The Awakening

Community #1

by Nicole Meredith

"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, Seren. It is the illusion of knowledge." 

For centuries, famine and disease plagued the Earth making it uninhabitable. Now all that remains is Community, a massive bunker built to protect a select population from extinction. Sixteen-year-old Seren Quinn has spent her entire life within these walls, grateful to be part of it and to the Warren family who began it six generations ago.

But Seren's world turns upside down when she learns that her mother is mysteriously pregnant. Under Community's one child population control policy, her mother will be killed after giving birth.

Seren will do anything to save her mother including risk her own life. As Seren searches for a solution she learns Community is not what it seems. They are killing innocent people. A rebellion is stirring. And if that weren't enough, Seren is beginning to fall in love with the very boy she's supposed to hate. 
If Seren is going to save her mother, she will have to make a fateful decision: liberation, or love?

Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy, Enemies To Lovers

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2023

About the author

Nicole Meredith is a 26-year-old Denver based writer, coffee
enthusiast, and avid hiker.

Reviews

[Samantha Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was SO excited to get to read this novel, and I couldn’t have been more blown away! The world-building and character development are incredible, not to mention how real issues are woven into the story in such meaningful ways. Seren and Zaiden are both nuanced narrators, and though there’s a thread of romantic development, it only adds to the storytelling as opposed to pulling focus from other key plot points. I cannot wait for (hopefully) a sequel to come! Highly recommend this book!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seriously had me feeling the way I felt reading The Hunger Games or Divergent. The twists and turns while being unlike anything I've read had me staying up unable to put it down! There's going to be another one right?

[Lexi Sira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like a kid again reading this dystopian novel. It felt like the Hunger Games meets Divergent meets The Maze Runner! I was hooked to the end and absolutely cannot wait for the rest of the trilogy!

[Dani Fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it so so much! it deserves more hype!

[Sue Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is not a genre I generally read, I have to say I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t wait to go to bed each night to read and find out what was going to happen to the characters that night. It was very suspenseful and a real page turner and I can’t wait for the sequel to come out so I can find out what happens to the characters next!

[Daniel Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need a sequel ASAP!!! Great world building, pacing, and characters! Ms. Meredith is a gifted writer.

[Olivia Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

If hallmark wrote a dystopian book, this would be the result.
Also, at one point the MC was talking about the smell of leather, but didn’t know what an animal was.

[Maraiabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I have read this in a past life

[Shanti Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I started I couldn’t put it down! If you’re a fan of The 100 or Divergent, this one is for you!

[Kaylin Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was slow to get into but the last quarter of the book is the best part. The way it ended is a perfect cliffhanger. More of a 3.5

[Brooke Blystone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a "The 100" vibe that I really liked! The writing was amazing and I loved the twists and turns.

[Baileigh Moquin · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those that like Hunger Games or Divergent you would like this book. However, I wish the author developed the characters even more so that I could have felt more connected to them. I look forward to reading future books from this author.

[Victoria Bock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and loved the Divergent series, I was super excited to read this one. I was absolutely blown away with my inability to put the book down and the incredibly intriguing, unfolding plot! The twists and turns genuinely took me by surprise, and I absolutely cannot WAIT for more of this series!

[Erin Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! An incredible debut novel that captured my attention and imagination on page 1. Seren, Lucas, and Zaiden are lovable and relatable. COMMUNITY is unique and incredibly well written. I can’t wait for the sequel!

[Katie Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I have read in such a long time!!!! Seriously cannot recommend it enough. I could not put it down and finished it in 2 days.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting and page-turning new addition to the world of teen dystopian reading! Told in the voice of two narrators, Seren and Zadain, Community: The Awakening is the story of an underground shelter that allowed a small fraction of humans to survive the catastrophic devastation of climate change. Seren lives the rough equivalent of a relatively uninterrupted lower-middle class life until the day she must choose her future career. In contrast Zaidan is the son of the lifelong governor and is expected to take over upon his father’s retirement.

