DNF YA Review: The August Five

The August Five by Jenna Helland, November 10, 2015. 320 pages. Published by  Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR). Source: ARC received from publisher.

Tommy Shore is the son of the most important man on Aeren—a high-ranking politician who wants nothing more than to take away all of the rights of the lower-class cottagers. Tamsin Henry is the daughter of a revolutionary man who has hopes of overthrowing the corrupt politicians, also called the Zunft, the group that holds all the power in this world.

The two sides clash when Tommy rescues Tamsin during the August Rising, a cottager attack organized by a group of rebels known as the August Five. He starts to question the motives of the Zunft and realizes that it will take all of his resolve to stand up to his father and fight for the rights of those who have none.

First Sentence:
Tamsin Henry clutched a wooden matchbox that fit neatly into the palm of her hand.

Sometimes, there comes a point when you just cannot carry on reading a book. Well that point hit maybe sixty pages in to The August Five by Jenna Helland.

• My biggest problem with this book was that it was too similar to so many other young adult books out there that I just could not find it in myself to care. The characters were lackluster, the plot was something that has been popping up more, and more recently. Final nail in the coffin, I just did was not hooked or even intrigued.

• While I do love a good book about rebellion/clash of two differing sides, this one was just lacking. I do hate to be mean, but it was not original nor a different enough take on the same story-line to warrant continued reading. Certain aspects of the plot, like the rebellion led by a group that was subjugated to another, reminded me overly of another (really popular) YA series that recently ended. Throw in what you could sense brewing in the author's mind of the fate of Tommy and Tamsin and...

• The writing, while not terrible was not helped by the plot. Even though I did not care for her debut, I would actually be willing to give Jenna Helland's writing one more chance. It could just have been the wrong book for her style. 

Final Verdict: The August Five- Everything about this book was too much trended to fit the niche of what's hot in young adult books. Not impressed, but willing to give the author another chance down the lane when she writes something else.

An advanced copy of this book was received in consideration for review from the publisher. All thoughts are my own.