A Time To Die by Nadine Brandes | RE:View

Would you live differently if you knew the day you were going to die?

For Parvin Blackwater, and those living in the dystopian world created by Nadine Brandes, this is reality. A life where your Clock tells you how much time you have to live--and the day you'll die.

Up until her eighteenth year Parvin has played it safe. Her life has been vanilla when she was hoping for cinnamon. With thoughts of her final days on the horizon, she begins stepping out in a feeble attempt to save Radicals from unjust governmental rule. Her actions fall sort, but spark something inside of her. A desire for her life to stand for something. Being forced through the Wall, as is the form of justice, Parvin finds more than she ever could have imagined.

What can I say about this book? It was an emotional roller coaster for me (in the best way). I really felt carried along by Parvin and her ideals, thoughts, and actions. There were times when I was excited for her, frustrated at her, angry with her, sad about the circumstances, and oh so happy for her. I think, as is the case with a lot of first person books, there were times when I was a bit fed up with Parvin, yet I was able to see a truth about humanity in her. We make our decisions, but we're often faced with the reality that our convictions waiver. We falter, even when we're passionate about something. That's what made Parvin real to me.

I enjoyed the discovery of the world of A Time To Die. This first book left me wanting more of the world and more information on certain characters. I'll also say that the ending was...wow, awesome as well as tough and yet right. It sets you up perfectly for book two (which I'll likely be starting tonight ha!).

I definitely recommend this book to YA fans and those who enjoy a great dystopian novel. Fans of Hunger Games,  Divergent, and Maze Runner will find similar themes and a story they can sink their teeth into. Be prepared to be pulled in, emotions and all!

The lovely Nadine and I

Rating: 4.5*
Purchase: A Time To Die

Book Description
(from Nadine's site)

How would you live if you knew the day you'd die? Parvin Blackwater believes she has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the government’s crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her clock is running out.

Check out this awesome video for A Time To Speak (which releases October 16th!): 

You can pre-order it now....  A Time To Speak

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

Called to Speak Blog Hop: Silence Isn't The Answer

Today's post is part of a Blog Hop! This hop is to spread the word about Nadine Brandes’s new dystopian novel, A Time to Speak, releasing on October 16th. It is also to encourage myself and others to speak out for our passions and against injustice.

I'm taking a little bit of a different approach to this post and not talking about a typical injustice. Hopefully you'll forgive me, but this topic is something I'm passionate about.

I will speak out against...silence. 

Before moving to Washington, DC I lived in sunny Southern California and worked for a church. During my time there, I also volunteered with our awesome youth group (Souled Out) for just over six years. There aren't words enough to say how much I loved (and still love) those students. Even now I get teary just thinking about them and how much they impacted me. I know, it's supposed to be the other way around and Lord willing I did have a positive affect on them too...but they taught me a lot about fun, faith, and what it looks like to love someone.

The reason I'm speaking out against silence is simple: there's too much of it.

I know, I know...we live in a world that's clogged by noise. Texting, television, radio, music, the internet, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, movies, Netflix, SnapChat....yeah I could go on. That is noisy. We've become deaf to the language our hearts were made to speak. To the language of conversation. (tweet this)

The reason I bring up my youth group experience is because I look back on my days spending time with my students (yes, mine - I'm quite possessive of them hehe) and the amazing conversations we had. We talked about everything. Deep things. Hurtful things. Happy things. Real things. And you know what? Our friendships were (and still are) stronger because of it.

I look around me at what our society is becoming and I mourn for the loss of depth. The allowance we make for living on the surface. This isn't just an issue with Jr. High and High School students, its and issue with adults too. We talk about things like sports, fashion, the latest Netflix episodes we've watched, but we're afraid to jump into things that go beyond what's socially acceptable.

Silence isn't the answer. 
(tweet this)

We can't let silence be go-to, the easy thing we turn to when we don't know what to say. I'm not saying "surface" things are bad, but they can't be all we have. When we will post more on Facebook than we will say to the person sitting next to us on the Metro or in line at the grocery story or sitting at the dentist office...what does that make us? Disembodied voices in a sea of faceless cyber people who forgot that they are living in a real world. A beautiful world fashioned for us by our Creator.

It's time to speak up. To break the silence. To enter into vulnerability with those around us. Yes, it's scary, but you will be better for having been known. To realize that you are not alone in this world and that there is solid reality to your friendships. To your life.

Lastly, I have a challenge to parents and anyone who has input into a youth's life. Speak the real things to them. Tell them the truth and be honest. As I dived in deep with the girls in my small group I opened up who I am to them. I didn't sugarcoat my life. I admitted I struggle to find time to read my Bible and pray. I admitted when I messed up. I offered them a look into my imperfect life and I've never regretted that.

Be brave. Be bold. Speak. (tweet this)

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I definitely recommend the Out of Time series by Nadine Brandes! Book two comes out October 16th and is on pre-order now {find it here} so...you should probably go get that ;) PLUS she's got an awesome party planned on October 20th with some fantastic giveaways (trust me, I know what they are hehe!). Join the Facebook Party!

A Time To Speak
Book Two in the “Out of Time” series.

What happens when you live longer than you wanted to?

Parvin Blackwater wanted to die, but now she’s being called to be a leader. The only problem is, no one wants to follow.

The Council uses Jude’s Clock-matching invention to force “new-and-improved” Clocks on the public. Those who can’t afford one are packed into boxcars like cattle and used for the Council’s purposes.

Parvin and Hawke find themselves on a cargo ship of Radicals headed out to sea. What will the Council do to them? And why are people suddenly dying before their Clocks have zeroed-out?

Read about the first book, A Time to Die, here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's the blog hop schedule for you as well - follow along!

