Flip (The Slip Trilogy Book 3) by David Estes

A YA Sci-fi/Dystopian Novel published by Amazon Digital Services (03/02/2015)

Summary:

“No one’s good,” she says. “We’re all just different shades of bad.” – Destiny (Kindle Location 3153).

The Destroyer should be called the Invincible, because although he can’t manage to catch Benson or keep Harrison in captivity, he does manage to survive again and again, becoming more and more cyborg with each act of violence. Benson and Harrison Kelly, along with their friends will try to stop Pop Con for good, but in a race with the Lifers and their more violent methods, who will shut down the branch of government enforcing deaths first? And how many will die to accomplish this shutdown?

Keywords:

Dystopian, Technology, Population Control, Allies, Rebels, Breaking Rules, Big Brother Government, Resource Management, Violence, Hate, Growing Up with Lies, Family, Friendship, Leadership, Fate, Weapons, Anger, Living on the Edge

My Review:

After reading David Estes’ Country Saga and Dweller Saga, I think the Slip Trilogy is far superior. I also think it is one of the best dystopian trilogies out there (and it’s one of my favorite genres so I’ve read a lot of them). The Slip trilogy is well written, highly interesting, focusses on the right parts of the plot and characters at the right times, will hold your attention throughout, and incorporates just the right amount of rebellion and uprising and government bullying.

Flip was a great ending to the trilogy, tying up all the loose ends with a satisfying finish. Everything makes sense in the bigger picture of the story and the smaller subplots between characters. For once I actually liked the epilogue Estes included for a year beyond all the main action.

I like how Estes communicates something positive through all his books, and the Slip Trilogy was no exception, “No one should have to feel like they’re not wanted, hated simply for being born. In the end, we’re all just humans, connected by things we can’t touch, like laughter and love and our fear of being left behind. Our fear of death. Of not being included in something we think is important and great but don’t really understand.” (Kindle Locations 4650-4652).

My only negative comment is disliking the plot element/helper introduced seemingly at random with Lola the dog. She was sprung on us for apparently no reason but was instrumental in moving the plot and accomplishing certain things plot wise.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services 03/02/2015 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

David Estes’s Website

Twitter

Grip (The Slip Trilogy Book 2) by David Estes

A YA Sci-fi/Dystopian Novel published by Amazon Digital Services (12/01/2014)

Summary:

“You’re more than what the world says you are.” (Kindle Locations 668-669).
Pop Con continues to try to capture and terminate the Slip that is making headlines, showing how ineffective population measures could be. They sent in professionals. They sent in The Destroyer – a psychotic cyborg – and yet Benson Kelly still manages to escape their clutches. He has even come to symbolize the face of the rebellion against Pop Con and support the Lifers cause.

Keywords:

Dystopian, Technology, Population Control, Allies, Rebels, Breaking Rules, Big Brother Government, Resource Management, Violence, Hate, Growing Up with Lies, Family, Friendship, Leadership, Fate, Weapons, Anger, Living on the Edge

My Review:

Harrison has more of a role in book two of the Slip Trilogy. He really comes into his own. Harrison, who led a life almost completely opposite that of Benson, is quite impulsive but sticks to his guns when it comes to right and wrong. He may have been lied to his whole life, but he certainly sticks his neck out there for a Slip and what is right. Harrison is charming and witty and certainly thinks a lot of himself, but he doesn’t think twice about helping those he loves.

I liked seeing the twist with Destiny. Estes came down a little hard handed with her situation and her feelings towards what happens, but it was interesting seeing a character put through so much and seeing how she reacts and how she feels afterwards. Destiny can rival Harrison at ‘hovering’ and they are a great pair when evading capture together.

Janice is one of the most interesting people in the book. The things she says kinda sorta make sense but not really. She has the most fascinating insights and says the most odd things.

I loved all the action and fighting and character development in this second book of the Trilogy and can’t wait for book three and the epic finale I know is coming!

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services 12/01/2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

David Estes’s Website

Twitter

Slip (The Slip Trilogy Book 1) by David Estes

A YA Sci-fi/Dystopian Novel published by Amazon Digital Services (12/01/2014)

Summary:

Only through our positive thinking and actions do we become strong. Even the weakest person in the world can become the strongest in their own mind.” (Kindle Locations 3806-3807).

The world of Slip takes population control to a whole new level of meaning when unauthorized births are terminated, even if the child is a teenager. They are known as ‘Slips’ and they supposedly threaten the balanced lives of all other authorized citizens. The government agencies that plan out country resources will do anything to make sure all Unbees and Slips are caught and terminated. In this world was born many children who weren’t supposed to exist, but the Saint Louis Slip has managed to evade notice for sixteen years. When he pops onto the radar, he threatens the very existence of Pop Con and the reasons for all the stringent population controls, so the government will stop at nothing to find and terminate Benson Kelly and all who aid him.

Keywords:

Dystopian, Technology, Population Control, Allies, Rebels, Breaking Rules, Big Brother Government, Resource Management, Violence, Hate, Growing Up with Lies, Family, Friendship, Leadership, Fate, Weapons, Anger, Living on the Edge

My Review:

This book seemed to have two parts. There was Benson’s early childhood where he was the son with no name and the part where was a teenager living on his own. It was fascinating to get the story from young Benson’s perspective, where he doesn’t comprehend all that is happening around him, therefore the reader is only getting bits and pieces of the world outside the Kelly’s home. It is like you know they live in a dystopian like world but you don’t know how far it is from our world because we are given such a small view into it, until Benson crosses that divide and lives fully in that dystopian world.

What a world! David Estes and setting up the world for his characters will make you drool. He provides just enough fascinating differences to make you understand truly what it is like, but not enough to overwhelm you with a complete sci-fi world. Estes has technology similar to our own, but different and technologically advanced to the point where a government trying to control a population after major disasters might get to.

I love the language Estes uses. The slang and curse words are all his own and make for a great young adult book without the typical ‘obscene’ language. I think this is one of the things Estes does really well in all his books and series.
I adored the characters. There weren’t too many to keep track of. They all had their own personalities. They all had their own stories before becoming tangled in Benson’s struggles. They all had their faults.

This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services 12/01/2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

David Estes’s Website

Twitter