Edge of the Barrier

The Barrier Series, Book 1

By: Aleese Hughes

Narrated by: Kasey Miracle

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

“Aleese Hughes has a flair for writing. Her characters are real, the plot is exciting, and the descriptions are spot-on. I literally couldn’t put this book down.”—Readers’ Favorite

No one alive remembers that day. No one alive remembers the monsters that destroyed the world. Anne Blankenship has only seen blurry photographs and rough sketches of the aliens. All she knows is that one day, they invaded Earth, and then the next, NewMerica was forced to live within a force field to protect its people from the creatures.

But for Anne, that happened over a thousand years ago, and all she cares about now is to pass her career test and become a doctor like her father. But riots in the streets and rumors of rebellion distract Anne from her main goal. Not only that, but the announcement of "The Royal Lottery" and a chance to meet the prince add to the chaos around her. Little does Anne know that these events will lead her to break both physical and social barriers alike.

©2023 Aleese Hughes (P)2024 Aleese Hughes

Interesting read but beware it is a cliffhanger!

Ann is at the end of her education so now it is time for the tests to see what her career path will be.

Then comes the first lottery to go to the ball at the to be in the running to marry the prince. Ann has no desire to enter the lottery but her grandmother does it for her.

This is a story about a world that has been ravaged by war and the end results shape the new norm. But is everything as it seems.

You will have to read for yourself to see what happens in Ann's life. But this is a cliffhanger.

This is my honest review.

Dystopian wonder

A story with a sensation of Hunger Games meets fairytale ball with a twist. With exceptionally developed characters, Hughes sets the scene for a perfect dystopian novel. The story is well developed and perfectly narrated. With a strong female lead the story progresses at a nice pace. A great start to what I expect will be an exceptional series! Can’t wait for book 2.

Very good. Very Hunger Games

This is similar to the Hunger Games so if you enjoy that, you’d love this. It’s not exactly the hunger games either. It’s a different dystopian story. Supposed to have aliens, but in book 1 they are just mentioned. I am very intrigued to know how this is all going to play out.

That was one hell of a cliff hanger ending

My jaw dropped on the floor. This book was incredible ❤️. This book kept my attention the whole time.

Engaging YA Fantasy

This was my first experience with Aleese Hughes' work, and it won't be my last. Once the audiobook started, I was so caught up in the story that I listened until the end in one sitting. Anne Blankenship wanted to become a doctor like her father. Riots in the streets and the announcement of "The Royal Lottery" were two distractions that Anne didn't need as she worked to attain her career path. The worldbuilding was complicated. There was plenty of action. I liked the character of Anne as she faced her obstacles. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Kasey Miracle's narration was great, and her performance enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which contained my opinions.