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The Order
A smile, a dance, some flirtatious banter—and witty heiress Luciana Piccolo was swept off her feet. Literally.
When a mysterious, gorgeous woman whisks her onto the dance floor at her father’s masquerade ball, Lucy is thrilled to break the shackles of her privileged but purposeless life. But when the same woman kidnaps her and whisks her to the hideout of the rebels fighting to topple the regime she’s set to inherit, Lucy isn’t thrilled to be actually shackled as a prisoner. She is forced to accompany her abductor—a laconic, rigid assassin named Taylor—across the war-torn regions of the former United States as Taylor carries out perilous assassinations and leads the growing rebel army.
Relying on each other to stay alive, the antagonistic spark between Lucy and Taylor smolders into an ardent flame. Secrets unravel and the stakes get fatally higher, as the battle between new love and old loyalty may prove more dangerous than the war they’re trying to survive.
When a mysterious, gorgeous woman whisks her onto the dance floor at her father’s masquerade ball, Lucy is thrilled to break the shackles of her privileged but purposeless life. But when the same woman kidnaps her and whisks her to the hideout of the rebels fighting to topple the regime she’s set to inherit, Lucy isn’t thrilled to be actually shackled as a prisoner. She is forced to accompany her abductor—a laconic, rigid assassin named Taylor—across the war-torn regions of the former United States as Taylor carries out perilous assassinations and leads the growing rebel army.
Relying on each other to stay alive, the antagonistic spark between Lucy and Taylor smolders into an ardent flame. Secrets unravel and the stakes get fatally higher, as the battle between new love and old loyalty may prove more dangerous than the war they’re trying to survive.
396 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
July 30, 2024
The time is somewhere in the foreseeable future. The setting is the former United States of America. O’Shea envisions the future USA divided into five regions with insurgents rising up against the autocratic regime governing each district. The Order of Prometheus are the rebels fighting to overthrow the established rulers and bring fair and democratic governance back to the people.
Luciana Piccolo is the heiress to her father’s region when he steps down as President. It is during her father’s annual masquerade ball that Lucy is kidnapped by one of the Order’s assassins. She is then forced to be with Taylor, her kidnapper, as she works at finishing her assignment of assassinating all the regional heads of power and their families.
O’Shea is proving once again that she is a writer of exceptional and entertaining novels. She is surprisingly comfortable in this dystopian futuristic genre which is a big step away from her pure romance novels. The Order offers us a frightening insightful look at what could truly be possible in these unprecedented times. And while she is scaring the pants off us, O’Shea melds into the mix a heart bracing love story between an insulated heiress to power and a fortune with an orphan raised to be a killing machine.
I hold O’Shea in the highest regard and in the esteemed company of Gerri Hill, E.J. Noyes, Michelle Larkin, Lee Winter and Ann McMan. The Order is a definite must read novel of 2023.
I received an advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Luciana Piccolo is the heiress to her father’s region when he steps down as President. It is during her father’s annual masquerade ball that Lucy is kidnapped by one of the Order’s assassins. She is then forced to be with Taylor, her kidnapper, as she works at finishing her assignment of assassinating all the regional heads of power and their families.
O’Shea is proving once again that she is a writer of exceptional and entertaining novels. She is surprisingly comfortable in this dystopian futuristic genre which is a big step away from her pure romance novels. The Order offers us a frightening insightful look at what could truly be possible in these unprecedented times. And while she is scaring the pants off us, O’Shea melds into the mix a heart bracing love story between an insulated heiress to power and a fortune with an orphan raised to be a killing machine.
I hold O’Shea in the highest regard and in the esteemed company of Gerri Hill, E.J. Noyes, Michelle Larkin, Lee Winter and Ann McMan. The Order is a definite must read novel of 2023.
I received an advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 29, 2024
Been a while since I got hooked on a book the way I did with this one! Phenomenal!
July 4, 2023
Can I give this 10 ⭐️?
This is an dystopian epic story filled with action, philosophy and love. Luciana Piccolo is the privileged only daughter of the Northeastern Regional Leader of the old United States He rules his area and his subjects with little regard for their well-being. The US has had a rift and each region has a leader with their privileged families and friends and an army to keep the underclass at bay. On the night of a masquerade ball Luciana is captured and taken prisoner by the rebellions greatest soldier, Taylor. Taylor has been raised from birth to be a fighting machine and is highly skilled. Her adoptive mother, Theia, is the leader of the rebellion and she is a ruthless and very tactical general.
This story is filled with many great side characters and continuous plot twists. As Luciana is forced to accompany Taylor on many military missions, a bond forms between the outgoing Lucy and the very reserved Taylor. So much snark passes between them, it lightens up the heavy, death and destruction taking place.
O’Shea sprinkles the story with many philosophical thoughts and takes the book to a much deeper level. Such as a persons memories and stories of a deceased loved one keeps them alive in everyone’s hearts.
This is the sapphic book I’ve been looking for since reading “Charon Docks at Daylight�. It is a fantastically written book and I couldn’t put it down. O’Shea has moved up on my list of favorite authors and I can’t wait for her next book.
ARC received from NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
This is an dystopian epic story filled with action, philosophy and love. Luciana Piccolo is the privileged only daughter of the Northeastern Regional Leader of the old United States He rules his area and his subjects with little regard for their well-being. The US has had a rift and each region has a leader with their privileged families and friends and an army to keep the underclass at bay. On the night of a masquerade ball Luciana is captured and taken prisoner by the rebellions greatest soldier, Taylor. Taylor has been raised from birth to be a fighting machine and is highly skilled. Her adoptive mother, Theia, is the leader of the rebellion and she is a ruthless and very tactical general.
