Three stars: An interesting read that blends a terrifying alternate history with the X Men.

Zara is sick and tired of being oppressed, and having to watch her every move. She wants to stand up to the Nazis and fight, just like her mother. It has been eighty long years since World War II ended with an Axis victory. Germany, Russia and Japan divided and conquered the Ally territories. Zara lives in the Eastern America Territories, ruled by the Nazis with an iron fist. Zara's life is one of hardship as she labors all day in the Nazi school as a janitor, and at night, she works her family farm with her uncle. When the Nazis execute someone that Zara holds dear, she is done with being submissive, she wants to stand and fight. Then the opportunity to do so lands in her lap. Will Zara and the Rebels rise up and take back America from the Nazis?
What I Liked:
*Nothing To Fear presents a frightening alternate history. In this book, we get a glimpse of what the world might be like if the Axis Powers had won WWII. Needless to say, it is a frightening and fascinating premise. I liked exploring this alternate reality, and I was surprised by some twists.
*One of the twists is the idea of the super soldiers. Genetically modified humans that have special powers, allowing the Axis powers to conquer and win the war. Eighty years later, children are born with mutant genes that gives them fantastic abilities. I was surprised to discover the whole X Men theme in this, but I ended up enjoying it.
*For all you romance lovers, there is a tiny hint of a forbidden romance. It starts out as an unexpected friendship and alliance, and then it slowly moves into something more. The romance hasn't fully rooted or developed, but I liked that. It is subtle and more of a background story.
*The world building is good, and I appreciated the depth and detail the author provided with her vision of the world with an Axis Power victory. It was scary and yet interesting. It certainly made me stop and pause what the world would have been like if things had gone another way.
*There is plenty of action and danger, and the book moves at a quick pace. It never lets up, and there is hardly a moment to catch you breath.
And The Not So Much:
*The ending draws the book to a close, but it things aren't completely resolved. This book was published back in 2014, but at the time of this review, there is no sign that a sequel is in the works. I found that frustrating. Even though this one doesn't end with a cliffhanger there are many unfinished story lines.
*I have to admit that I struggled a bit with Zara, the main character. She is young, determined and impetuous. So much so, that she continually makes bad decisions and puts not only herself in danger but her uncle and friends as well. While I admired her fierceness and her courage, I didn't approve of her reckless behavior. She is a character that requires patience.
*I wished that there had been more originality with the mutant powers. It felt like this copied the X Men as you have a character who can change her appearance into anyone, someone who can wield lightning and wind, another character who is incredibly strong and bullet proof, and someone who can control minds. Does that sound familiar?
*There is an ongoing theme regarding Zara's mother and her death. There is little information on exactly how she died during the failed raid. This is an important part of the story as it is what drives Zara.
*Even though I liked the world building and the author's vision, I found that I longed for more details. I wanted to know more about the sections of the world that were governed by the Japanese and the Russians. I wished that there was more depth and detail with the alternate history and the world building.

Nothing to Fear is an exciting and chilling vision of the world after a win by the Axis Powers. I liked exploring this terrifying and dangerous world, and I liked the X Men vibe. This is a fast paced thrilling read. My only hesitations are that it ends with an open ending and there is no sign that a sequel is in the works. I also struggled a bit with the impetuous behavior of the main character, and I am hoping that she will grow and mature if there is a sequel.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.