9.28.15 – Gretchen Engel
9.30.15 – Nadine Brandes
10.01.15 – Jason Joyner
10.05.15 – Gretchen Engel (part 2)
10.06.15 – Tricia Mingerink
10.08.15 – Gretchen Engel (Scriblerians)
10.09.15 – Emilie Hendryx
10.11.15 – Janeen Ippolito
10.12.15 – Zachary D Totah
10.14.15 – Brittany Valentine
10.15.15 – Andrew Swearingen
10.17.15 – Megan Besing
10.19.15 – Angel Roman
10.20.15 – Charles Franklin
10.21.15 – Lisa Godfrees
10.23.15 – Shantelle Hannu
10.27.15 – Natalie Walters
10.29.15 – The Artist Librarian
11.02.15 – Rosalie Valentine
11.17.15 – Amanda Fender

Winners & Such | A Time To Die by Nadine Brandes

Welp, I'm back from vacation! It was a lovely trip (check out my Instagram for some pics if you'd like to see the Oregon Coast where we camped).

And, as promised, we have a WINNER from last weeks author interview with Nadine Brandes (check out her interview here if you missed it).

Drum roll...

Brittany Valentine 

Yea! Congrats Brittany :D

But, don't worry! There are still TWO chances to win things on my blog...crazy, right?

Leave a comment on this post to enter to win a copy of Battered Justice by Linda J. White.

Enter on the Rafflecopter giveaway and sign up for my new newsletter to enter this fun giveaway!

Nadine Brandes {Writer Wednesday} + GIVEAWAY

A little bit about Nadine...

Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. Her dystopian trilogy, the Out of Time Series, challenged her to pursue shalom, which is now her favorite word (followed closely by 'bumbershoot'.) When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai, editing fantasy novels, or being a Harry Potter super-nerd, she and her knight-in-shining armor (nickname: "hubby") are out chasing adventures.

How to connect with Nadine...


-->Website: http://nadinebrandes.comBlog: http://nadinebrandes.com/blog
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/NadineBrandes
Facebook: http://facebook.com/NadineBrandesAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NadineBrandes
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/NadineBrandes
Instagram: http://instagram.com/NadineBrandes
Purchase: A Time To Die

Author Interview | Nadine Brandes

--> You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I can’t remember a time when I didn’t enjoy writing. As a kid, I processed through words and through story. I’ve journaled since I knew how to hold a pen. When I hit college, that’s when I realized I wanted to be an author… as a career. Nothing else “fit” me so I started pursuing it in a more serious way—writers conferences, research, editing, etc.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...Well, I’ve written only two books – A Time to Die (book 1) and A Time to Speak (book 2, releasing this fall) – but book two is my current favorite. You’ll have to wait until it releases so you can find out why. :P

If published, what was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...I think the hardest thing about publishing is how much changes once you’re contracted. Suddenly there are deadlines (when I previously took a leisurely three years to write book one.) I had to learn to be a more dedicated writer, whether inspiration was there or not.

...The easiest thing for me about publishing is all the “tech stuff” because I don’t have to do it! The glories of going through a traditional publisher is that I pretty much focus on writing, editing, and marketing myself. All the formatting and logistical steps are on someone else’s plate. [grin]

--> Your Writing

Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...Parvin Blackwater is my favorite character because I feel she asks all the questions that many of us asked at one time. She’s not afraid to admit she feels distant for God or doesn’t “get” the whole relationship-with-Him thing. She’s a searcher and I can relate to those years of searching for answers. I hope my readers can, too.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...I hope that my books cause readers to think about how they’re pursuing life and God. I took both for granted through my own teenage years. Life demands pursuit, and God’s given us the perfect amount of time with which to catch it. I want my readers to re-evaluate their pursuit of God and of shalom. Our lives are given to us for a purpose and I hope to live mine out. :-)

Coming out October 1, 2015

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...My inspiration comes from a mixture of real life, scripture, and imagination. But the idea for A Time to Die came from the death of a young acquaintance of mine. His death started me asking myself, “How would I live if I knew the day I’d die?” and I channeled that into a story. :-)

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Funny you should ask. I just wrote a blog post on the 8 pieces of advice I have for writers, but if I had to narrow it down it would probably be to attend a writer’s conference.

You

What is your favorite activity during the summer?
...Hunting for morel mushrooms! That’s usually early summer. And then hunting for huckleberries in late summer. I live in the perfect place for both. Yum!

Apparently August 15th is National Lemon Meringue Pie Day (who knew). What is your favorite dessert?
...I’m an old-school chocolate-chip-cookie inhaler. But, if you want to get really fancy (and deadly)… I’ll never say no to sticky toffee pudding. I had it when living in England for a few months and it’s now our go-to specialty dessert. It’s AMAZING! Come over. I’ll make it for you. :P

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Thanks so much for being my guest today. Readers - I got to meet this awesome author at the Realm Makers Conference after having connected with her online and now I get to host her on the blog! How fun? I haven't gotten a chance to read A Time To Die yet but it's in my TBR pile and I can't wait to get to it. And Nadine, it's really amazing to hear how you came up with the idea for this book. Real life sometimes provides us the opportunity to ask deep (and sometimes hard) questions. Thanks again and I hope to have you back to talk about A Time To Speak ;-)

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::WINNER::

It's time to announce the winner of this beautiful book from Sarah Sundin. I had her on the blog last week introducing this WWII romance and talking about her writing journey. She's offered one lucky winner a copy of her book. 

Congratulations go to...

Rachel Gheen

AND...because there were so many awesome comments left, I'm going to contribute another copy for the giveaway!

My second winner is...

Pattymh2000

Contact me using the from to the right so we can get you your copies! Don't worry if you didn't win here, there's still my awesome, month-long newsletter GIVEAWAY! Enter here!