This story is filled with many great side characters and continuous plot twists. As Luciana is forced to accompany Taylor on many military missions, a bond forms between the outgoing Lucy and the very reserved Taylor. So much snark passes between them, it lightens up the heavy, death and destruction taking place.
O’Shea sprinkles the story with many philosophical thoughts and takes the book to a much deeper level. Such as a persons memories and stories of a deceased loved one keeps them alive in everyone’s hearts.
This is the sapphic book I’ve been looking for since reading “Charon Docks at Daylight�. It is a fantastically written book and I couldn’t put it down. O’Shea has moved up on my list of favorite authors and I can’t wait for her next book.
ARC received from NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
January 1, 2024
5 stars. Happy New Year! I’ve been absent for quite some time, 2023 has been a turbulent year for me and less books could be read than planned. I’m very behind on a few ARCs that I received, including this one, and I apologize for the delay in posting these reviews.
And what a book this was, it’s definitely one I will remember. Amongst other things I had been in a book funk for a while and it has been a long time that a book was able to keep me awake to ‘just read one more chapter�, but this was the one. If you like dystopian books or enemies to lovers storylines you want to read this tale of an heiress who is kidnapped by rebels, or better yet, a rebel and slowly falls for her captor. This book obviously has a romance, but this is not the main focus of the book. It is the world they live in, the politics and how it changes. When does something change for the better and what is the power of power?
The book is written in first person, something I’m partial to as you really get to know the person in who’s perspective you’re in but it also keeps some mysterie about (thoughts of) others. The characters are great, they feel real, they have shortcomings but still are likable. Besides the two main characters there are several side characters, all with their own personalities and there are several villains in this book, but who are the villains exactly? This is something I’m not going to say more about, you’ll just have to read it, but the book has some interesting twists and is hard to put down. The only drawback this book had for me is that it ends too soon, especially what happens in the last couple of chapters was surprisingly fast for me and I was suspecting a different turn of events there.
So, in short, a good reminder for those that have not read this book yet, go and read it. I absolutely recommend it.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
And what a book this was, it’s definitely one I will remember. Amongst other things I had been in a book funk for a while and it has been a long time that a book was able to keep me awake to ‘just read one more chapter�, but this was the one. If you like dystopian books or enemies to lovers storylines you want to read this tale of an heiress who is kidnapped by rebels, or better yet, a rebel and slowly falls for her captor. This book obviously has a romance, but this is not the main focus of the book. It is the world they live in, the politics and how it changes. When does something change for the better and what is the power of power?
The book is written in first person, something I’m partial to as you really get to know the person in who’s perspective you’re in but it also keeps some mysterie about (thoughts of) others. The characters are great, they feel real, they have shortcomings but still are likable. Besides the two main characters there are several side characters, all with their own personalities and there are several villains in this book, but who are the villains exactly? This is something I’m not going to say more about, you’ll just have to read it, but the book has some interesting twists and is hard to put down. The only drawback this book had for me is that it ends too soon, especially what happens in the last couple of chapters was surprisingly fast for me and I was suspecting a different turn of events there.
So, in short, a good reminder for those that have not read this book yet, go and read it. I absolutely recommend it.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2023
Rebellion.
This is an absolute gem of a read. The life of Lucy, a privileged heiress, takes an unexpected and thrilling turn as she is whisked onto the dance floor by a mysterious and gorgeous woman at her father's masquerade ball. The plot takes an exhilarating twist when this enigmatic woman kidnaps Lucy, leading her into the heart of the rebellion against the regime she is destined to inherit. What follows is a rollercoaster of emotions as Lucy, now a prisoner, embarks on a treacherous adventure alongside her captor, the laconic and rigid assassin Taylor. Their journey traverses war-torn regions of the former United States as they face perilous assassinations and the challenges of leading the growing rebel army.
This story was truly enjoyable, with plenty of action and intrigue and I absolutely loved it. I experienced a rollercoaster ride of emotions with the thrill of the rebellion and the uncertainty of war-torn regions. But perhaps what I enjoyed the most was the relationship between Lucy and Taylor. Their initial tension and the evolution of their connection had me hooked, and I couldn't help but root for them throughout their journey.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and I think it's a perfect read for people seeking an exhilarating and emotionally engaging adventure on top of romance.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an absolute gem of a read. The life of Lucy, a privileged heiress, takes an unexpected and thrilling turn as she is whisked onto the dance floor by a mysterious and gorgeous woman at her father's masquerade ball. The plot takes an exhilarating twist when this enigmatic woman kidnaps Lucy, leading her into the heart of the rebellion against the regime she is destined to inherit. What follows is a rollercoaster of emotions as Lucy, now a prisoner, embarks on a treacherous adventure alongside her captor, the laconic and rigid assassin Taylor. Their journey traverses war-torn regions of the former United States as they face perilous assassinations and the challenges of leading the growing rebel army.
This story was truly enjoyable, with plenty of action and intrigue and I absolutely loved it. I experienced a rollercoaster ride of emotions with the thrill of the rebellion and the uncertainty of war-torn regions. But perhaps what I enjoyed the most was the relationship between Lucy and Taylor. Their initial tension and the evolution of their connection had me hooked, and I couldn't help but root for them throughout their journey.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and I think it's a perfect read for people seeking an exhilarating and emotionally engaging adventure on top of romance.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2023
3 - 3,5 ⭐️
I couldn’t get into this book.
