Blog Tour for Naturals! April 1 - May 3
Title: Naturals (Lost Souls, #2)
Author: Tiffany Truitt
Publisher: Entangled Teen
About the Book:Ripped away from those she loves most, Tess is heartbroken as her small band of travelers reaches the Isolationist camp in the mysterious and barren Middlelands. Desperate to be reunited with James, the forbidden chosen one who stole her heart, she wants nothing to do with the rough Isolationists, who are without allegiance in the war between the Westerners and Easterners. But having their protection, especially for someone as powerful as Tess, may come at a cost.
When James returns, Tess’s world once again feels complete—until she discovers her sister, Louisa, has taken up her old post at Templeton, the dangerous chosen ones training center and the site of Tess’s loss of innocence. Tess will do anything to protect her loved ones—but will the price be more than she can give?
This second book in Tiffany Truitt’s dystopian series is a thought-provoking, thrilling story that asks who the true enemy really is—the chosen ones who are different, or the naturals…who are just like us.
Purchase Links
My thoughts: This is the second book in the Lost Souls series and while she does give you a lot of information to fill in some of the blanks if you haven't read the first book, I am really glad that I had. (Check out my review of Chosen Ones.) There may be some spoilers from Chosen Ones in my review below.
Naturals picks up where Chosen Ones left off - Tess has finally escaped Templeton, with her childhood friend Henry and brother-in-law Robert, but she has left behind the two people she loves most - her younger sister Louisa and James, the chosen one that awoke in her all the feelings that the Council had tried to snuff out.
Tess is on the run because it has been discovered that she is actually fertile and would be able to live if she were to get pregnant. In the wasteland that has become the U.S. after the wars, women have lost the ability to bear children. Her own sister, Emma, died in childbirth, and so she has seen in first hand. The Council would like nothing more than for the 'natural' human race to die out. They have no need for them since they have started creating the perfect 'chosen ones.' Both races have been taught to hate the other one, but somehow James and Tess got past those early lessons.
Now Tess is in the midlands at an Isolationist community, and is finding that prejudices run deep both ways. That even in this 'free' community, there are still those in power who want to take away the rights of some. She does discover though that there is another one like her, able to have kids, living in the community. That is pretty much the only thing they have in common though. Sharon has had 8 children, though only 5 have lived. Tess is pretty sure that she doesn't want to become another Sharon. She can't imagine having sex with any man who wants to try to have a child. Tess is pretty standoffish with her and doesn't understand why Sharon keeps going out of her way to help her.
Then there is Lockwood. Tess is partnered up with him to learn what her job in the community is going to be - milking cows and taking care of other livestock. Lockwood turns out to be a really good friend to Tess, proving that men and women can just be friends. Tess's friendship with Henry is more complicated than that. She doesn't think she will ever see James again, and having Henry close is reminding her of all the feelings that she had for James and awakening desires that she is not sure she wants.
I loved this book and flew through it in a day. I can't wait for the third book as this one leaves you hanging on wanting more!
~I received a complimentary ecopy of Naturals from Entangled Teen in exchange for my unbiased review.~
About the author: Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonalds and Banana Rats (don’t ask), she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).
Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered “low brow” or outside the “classics.”
Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. Tiffany is proud to call herself an educator and Young Adult author.
