The Divided Nation by Angela R. Watts (Blog Tour and Giveaway)

The Divided Nation by Angela R. Watts released several days ago, and I’m so excited to be sharing my review as well as the giveaway + blog tour schedule.

I got one of the last slots on the tour, so that means you get to look back on all the other awesome posts + take this last-chance opportunity to enter the giveaway! So excited!

Remember, I’ll be posting some stuff about the vacay I had soon-ish, so that’s gonna be fun. (I hope you enjoy the post I’m putting together!)

About the Book

WHEN THE NATION DIVIDES, THE INFIDELS MUST RISE.

The United States has fallen. Three years after the 2024 presidential election and the declaration of martial law, the nation is at war against itself. Gangs battle, civilians struggle for survival, and officials of the United Nations  thrive. West Johnston, heir to the most powerful ganglord in the country, refuses to continue the family legacy. But, in order to defeat his father, he must become him: bloodthirsty and willing to do whatever it takes for control.

West gains control by helping fellow gangsters, Nate and Simon, when they form an alliance with one of the last remaining townships in America. After years of surviving and winter fast approaching, Springtown is in desperate need of supplies from the two teenagers. When the town leader’s daughter, Rene’, is kidnapped by an unknown rival, Nate and Simon risk their reputations to save her and the town they now love. But without help from West, their rescue mission will fail.

Told in multiple bold, abrasive narratives, THE DIVIDED NATION steps into a future where brotherhood bonds must be stronger than iron to survive a broken world, and faith without courage is dust in the wind.

Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads

About the Author

Angela R. Watts is a Christian fiction author who strives to glorify the Lord in all she does. She’s a homeschooled highschooler living at Step By Step Sanctuary, Tennessee, though with Gypsy and Norwegian in her blood, she tends to travel. She’s been writing stories since she was little, but also enjoys chores, painting, and watching sunsets.

Check out her website

My Review of The Divided Nation

I wasn’t exactly sure what to think when I started this book. Yes, I had a lot of preconceived notions and random snippets to paste together in my brain. But I overall wasn’t sure of the direction the plot, characters, etc. were going.

I also knew to expect pain. Angela Watts never writes a novel without a nice amount of it, but this one from snippets and blurbs and all, I knew would be much more painful.

But beyond that, I entered this book with a pretty empty mind … and was totally blown away.

This is a book packed full of so much – so many characters, so many important lessons – that it is tough to summarize it. But basically, it’s a beautiful, horrible, important book that everyone should read.

That said, even the author acknowledges that this book isn’t for everyone. Christian audiences will probably find this book to be too violent. I personally didn’t find it any more violent than it needs to be.

There are a number of intense, gritty scenes. In fact, that’s what this book is – intense and gritty. However, I found that it serves God well by showing the darkness that we all live in. I personally don’t believe in living in a fantasy world, and this book will assure you don’t.

I don’t think I got all of this book the first time through, so I will definitely be rereading it. And I think everyone should probably reread it unless they have Angela R. Watts super-brains because … how do you get it all the first time through?!

I think West was my favorite character. He had a powerful story, and I’m curious to know what happens to him in the rest of the series. (Probably horrible things.) Alex and Simon are also some favorites of mine, though only in a brother way.

In summary, this is a tough read. It’s about people pushed to their limit who have to turn SOMEWHERE and where they turn … it’s about pain … it’s about life being so pitch dark that you can literally feel the black oozing around you … and still living because we have to live … and finding a kind of hope in all that.

Content Warnings: violence including torture, death, blood, gunshot wounds, all other kinds of wounds, fighting, gangs, wars, bombs going off, etc. Rape is hinted at & rape victims are shown. Lots of kidnapping and sex trafficking are talked about and some victims are shown/rescued. Pregnancy/childbirth are briefly talked about. Some mild cussing once or twice.

Schedule

August 12th

Author Interview @ Taking Up My Cross

Book Spotlight @ Unicorn Quester 

August 13th (RELEASE DAY)

Guest Post @ Crazy Little Thing Called Life

Author Interview @ Coffee, Classics, and Craziness

Author and Character Interview @ HauntingGhostTown

Character Interview @ Imperial Scribis 

Character and Author Interview @ FaithLaneAuthor

August 14th

Book Spotlight @ The Writer’s Song

Guest Post @ Jaye L. Knight

August 15th

Book Review @ Kaitlyn Krispense, Author

August 16th

Book Review @ We’ve Got Pockets 

Book Review @ Bella Putt: Writer. Reader. Follower of Christ.

August 17th

Author Interview @ Gabriella Slade

Book Spotlight @ Stories by Firefly

Book Review @ Scribes and Archers 

August 18th

Author Interview and Guest Post @ Tangled Up In Writing

Guest Post @ Read Write Breathe

August 19th

Book Review @ Reveries 

Book Review @ Just Writing

Author Interview @ Allison’s Well

Book Review @ Books, Life, and Christ

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

p.s.

Did you enjoy my review? How could I make reviews more exciting? Have you read this book?