At the beginning it was long-winded and later on there were at lot of points in the book not adding up for me.
I couldn’t get into this book.
At the beginning it was long-winded and later on there were at lot of points in the book not adding up for me.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 25, 2023DNF - I dunno. I guess it's me because so many of my GR friends LOVED this book but it is not clicking for me.
I am barely into it and too much doesn't make sense or isn't logical.
Like an assassin that won't shoot unarmed guards. She literally puts her guns away to get her ass kicked fighting them hand-to-hand. At least one of the guards gets killed anyway so what is the point? Is it a point of honor not to shoot at unarmed opponents? If so, does she go around handing guns to her targets to make it fair? And anyway, why take the time for fisticuffs when she is trying to make an escape and is in a hurry? how about some cool ninja shit like smoke or teargas or something??
Then she takes her prisoner to the rebel camp where they just let her bunk with the assassin because apparently that's fine. Said prisoner is more annoyed at being kidnapped than the fact that the assassin was there to kill her father and herself. Then the Assassin escorts her prisoner to breakfast while sharing details of the rebel camp and how there are more rebel villages in the forest. I guess we just tell our sworn enemy whatever. Then the final straw was the unleashing of giant robots and I just can't anymore.
I am barely into it and too much doesn't make sense or isn't logical.
Like an assassin that won't shoot unarmed guards. She literally puts her guns away to get her ass kicked fighting them hand-to-hand. At least one of the guards gets killed anyway so what is the point? Is it a point of honor not to shoot at unarmed opponents? If so, does she go around handing guns to her targets to make it fair? And anyway, why take the time for fisticuffs when she is trying to make an escape and is in a hurry? how about some cool ninja shit like smoke or teargas or something??
Then she takes her prisoner to the rebel camp where they just let her bunk with the assassin because apparently that's fine. Said prisoner is more annoyed at being kidnapped than the fact that the assassin was there to kill her father and herself. Then the Assassin escorts her prisoner to breakfast while sharing details of the rebel camp and how there are more rebel villages in the forest. I guess we just tell our sworn enemy whatever. Then the final straw was the unleashing of giant robots and I just can't anymore.
July 9, 2023
4/4.5. An eat the rich dystopian novel. Love TJ O'Shea novels! I would of enjoyed 3 books in this universe. This novel takes place in a dystopian setting where the US is split into regions controlled by birthright. There is a revolt taking place where the poor want to override the rich. A rich heir is kidnapped during a mission by the revoting class. Follow a soldier bred to kill, teach a princess how to survive and thrive, also maybe change her views on life. The story starts off with action and you don’t really get a shift until the POV changes at like 80%. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2023
5 big stars
Wow, what a ride! In this powerful and well executed long (more than 150,000 words) novel the author imagined a dark dystopian future for America. It's so well paced that makes you want to just keep reading. There is a lot of action, energy and tension packed in it, but also a lot of emotions. Both the plot and the character development are excellent, and O'Shea has managed to give a strong message to all of us. Her next book can't come soon enough. Highly recommended!
eARC via NetGalley
Wow, what a ride! In this powerful and well executed long (more than 150,000 words) novel the author imagined a dark dystopian future for America. It's so well paced that makes you want to just keep reading. There is a lot of action, energy and tension packed in it, but also a lot of emotions. Both the plot and the character development are excellent, and O'Shea has managed to give a strong message to all of us. Her next book can't come soon enough. Highly recommended!
eARC via NetGalley
March 30, 2025
4.5
TJ O’Shea is an author who never misses! Even though this book leaned on the longer side, it never felt slow or bogged down by unnecessary detail. Lucy and Taylor were both incredibly likable main characters, and their relationship developed so naturally and beautifully over the course of a year. It was packed with all the “touch her and die� energy (from both sides!), which made their enemies-to-friends-to-lovers arc even more satisfying.
There was also a major gasp moment a little past the halfway mark that genuinely made me tear up—and of course, I had to stay up way too late reading after that.
The side characters were just as well-developed, and the plot stayed compelling the whole way through. And that epilogue? Absolutely perfect. It wrapped up their story in the most heartwarming way, with a lovely glimpse into their lives six years later.
TJ O’Shea is an author who never misses! Even though this book leaned on the longer side, it never felt slow or bogged down by unnecessary detail. Lucy and Taylor were both incredibly likable main characters, and their relationship developed so naturally and beautifully over the course of a year. It was packed with all the “touch her and die� energy (from both sides!), which made their enemies-to-friends-to-lovers arc even more satisfying.
There was also a major gasp moment a little past the halfway mark that genuinely made me tear up—and of course, I had to stay up way too late reading after that.
The side characters were just as well-developed, and the plot stayed compelling the whole way through. And that epilogue? Absolutely perfect. It wrapped up their story in the most heartwarming way, with a lovely glimpse into their lives six years later.
July 17, 2023
If you are looking for an amazing Sapphic, action/adventure tale with a simmering slow-burn romance and characters that will worm their way into your heart, then The Order by T.J. O’Shea is the book for you. Honestly, this novel grabbed me on the first page and never let me go. I almost cried when I reached the end because I didn’t want to leave this world and the folks I’d come to love.
