#Bookreview of THE THREAT BELOW (Brathius History Book 1) by Jason Latshaw

BLURB:

A Heart-Pounding Dystopian YA Thrill-Ride

Three hundred years ago, something arose and pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. Now, a small remnant – the descendants of the few survivors who were able to escape the massacre below – lives above the clouds, on the top of a mountain. But there’s been a change. Their water supply is being poisoned. Someone, or something down below is trying to kill them. Now an expedition, including seventeen year-old Icelyn Brathius, must descend and face the monsters that wiped out civilization centuries ago.

The Shocking True Nature of the Threat Below

As Icelyn faces dangers in a world humans are not meant to survive, she learns that not everything is as it seems, uncovers an ancient revelation, and then faces a choice that may change the fate of everyone above and below the clouds.  Will Icelyn be strong enough to both survive and bear the terrible secret?

Join Icelyn Brathius as she leaves everything she has ever known to journey to the place no one was ever supposed to go.

Read This Page-Turning Adventure Today.

REVIEW:

Another book from your 2015 TBR list.   I have to admit, when I started reading this book, I got excited, as, to me, it seemed like a unique plot/storyline.  Some other reviewers thought it was the same old boring troupes.  In the world of writing, we are limited to a finite amount of storylines.  It’s how the stories are presented that makes them unique.  This one was presented very well. 

The writing style threw me out of the story a few times as Jason switches from First Person POV Present to Third Person POW Past, though they are done at the start of each chapter.  Still, I didn’t see any reason to keep switching back and forth as it should’ve been done in Third Person. As for the writing itself, Jason drew me into the story and characters with his beautifully written words and I couldn’t read fast enough to find out who, or what, the Threat was from down below. 

Other reviewers criticized Jason’s portrayal of the main character, Icelyn.  They thought she didn’t grow and stayed the same selfish person from start to finish.  They were wrong.  Icelyn’s character did change, just not the way they wanted.  Sure, she was entitled and grew up selfish, but she was also the only child and heir of the Brathiuis family left.  She would be their next leader.  The caste system they grew up wouldn’t let her grow any other way.  But, once she left Mountaintop, her eyes were opened to the lies and truth of their world.  Unfortunately, she didn’t choose the path most readers wanted.  Again, the decisions she made, good or bad, fit her character to the T.  Once she found out her true linage with the Threatbelow, she followed the only path she felt was left to her as she’d been betrayed by everyone else in Mountaintop. Or, so she thought. 

Then, we get to the Drowned City and I found myself upset and disappointed.  Reading the truth about Amperous, Omathis, and Brathius just raised more questions and none of them were answered properly.  They were glossed over to get from Point B to Point D.  Other reviewers mentioned these huge plot holes and inconsistencies.  This time, I agree.  But, even though I was disappointed, I still kept reading.  I had to know what happened in the finally confrontation between the remaining humans on Mountiantop and the Threatbelow. 

This was supposed to be Book One of a series, but the second book was never written.  TBH, I wouldn’t have bought it anyway.  As far as I’m concerned, there weren’t any unresolved issues.  We already knew where Icelyn stood.  All in all, I did enjoy the story, and for only 99 cents, it’s well worth the cost of admission.  I give it Three Stars.