While both character’s grapple with coming to understand the larger picture of the world in which they live, Community: The Awakening is ultimately Seren’s novel. In contrast to other dystopian YA books, love interests and triangles do not overtake Seren. Meredith ensures Seren holds her own in terms of the character's decision making, daily life and grounding. While a tale unto himself, Seren’s co-narrator Zadian mostly provides color to Seren’s world and experience.

Seren’s journey and forced reckoning with a world she thought she knew makes the reader question ‘what would they do if their indoctrination was ever challenged?’ As the novel develops we watch Seren grapple with new knowledge about the underground world she grew up in. Meredith patiently lets her character’s processing play out. Seren neither jumps to the side of rebels nor completely dismisses their cause. The novel’s well built climax will not disappoint and leaves readers eagerly awaiting Meredith’s promised sequel.

[Yaman Peksenar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole Meredith knocks it out of the park with her debut novel Community: The Awakening. Fans of Wool (the Silo Series) and Hunger Games should take note - they will love this dystopian novel.

Community is a character driven novel from the perspective of Seren and Zaiden. Analogous to a caste system, there are tiers in this community. Seren is low on the pecking order from Tier 4 while Zaiden is in Tier 1 and next in line to lead the community. Both of the main characters interact quite a bit with the current leader Pluto Warren. I love how Meredith shows the reader that Seren knows she is being manipulated by Pluto, but is forced to follow his plans. In contrast, Zaiden has a love/hate relationship with his father, Pluto, and does not recognize how he is being manipulated.

The majority of the action is driven by Seren's plausible, yet, reckless decisions which are gratifyingly met with appropriate consequences. There is a subtle romantic element via a love triangle that further adds to character development.

Meredith is a master at building suspense and adding tension. Each line moves the plot forward. Furthermore, she leads the reader to an incorrect assumption multiple times and subverts expectations which further adds to the believability of this novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I cannot wait to read more of this story and see how Meredith grows as an author in the second installment of Community.

[Sam Scantlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!

Several moments throughout the story that had me gasping and eager to turn the page. So many bomb drops strewn evenly throughout the book. Also, I loved the perspective shift between the Seren and Zaiden chapters, it helped make each chapter that much more dynamic and engaging (would have loved to see Lucas chapters too!)

Despite the book not ending on TOO much of a cliff hanger, there are so many characters I can't wait to hear more about in Meredith's next book (Seren's parents, Lucas's mom, and more) and am curious to see if we continue going in the direction of a love triangle???

Lastly, I thought the author did a great job mirroring real life issues, acknowledging and representing concepts often seen in present-day ("bread and circuses", censorship, end stage capitalism, grassroots organizing, revolutionary tactics, etc.). I have found that in YA novels, these themes are mentioned but they barely scratch the surface, and are often times distasteful. Merediths writing here was very intentional and intelligent.

I look forward to seeing the main characters as they continue to be fleshed out in later books, and am so curious to find out how Zaiden handles his newfound power!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

If you’re a fan of movies, shows and books like the 100 and Divergent, then this dystopian story is the book for you! Set in a huge “bunker” with no contact to the outside world, the residents of Community have been living for centuries with the notion that Earth is unsafe and uninhabitable.

Made up of 5 social classes called Tiers, Community runs smoothly with each Tier performing jobs that sustain its ecosystem. Or does it? As our main character learns, each Tier is treated very differently. This, and the knowledge that the government may not be as noble as she was raised to believe, lead her to seeking the truth about what is happening both inside, and outside of Community’s walls.

I enjoyed this book! Reading It felt almost nostalgic as it brought me back to my Hunger Game days. I did feel like a little something was missing that I just can’t put my finger on, but it held my interest and was a good read over all :)

[Leah Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so well done, especially for a debut novel! Hunger games meets divergent with a little bit The 100. It was a fun and engaging read that kept me interested. I appreciate when an author can create tension in romantic relationships without having all the unnecessary spice, and she does this well! I’m stingy with my 5 star reviews, so it only got 4. I felt like I could have given it 5 if there was just a bit more world building/character building at the beginning to give me some additional investment in the characters and story. Overall, it was a great read and I will definitely be recommending!