The story takes place in a future time where the United States has broken apart into regions. Each region is controlled and ruled by a rich and powerful upper class group while the rest of the population (the underclass) lives in wretched poverty. We see the story mostly through the eyes of Luciana (Lucy) Piccolo, the only child of the ruler of the Northeast Region. Lucy’s life takes a dramatic turn when she is kidnapped by the lead assassin of The Order of Prometheus, a rebel group fighting to overthrow the upper class rulers and bring the regions back together under a democratic government. The assassin is called Eos, but her real name is Taylor, and she’s been with The Order her whole life.
This novel is one of the most expertly crafted tales I’ve read in a while. The main characters are both loveable and flawed at the same time. Even the bad guys have their good moments…most of them anyway. The setting is kind of terrifying because I could see the U.S. devolving into something not that different than what you will see here.
The Order is a well-written, remarkable adventure and romance novel that you do not want to miss. It has my highest recommendation.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
The story takes place in a future time where the United States has broken apart into regions. Each region is controlled and ruled by a rich and powerful upper class group while the rest of the population (the underclass) lives in wretched poverty. We see the story mostly through the eyes of Luciana (Lucy) Piccolo, the only child of the ruler of the Northeast Region. Lucy’s life takes a dramatic turn when she is kidnapped by the lead assassin of The Order of Prometheus, a rebel group fighting to overthrow the upper class rulers and bring the regions back together under a democratic government. The assassin is called Eos, but her real name is Taylor, and she’s been with The Order her whole life.
This novel is one of the most expertly crafted tales I’ve read in a while. The main characters are both loveable and flawed at the same time. Even the bad guys have their good moments…most of them anyway. The setting is kind of terrifying because I could see the U.S. devolving into something not that different than what you will see here.
The Order is a well-written, remarkable adventure and romance novel that you do not want to miss. It has my highest recommendation.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
June 23, 2024
I tore through this one and had a great time. This is my first book by the author, but it def won’t be the last. This one had such an interesting world build, some stellar characters, and a really nice dynamic at the core of it. I’m so glad this is one I grabbed on paperback at a sale, bc it’s one I’ll want to go back to for sure.
July 7, 2023
On January 10th I reviewed O'Shea's second book, , and in that review, I gave some of my highest regards to this author and I'm happy to say that I still stand by every word.
The Order follows the story of two characters who are initially on opposite sides of a rebellion. We have Lucy, an upper-class heiress and Taylor, an assassin for the anti-upper-class rebel force.
The book starts off with Taylor botching a mission to initially kill Lucy and her father but ended with her kidnapping Lucy to use as leverage.
I don't wanna give too much plot away so that's the most I'll say about that.
There also is not much that I can say that has not been said so I'm gonna just say some things that I had an appreciation for.
Writing: In my review of the first book by this author, I stated that it felt a bit stiff, almost as if she were playing safe with her debut and I'm so happy to report that this was anything but stiff.
After the success of books like The Hunger Games and Divergent, books dealing with rebellions took a popular format almost trying to replicate the feel of those books. Authors would ditch any specialization in a halfway attempt to replicate that angsty atmosphere. So I must say, I was initially hesitant when finding out this book took place in such an era.
But again, so happy to say that Tj O'Shea took this plot and made it her b****.
The writing is so beautiful and again usually with books like this authors flock to over-description to try and create a more tense setting but O'Shea stays away from that dilemma and gives us a very easy-to-read yet not too surface-level interaction with the plot.
There are also handfuls of quotes and one-liners which stopped me in my passionate reading because of how beautiful they were.
Characters: She gives us very complex characters with their own levels of personalization and lovable traits. Taylor is initially a hardass and guarded assassin but as the book goes on you see the cracks in the tough exterior she built and out comes an adorable sweetheart who deserves the world.
Lucy is... unexpected. She's caring but understanding and very adaptable. I'm not too sure how the ending suits her character but I'm not mad about it, to be honest.
Taylor and Lucy are hard not to love and you just can't help but root for them the entire book. Their chemistry ran rampant from the very second they meet and it only grows exponentially. Even the side characters wiggle their way into your heart with Mason and Delilah being two of my favourites as well.
Plot: Very original plot, again not too complicated but also not too simple. There are also several plot twists and emotionally draining moments that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was gonna happen next. There are no fillers also, every chapter, every line, and every plot point contributes to the storyline. Something to appreciate in this day and age of media.
I did have one very small discomfort with this book though. Their ages. The book begins with Taylor at 19 and Lucy presumingly a bit older than that. I just feel like for their ages, for Taylor to have that rank and level of respect along with Lucy ending up where she does by the end of the book is a bit odd. It's not a big problem for me but it does seem a bit unrealistic and unnecessary, I don't see the harm in her being a bit older.
She is supposed to be groomed to be an assassin and leader so it's not the most illogical step at the beginning of the book especially seeing that she is talented and trained others. But the end sees a big power shift in the rebellion forces and I'm just not totally sold on the idea of Lucy getting the place she does.
Again, not a significant problem just a questionable one.
I both loved and hate finishing this book because it was just too soon!
O'Shea has done what has never been done before- added two books one right after the other to my list of favourites. It goes without saying that I HIGHLY recommend this and any other book by this author, I've yet to be let down.
ARC from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review!
The Order follows the story of two characters who are initially on opposite sides of a rebellion. We have Lucy, an upper-class heiress and Taylor, an assassin for the anti-upper-class rebel force.
