The City Center

The New Agenda, Book 1

De: Simone Pond

Narrado por: Sarah Zimmerman

Ava didn't want to be right. Not about her city. Not about their leader, Chief Morray. But when Joseph gives her a secret journal from the past, the truth is revealed. She escapes with Joseph to the Outside, sending Chief Morray on an obsessive pursuit to retrieve his property. Ava has to decide if she should keep running, or return to the city center to save her people.

Gold Medal Winner Dystopian Fiction - Readers' Favorite.

©2013 Simone Pond (P)2015 Simone Pond

Reseñas de la Crítica

"This story is decorated with familiar things, and at its heart contains thrilling characters and heroic journeys." ( RevolutionSF) "The power of this novel actually comes from the world building and the action." ( Smart Girls Love Sci-fi) "The revelations before the conclusion are properly shocking and quite insidious." ( SF Crowsnest)

Unique Dystopian World

If you could sum up The City Center in three words, what would they be?

Unique,well developed characters & world building

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book tremendously and have read all of the books in the New Agenda Series

A city created in the destruction of the world...

If you could sum up The City Center in three words, what would they be?

Dystopian, Science, Realization

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ava, who's the main character is my favorite. She is different from others in the city and thinks out of the box guidlines that were given to her. She's created new but she's created with a purpose, and she fights that purpose. She grows through the book to become more than a shell.

Which scene was your favorite?

I would have to say the escape of Ava and Joseph. This shows how crafty Ava is and starts to show us that the world on the outside is different than we believed as residence of the city. That there's a whole history we are learning about, and things are different even from what we think they are in the city.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't laugh or cry at the story, but I was attracted to the story as I wanted to see what would happen next. What would the characters do in reaction. And I had to see more of the world that was created here. The world and it's people are so intricately entwined that the story drew the world for us at the same time.

Any additional comments?

I loved Sarah's tone at the beginning of the story. Ava is not happy with the way life is specifically drawn out for her, from the day of her inception. Sarah's tone sounds as it follows suit with Ava's feelings. She carries attitude, good and bad, very well in her voice. Sarah's voice has become Ava for me. She felt to slip into Ava's character in all of Ava's emotions and story. The fact that someone was reading me the story slipped away as I listened to Ava unfold and her adventure happen.

The story starts off with a strong first chapter. It builds the world and our main character, Ava, with curiosity on my behalf as a reader. There are small hints dropped of the world, inside the walls and outside, along with Ava possibly being different. This chapter was well done to bring me to want to continue. I had to pay attention closely in the audio as there is a lot of information here along with the feeling of the characters. This already feels like a deeper world and creation. It made me want to continue on even more.

The world is a combination of life in villages out in the world and technology. This had a scifi feel to the creation of the people, but it's not a complete science fiction story. This story has a dystopian side to it as the background for the creation of City Center.

The City Center

If you could sum up The City Center in three words, what would they be?

Fantastic first book in the series and want for more. I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative journey. Ms. Pond struck a great balance between story and character development. Can't wait for more. This audiobook is highly recommended

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author, at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com

There is Freedom

Simone Pond's praise worthy and unique dystopian novel truly captures the idea of how humanity's desire for control and perfection can lead to dire consequences, but through community, perseverance, and above all faith, one can be set free from the slavery of life.


Sarah Zimmerman was ideal for this narration. Her cadence was spot on and I was wholly impressed by her ability to subtly portray each character with ease and little need for flare.

I was truly impressed by this novel and would recommend it to all.

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Great book!

A very well written, performed and interesting book. The characters come alive and draw you into the world!