[Cortney Tiero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I wanted to read an author that was local to me. I read the synopsis of the book but I was not prepared. For a debut author, I was very impressed. The writing in this book was so well done and had a great plot and storyline. Yes, there could have been more world-building and character depth, but overall, this book was solid. It reminded me of the show Silo and I loved it. I couldn't put it down and read it in two days! My only concern is, are we getting book two?

Also, this book now has my favorite quote "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, Seren. It is the illusion of knowledge."

[Deena Lipomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

After centuries of humans destroying the earth, the Community was created, housing 20,000 people underground to continue humanity safely under control of the governor and his advisors in the highest tier. But when Seren learns that her mother has illegally gotten pregnant, for which she can be killed for violating the one-child policy, her view of her home and its government turns, and she finds herself in the middle of a rebellion. This book is pitched as for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES, and it delivers. The writing is great, the story fluid and page-turning, and the tension high. Readers will eagerly await the sequel.

[Tawnya Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost had a heart attack at that ending… until I realized it was the first book of a trilogy!!! I LOVED this story, I adored the subtle relationship building between Seren and Zaiden. Loved Zaiden’s character growth and cannot wait to see the direction the author takes with this story. I was hooked from the first few pages, the world building that happened through the characters’ stories made me feel like I was in it with them. I love dystopian and I loved how the author wove in subtle present day issues. I’m shocked this was a debut novel. If you like Hunger Games, you’ll love this story!

[Destiny Timmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I haven’t loved a story this much since I read The Hunger Games. The way you fall in love with Seren, the main character, so quickly. She is one of those characters you root for, cry for, scream at, giggle with. The story is very well written with twists you don’t expect. You feel pulled into their world like you are walking the halls, smelling the smells and engaging in the action. Absolutely Amazing! A must read!!!

[Christina Middendorf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 It was an enjoyable read. I will say, this book has been marketed as a combination of dystopian books I read growing up, and that’s exactly what it was. It specifically reminded me of Hunger Games and The City of Ember. I wish the last few chapters weren’t as predictable, but I’m glad that I was able to develop some sort of attachment to the two main characters. I plan to read the next book when it’s released!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great debut novel! I felt genuinely connected to the characters and could easily envision the world the author created. As a fan of the Hunger Games-type books of the 2010's, I think this fit neatly into that genre and it brought me back into my love of dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories. The story is compelling, fun to read, and makes a great summer read. If anyone important is reading this -- I would love to see it turned into a movie!

[saretta jordans 🤟🏻🫶🏻 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it with pleasure! I am Italian so I had to read it in English. I enjoyed the writing… simple, not very reflective description and not with long descriptions. Until page 130 there is not much action in my opinion; then I (for myself) could not well imagine how the bunker and some rooms were structured; maybe this is my impression but I noticed that everything happens too quickly. Obviously I loved it and if the second one come out I would read it very willingly :) ty

[Emily Monaco · Rating 5 out of 5]

so so good!! as someone who grew up reading the hunger games and divergent series, it’s hard to find something that matches the level of those, but this book definitely had me hooked the same way. i was really drawn to seren and zaiden’s stories, and i loved how it switched between the two narrations. i’m normally a very slow reader, so the fact that i read this pretty quickly is a testament to how much of a page-turner it is! would definitely recommend!!!

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I didn’t get Hunger Games vibes at all despite what other people might have said, I did get Divergent, The 100 & a little bit of The Island vibes though. I would say this book is just Divergent in a different font, even down to one of the main characters dads secretly being in a different faction / tier. The book was very predictable all the way through, I’m not sure if I’ll read the sequel when it comes but it was an enjoyable read.