The book starts off with Taylor botching a mission to initially kill Lucy and her father but ended with her kidnapping Lucy to use as leverage.
I don't wanna give too much plot away so that's the most I'll say about that.
There also is not much that I can say that has not been said so I'm gonna just say some things that I had an appreciation for.
Writing: In my review of the first book by this author, I stated that it felt a bit stiff, almost as if she were playing safe with her debut and I'm so happy to report that this was anything but stiff.
After the success of books like The Hunger Games and Divergent, books dealing with rebellions took a popular format almost trying to replicate the feel of those books. Authors would ditch any specialization in a halfway attempt to replicate that angsty atmosphere. So I must say, I was initially hesitant when finding out this book took place in such an era.
But again, so happy to say that Tj O'Shea took this plot and made it her b****.
The writing is so beautiful and again usually with books like this authors flock to over-description to try and create a more tense setting but O'Shea stays away from that dilemma and gives us a very easy-to-read yet not too surface-level interaction with the plot.
There are also handfuls of quotes and one-liners which stopped me in my passionate reading because of how beautiful they were.
Characters: She gives us very complex characters with their own levels of personalization and lovable traits. Taylor is initially a hardass and guarded assassin but as the book goes on you see the cracks in the tough exterior she built and out comes an adorable sweetheart who deserves the world.
Lucy is... unexpected. She's caring but understanding and very adaptable. I'm not too sure how the ending suits her character but I'm not mad about it, to be honest.
Taylor and Lucy are hard not to love and you just can't help but root for them the entire book. Their chemistry ran rampant from the very second they meet and it only grows exponentially. Even the side characters wiggle their way into your heart with Mason and Delilah being two of my favourites as well.
Plot: Very original plot, again not too complicated but also not too simple. There are also several plot twists and emotionally draining moments that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was gonna happen next. There are no fillers also, every chapter, every line, and every plot point contributes to the storyline. Something to appreciate in this day and age of media.
I did have one very small discomfort with this book though. Their ages. The book begins with Taylor at 19 and Lucy presumingly a bit older than that. I just feel like for their ages, for Taylor to have that rank and level of respect along with Lucy ending up where she does by the end of the book is a bit odd. It's not a big problem for me but it does seem a bit unrealistic and unnecessary, I don't see the harm in her being a bit older.
She is supposed to be groomed to be an assassin and leader so it's not the most illogical step at the beginning of the book especially seeing that she is talented and trained others. But the end sees a big power shift in the rebellion forces and I'm just not totally sold on the idea of Lucy getting the place she does.
Again, not a significant problem just a questionable one.
I both loved and hate finishing this book because it was just too soon!
O'Shea has done what has never been done before- added two books one right after the other to my list of favourites. It goes without saying that I HIGHLY recommend this and any other book by this author, I've yet to be let down.
ARC from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review!
August 5, 2023
In T.J. O'Shea's latest novel, she masterfully delves into the realm of dystopian fiction. I absolutely adored her last romance novel, , but to be honest this was just as good but with a more compelling storyline. The Order absolutely captivated me with its intriguing plot which was packed with twists and turns. Although this novel starts untraditionally with a kidnapping and then a slow burn romance between the kidnapper (Taylor) and victim (Lucy), the way O'Shea turns this tale makes the romance itself feel beautiful and organic, rather than perplexing. A feat seeing as though we are privy to Taylor's actions throughout and she does not hold back as an assassin.
This book is long at 396 pages but not once did I feel as though it was unnecessary in its length. I couldn't wait for my day to end so I could spend an hour or so in this dystopian world that featured fantastic characters and a thrilling plot. The Order is another absolute must read from O'Shea.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This book is long at 396 pages but not once did I feel as though it was unnecessary in its length. I couldn't wait for my day to end so I could spend an hour or so in this dystopian world that featured fantastic characters and a thrilling plot. The Order is another absolute must read from O'Shea.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2024
Right from the start, the book is non-stop action, set in a dystopian future nation where the power and money are held by only a few Families. The majority of the population is living in a ramshackle world, especially the people in the big cities. Taylor has been raised to be a soldier for The Order, a military organization fighting to overtake the Families. Nothing keeps her from succeeding in her missions until she is tasked with assassinating the heiress of the Piccolo empire. Things suddenly take a turn when the plan abruptly changes. Luciana is the proverbial entitled princess and doesn’t take kindly to Taylor so from the beginning, the two personalities clash.
The book reminds me of Charon Docks at Daylight. There is an epic scope and a sadness just like with Charon. There’s also a sense of movement as the characters are journeying across the land. No zombies but death and violence are ever present. I had a tough time with some of the darker moments and I feel like it was because humans are the source of the evil here. There are no paranormal elements to blame for any of the bloodshed or the treachery. Some of the passages just felt brutal.
What I liked best about the book is the writing. The author definitely has chops and I intend to read her other books. Taylor and Lucy also make a good fighting team and a sweet couple who thrill in the barbs as much as the heat. The whole story surrounding Taylor is especially potent. I would recommend to dystopian fans, especially if you like ya/na main characters or enjoy militaristic SpecFic.
The book reminds me of Charon Docks at Daylight. There is an epic scope and a sadness just like with Charon. There’s also a sense of movement as the characters are journeying across the land. No zombies but death and violence are ever present. I had a tough time with some of the darker moments and I feel like it was because humans are the source of the evil here. There are no paranormal elements to blame for any of the bloodshed or the treachery. Some of the passages just felt brutal.
