luciana is forced to accompany Taylor on many military missions, a bond forms between the outgoing Lucy and the very reserved Taylor. So much snark passes between them, it lightens up the heavy, death and destruction taking place.

O’Shea sprinkles the story with many philosophical thoughts and takes the book to a much deeper level. Such as a persons memories and stories of a deceased loved one keeps them alive in everyone’s hearts.

This is the sapphic book I’ve been looking for since reading “Charon Docks at Daylight”. It is a fantastically written book and I couldn’t put it down. O’Shea has moved up on my list of favorite authors and I can’t wait for her next book.

ARC received from NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.

Set in a dystopian future. The story of Taylor, a rebel, and Lucy, daughter of an elite leader. This is written in the first person from Lucy’s perspective for about ¾ of the book. The thing I didn’t like about this is that we do not see exactly what Taylor is doing when she is not with Lucy. We hear about her exploits but I would have liked to actually have been there (so to speak). It is still interesting as there is quite a lot going on even where Lucy is. The last ¼ of the book (except for a bit at the very end) is from Taylor’s perspective. The story is quite engrossing and has quite a lot of action – romance, love, betrayal – what more could you want! But the final few chapters - WOW.

Luciana Piccolo is kidnapped and taken as hostage back to the HQ of the Order of Prometheus. This rebel group is trying to remove totalitarian leadership from the remaining regions that make up what used to be the United States and Lucy's father is the leader in the Northeast. Lucy's kidnapper, Taylor begins to show her the ropes around HQ and before Lucy realizes she's right in the middle of the action and questioning where exactly her home is.
I have really enjoyed O'Shea's previous books but this one really blew me away. It starts out quickly, jumping right into the action and the world is built bit by bit throughout. This dystopian future with 5 regions under seemingly equally horrific leaders pulls you right in. The plot keeps you so invested and the action doesn't seem to have any lulls, pulling you along through new revelations that just keep getting better.
Lucy is stuck in the middle, knowing the unsavory realities of her home region and also pulled into the idealistic hopes of the Order. Taylor is a mystery to start out with, giving little insight into her thoughts, just as you'd expect from a person of her militaristic background. As we get to know her little by little you understand her actions and why she continues even when she'd like nothing better than to run away.
The first 2/3 of the book are told from Lucy's perspective and then we jump to the last 1/3 told from Taylor's. This was pretty unique and the change kind of threw me a bit but I really liked how we got to know Taylor so much better.
I loved all the side characters in this, Mason, Hunter, Delilah, Theia and more all added to this wonderful plot. Each has good and bad qualities and their reactions seem so human and their histories with each other are all so closely tied together. I loved how they played off of each other and how they come together as a team, especially in the final portion of the book where we see Finley and Cassie added to the group.
I think the one gripe I had about this was the MCs ages, their experiences and actions put them at the very least in their late 20's but they are supposed to be only 19 and it feels a bit unbelievable in a few parts. I think especially with Lucy's final position their age just seems to me to be too young, even in a society like this where kids would have to grow up more quickly.
This is definitely going right back in my TBR, I really enjoyed Lucy and Taylor's epic adventure and will be reading it again in the future. O'Shea is now an author on my must read list, especially after reading this one that is so different from her previous two. If you're in the mood for a fun adventure in a future dystopian setting full of political intrigue and rebellion plus a side of romance this is the one you're looking for.