On Tour with Prism Book Tours
It's a new type of dystopian novella! Welcome to the blog tour for Altered Helix by Stephanie Hansen. Read my review and then follow the rest of the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the great giveaway!
Altered Helix
(Altered Helix #1)
By Stephanie Hansen
Young Adult Fantasy Novella
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 96 Pages
May 19, 2020 by Hypothesis Books
I didn’t want to take the traditional path. First, I wasn’t ready for college. Second, I was going to live with my best friend, Tiff, and work at the Haunted House. Third, did I mention the hot guy Josh that works there too?
The most exciting thing about Austria’s new job, at a local haunted house, was the fact that the toughest looking people screamed the loudest. But when she meets the boy without a home, Josh, Austria's life takes intriguing and eventful turns. Up until now, Josh has managed to hang with his Street crowd, but they’re in danger, and so is Austria, the girl Josh recently fell for. The group finds themselves joining forces with previously considered enemies who also now find themselves in danger.
Deeply compassionate and full of twists, Altered Helix captures the struggle of polarized people that must work together for the greater good.
The most exciting thing about Austria’s new job, at a local haunted house, was the fact that the toughest looking people screamed the loudest. But when she meets the boy without a home, Josh, Austria's life takes intriguing and eventful turns. Up until now, Josh has managed to hang with his Street crowd, but they’re in danger, and so is Austria, the girl Josh recently fell for. The group finds themselves joining forces with previously considered enemies who also now find themselves in danger.
Deeply compassionate and full of twists, Altered Helix captures the struggle of polarized people that must work together for the greater good.
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**My thoughts**
Right off the bat, I was drawn into the story with the main character and narrator, Austria, pretty much insinuating that she was dying. And then the questions began. Why is she dying? What is going on in this world? And of course, is she actually going to get out of this?
Some of those questions were answered. I can't tell you which ones because of spoilers. But I can tell you that the setting seems to be in the relatively near future, based on some pop culture references. The federal government no longer exists and now states are fending for themselves. People are pretty much divided up into about four different groups. But I want to understand more about what got society to this point. What actually happened? I feel like I missed that part.
I have a lot of questions about Austria's father. Then again, so does she in some ways. We explore those questions together through the novel.
I admit I glazed over a little bit as they were setting up the haunted house. I know the purpose was to introduce the different groups of kids to each other and to set up Austria's psychic abilities. I will say it is an interesting way to bring a group of kids together. And I think there is more to come with what was really happening at that haunted house in later installments of the series.
And I will say that many aspects of this story do fit in with current situations in society. But to get into the parallels would be giving away too much of the story. It did get my brain churning at some points.
I did find this story interesting. I will warn readers that if you want resolution in one installment before moving on to the next or are adverse to cliffhangers, don't start this one. It does end with a lot of questions and a cliffhanger. You're not going to feel satiated without continuing on. I may do so to find out what happens.
I received a requested review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
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About the Author
Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft Award Winning Author. Her short story, Break Time, and poetry has been featured in Mind's Eye literary magazine. The Kansas Writers Association published her short story, Existing Forces, appointing her as a noted author. She has held a deep passion for writing since early childhood, but a brush with death caused her to allow it to grow. She's part of an SCBWI critique group in Lawrence, KS and two local book clubs. She attends many writers' conferences including the Writing Day Workshops, New York Pitch, Penned Con, New Letters, All Write Now, Show Me Writers Master Class, BEA, and Nebraska Writers Guild conference as well as Book Fairs and Comic-Cons. She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card and a signed paperback of Altered Helix (US only)
Ends February 3, 2020
Tour Schedule
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card and a signed paperback of Altered Helix (US only)
Ends February 3, 2020