What I liked best about the book is the writing. The author definitely has chops and I intend to read her other books. Taylor and Lucy also make a good fighting team and a sweet couple who thrill in the barbs as much as the heat. The whole story surrounding Taylor is especially potent. I would recommend to dystopian fans, especially if you like ya/na main characters or enjoy militaristic SpecFic.
September 19, 2023
These characters are too young to make this a believable story. Age should have been left out.
In the first 50% I found a couple of solider(s) instead of soldier(s), that was extremely annoying. At first o thought my eyes got it wrong but when I asked the kindle for a definition it showed for solider�
I did like the story and how different it is, not sure if I actually think it deserves the 4 stars, something about it also felt off to me. Might have been the flow
In the first 50% I found a couple of solider(s) instead of soldier(s), that was extremely annoying. At first o thought my eyes got it wrong but when I asked the kindle for a definition it showed for solider�
I did like the story and how different it is, not sure if I actually think it deserves the 4 stars, something about it also felt off to me. Might have been the flow
November 20, 2024
This is really difficult for me to rate, but I've ultimately settled on 3.5.
When I started reading, it was an easy 5 stars. The writing is incredible! Seriously good. And I loved Lucy's voice, I found her funny and it was nice to see things from her POV. And I loved Taylor!!! Give me all the ridiculously competent characters who are amazing at what they do. I'd follow her into war any day.
However, as the book went on (and it did go on, this was very long, too long perhaps), I noticed a lot of plot choices didn't make much sense. This ended up taking me out of the story and lowering my enjoyment. For example, Lucy is taken prisoner by the Order, a rebellion trying to take down dictators and restore democracy. Lucy is the daughter of one of the dictators and is set to rule after him. Instead of throwing her in a cell, she's allowed to roam the Order compound (with Taylor, but still), and people even chat to her like she's joined the rebellion. Another example is that Taylor is told to train her and take her on missions. At no point in the book does Lucy show much allegiance to the Order beyond a rather vague 'I'm not like my father, I want people to have equality' mentality. I expected her to run the moment they left the compound, but she didn't.
There are a lot more strange plot choices that I'm not going to get into. Basically, I loved the writing and Lucy's voice, but the plot holes/weird direction lowered my enjoyment.
That being said, I enjoyed the writing so much I'll definitely check out the authors' other works!
When I started reading, it was an easy 5 stars. The writing is incredible! Seriously good. And I loved Lucy's voice, I found her funny and it was nice to see things from her POV. And I loved Taylor!!! Give me all the ridiculously competent characters who are amazing at what they do. I'd follow her into war any day.
However, as the book went on (and it did go on, this was very long, too long perhaps), I noticed a lot of plot choices didn't make much sense. This ended up taking me out of the story and lowering my enjoyment. For example, Lucy is taken prisoner by the Order, a rebellion trying to take down dictators and restore democracy. Lucy is the daughter of one of the dictators and is set to rule after him. Instead of throwing her in a cell, she's allowed to roam the Order compound (with Taylor, but still), and people even chat to her like she's joined the rebellion. Another example is that Taylor is told to train her and take her on missions. At no point in the book does Lucy show much allegiance to the Order beyond a rather vague 'I'm not like my father, I want people to have equality' mentality. I expected her to run the moment they left the compound, but she didn't.
There are a lot more strange plot choices that I'm not going to get into. Basically, I loved the writing and Lucy's voice, but the plot holes/weird direction lowered my enjoyment.
That being said, I enjoyed the writing so much I'll definitely check out the authors' other works!
February 17, 2024
I won't make a full review but I i just wanted to register how important this book is to me, in ways no one could get it. When I discovered TJ in the beginning of the year, she became my fav author immediately and then I discovered about this book and I JUST KNEW I would love it with my whole heart.
It's been a journey catching every single detail I found about them, fanarts, reading excerpt, talking about every single friend of mine about this book and how excited I was to read it. They mean more to me than I could put in words, they were made for me :P I love you Miss piccolo and I love you Taylor Clark. You'll always be one of the best couples and characters I've ever knew. My destined girls. Always and forever.
p.s. I alr need them back. I FEEL SO EMPTY.
It's been a journey catching every single detail I found about them, fanarts, reading excerpt, talking about every single friend of mine about this book and how excited I was to read it. They mean more to me than I could put in words, they were made for me :P I love you Miss piccolo and I love you Taylor Clark. You'll always be one of the best couples and characters I've ever knew. My destined girls. Always and forever.
p.s. I alr need them back. I FEEL SO EMPTY.
August 17, 2023
Another winner for T. J. O'Shea - still my favorite author right now!
The Order is completely different than the previous two books by O'Shea and I loved that. The setting is post-USA with the country divided up into geographical regions and headed by people with varying levels of awfulness. And then there's the resistance - The Order - who mostly kick ass and cause chaos.
This is a LONG book and full of action. But it wasn't perfect by any means. So let's look at the good, the bad, and the ugly, shall we?
The Good
Great chemistry between the mains. This is some serious slow burn but it gets there. And Taylor is such a damaged character that I wanted to hug her most of the time. I thought Lucy was great for her because they were very opposite in the ways that work well for couples.
The humor. I love O'Shea's humor and wit. Love it. It's great.
The plot. Loved it. I was expecting another contemporary romance but no, this has action, intrigue, and plot twists.
The Bad
There were a few places where I couldn't figure out where Lucy was coming from. Lucy moving from Daddy's Little Girl (to some degree) to some of the things she said about him early on with regard to his reign over his region didn't make sense to me. It was too soon and sort of out of nowhere.
This book didn't seem as polished as the previous two books. I love a long, slow-burn romance but it felt like it could have been tightened up a bit to help with the pacing and flow.
The Ugly
The eye rolling. Seriously. So. Much. Eye rolling. Everywhere, all the time, by everyone. I didn't do it, but it would be interesting to see how many instances of variations of they rolled their eyes were in this book. If it wouldn't have been so engaging and fun, I might have even quit reading over it. Repetition of words and phrases is a big pet peeve of mine. Ask anyone I've ever worked with on a proofreading job. It's distracting and can pull a reader right out of an otherwise glorious story.
Overall, though, I'm still a solid 4 stars for The Order. I can hardly wait for the next T. J. O'Shea book. And if you haven't tried any of her books, do it. Beyond the Blue is glorious and so is To Be With You. And The Order is pretty damn good, too.
Thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for giving me a fix of my new favorite author! I appreciate it!
The Order is completely different than the previous two books by O'Shea and I loved that. The setting is post-USA with the country divided up into geographical regions and headed by people with varying levels of awfulness. And then there's the resistance - The Order - who mostly kick ass and cause chaos.
This is a LONG book and full of action. But it wasn't perfect by any means. So let's look at the good, the bad, and the ugly, shall we?
The Good
Great chemistry between the mains. This is some serious slow burn but it gets there. And Taylor is such a damaged character that I wanted to hug her most of the time. I thought Lucy was great for her because they were very opposite in the ways that work well for couples.
The humor. I love O'Shea's humor and wit. Love it. It's great.
The plot. Loved it. I was expecting another contemporary romance but no, this has action, intrigue, and plot twists.
The Bad
There were a few places where I couldn't figure out where Lucy was coming from. Lucy moving from Daddy's Little Girl (to some degree) to some of the things she said about him early on with regard to his reign over his region didn't make sense to me. It was too soon and sort of out of nowhere.
This book didn't seem as polished as the previous two books. I love a long, slow-burn romance but it felt like it could have been tightened up a bit to help with the pacing and flow.
The Ugly
The eye rolling. Seriously. So. Much. Eye rolling. Everywhere, all the time, by everyone. I didn't do it, but it would be interesting to see how many instances of variations of they rolled their eyes were in this book. If it wouldn't have been so engaging and fun, I might have even quit reading over it. Repetition of words and phrases is a big pet peeve of mine. Ask anyone I've ever worked with on a proofreading job. It's distracting and can pull a reader right out of an otherwise glorious story.
Overall, though, I'm still a solid 4 stars for The Order. I can hardly wait for the next T. J. O'Shea book. And if you haven't tried any of her books, do it. Beyond the Blue is glorious and so is To Be With You. And The Order is pretty damn good, too.
Thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for giving me a fix of my new favorite author! I appreciate it!
September 8, 2023
An amazing enemies to lovers story!!!
July 10, 2023
Definitely one of the best books this year, The Order is a book that will stay with me and be on my re-read list for the foreseeable future. This book fills so many categories it’s difficult to pin down how to describe it. The post apocalyptic backdrop is a favorite of mine, but the story adeptly focuses on Taylor and Lucy. The plot weaves around these two amazing and different women in a fight for their lives and their love, not just for their physical survival but for their psychological survival as well. Neither woman is a true hero with their inherent and sometimes despicable flaws, but they are heroic nonetheless. This is an amazing story not to be missed. Thank you to the author, Bella Books, and NetGalley for the advance read in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this book!
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but even though our circumstances were different, I bonded with almost all the characters, except Theia. I wanted to smack her silly, but she would, and likely would, kill me. All the others were memorable and well-developed. They were all pretty well fleshed out, although we don't discover most of their backstories for some time.
The premise seems pretty simple, but the execution of the premise builds into a multi-layered plot that blended itself naturally to pacing that kept me up looong past when I should have been sleeping.
It's a terrific book that I didn't want to end, and I believe would even make a gripping mini-series one day (HINT, HINT BELLA BOOKS!)
This is one of the books I'll be re-reading every year, if only to hang out with these people for just a little while longer.
A TEN STAR BOOK!
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but even though our circumstances were different, I bonded with almost all the characters, except Theia. I wanted to smack her silly, but she would, and likely would, kill me. All the others were memorable and well-developed. They were all pretty well fleshed out, although we don't discover most of their backstories for some time.
The premise seems pretty simple, but the execution of the premise builds into a multi-layered plot that blended itself naturally to pacing that kept me up looong past when I should have been sleeping.
It's a terrific book that I didn't want to end, and I believe would even make a gripping mini-series one day (HINT, HINT BELLA BOOKS!)
This is one of the books I'll be re-reading every year, if only to hang out with these people for just a little while longer.
A TEN STAR BOOK!
December 14, 2024
If a Marvel movie and a Persephone Black book had a baby and it read like bad, quip-filled YA.
July 6, 2023
A bit of world setting at the start. Although set on earth, it is a very different, but unfortunately not unbelievably different, former US.
The first chapter is action packed. The writer has the ability to describe action in such a way I can picture it as I get swept along, but not so much detail I am bogged down.
The action continues for pretty much the whole book. One of the aspects of this novel I am loving is we are being shown on the page, the love developing between the mains, not just “told� told how characters are feeling.
There is humour in this book and some wonderfully constructed sentences. There is also violence.
I have not been so riveted by a book for a long time. I've had romances that have been compelling, how will it end? How will they surmount the insurmountable? But this is more!
When the voice of the narrator changes almost 3/4 way through, it is quite a change. Totally in keeping with the story but an obviously different voice.
I think every part of the plot I guessed, I got wrong. It didn't matter cos the actual plot twists were better!
I found the change of narrator for the last part of the book impacted my reading. Because it was still told from the narrator’s point of view, which was the other main, I kept forgetting it was a different view. I understand the writers choice, possibly only choice due to a plot twist, but it interrupted my reading. This interruption is the only reason this is not a 5 stars. I do feel slightly mean about it because it was 5 for the rest of the book, but the line has to be somewhere.
This is a long, enjoyable novel.
The first chapter is action packed. The writer has the ability to describe action in such a way I can picture it as I get swept along, but not so much detail I am bogged down.
The action continues for pretty much the whole book. One of the aspects of this novel I am loving is we are being shown on the page, the love developing between the mains, not just “told� told how characters are feeling.
There is humour in this book and some wonderfully constructed sentences. There is also violence.
I have not been so riveted by a book for a long time. I've had romances that have been compelling, how will it end? How will they surmount the insurmountable? But this is more!
When the voice of the narrator changes almost 3/4 way through, it is quite a change. Totally in keeping with the story but an obviously different voice.
I think every part of the plot I guessed, I got wrong. It didn't matter cos the actual plot twists were better!
I found the change of narrator for the last part of the book impacted my reading. Because it was still told from the narrator’s point of view, which was the other main, I kept forgetting it was a different view. I understand the writers choice, possibly only choice due to a plot twist, but it interrupted my reading. This interruption is the only reason this is not a 5 stars. I do feel slightly mean about it because it was 5 for the rest of the book, but the line has to be somewhere.
This is a long, enjoyable novel.
July 31, 2023
An autocratic country, divided into 5 regions run by rich, nasty leaders. Leaders who don't care about the people who live in their regions.
Then there is the Order, and other rebellious groups. But, The Order is the strongest and most powerful. The Lieutenant General is Taylor, also known as Eos. She is the top soldier and assassin. Her mission is to kill the leader of the East region and his daughter Luciana (Lucy). However, in her recon Taylor falls for Lucy and instead of killing anyone she kidnaps her.
What a wild ride I've just been on with this book! It's an enemies to lovers story, but not like any you've read before! I'd love to give it at least 10 stars, but as only 5 are available, I give it 5 stars!
Then there is the Order, and other rebellious groups. But, The Order is the strongest and most powerful. The Lieutenant General is Taylor, also known as Eos. She is the top soldier and assassin. Her mission is to kill the leader of the East region and his daughter Luciana (Lucy). However, in her recon Taylor falls for Lucy and instead of killing anyone she kidnaps her.
What a wild ride I've just been on with this book! It's an enemies to lovers story, but not like any you've read before! I'd love to give it at least 10 stars, but as only 5 are available, I give it 5 stars!
August 6, 2023
I love TJ O’Shea’s first two books, so I was excited to read this, especially after some positive early reviews. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. While I did love the ending (yay!) and it picked up about 70% through, the beginning dragged. The politics were interesting and world-building was creative, but the romance wasn’t there initially for me. The author excels at putting two very different characters together - a writerly feat! - but in this case it took me a long time to understand why these 2 would be together. There were a couple plot points I didn’t understand- like why isn’t Lucy simply imprisoned and why the code names? The pros: the ending is sweet, interesting alternate reality, O’Shea is masterful at similes/metaphors, great side characters, and I did find myself wondering what would happen to these two as I went about my day. The cons: slow and not enough chemistry, a bit anti-climactic.
Short summary: in a dystopian US, there are the rebels and the wealthy region leaders. When Taylor (rebel) abducts Lucy (leader’s daughter), Lucy is pissed that the gorgeous woman dancing with her was all an act. Worse, she’s forced to accompany Taylor on assassination missions. The further Lucy gets from power, the more she starts to see the truth, the more she evaluates which side (if any) she wants to be on, and the more her attraction to her captor grows.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Short summary: in a dystopian US, there are the rebels and the wealthy region leaders. When Taylor (rebel) abducts Lucy (leader’s daughter), Lucy is pissed that the gorgeous woman dancing with her was all an act. Worse, she’s forced to accompany Taylor on assassination missions. The further Lucy gets from power, the more she starts to see the truth, the more she evaluates which side (if any) she wants to be on, and the more her attraction to her captor grows.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. One of my top ten for the year. I had both the audio and ebook and I was able to switch from reading to listening as I preferred. I slowed down about the last hour and a half because I simply didn’t want it to end. TJ O’Shea is one of my favorite authors.
June 7, 2024
There's an underground rebellion against the rich controlling families in the future United States and an assassin has been watching heiress Lucy and plotting to kidnap her. The Order is a thrilling ride with twists and lead worth secondary characters throughout and lots of push and pull between the MCs Taylor and Lucy that I loved. This is the second book I've read by O'Shea and I find that I'm a fan of her way with words. Her flow and pace between action and romance is well done. This is a really good read that I recommend.
July 30, 2023
3.5 Stars
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