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Citadel
Four centuries of blood. All for a lie.
In this captivating sci-fi debut, a nonverbal autistic woman refuses to stand by as her sexist, ableist, dogmatic society clings to a centuries-long conflict.
Citadel, the only city on the planet Edalide, has a holy exterminate the demons from the Flooded Forest. The unholy, vicious animals were a mistake made by their god that must be corrected.
Or at least, that’s what everyone’s been told.
When Olivia, a nonverbal autistic nineteen-year-old, has a chance run-in with a “demon,” she realizes that these beings are not vicious, animals, or unholy, but sentient people. Forever scarred by her mother’s legally sanctioned murder, and determined to prevent either side from losing more loved ones, Olivia embarks on a hazardous journey into the Flooded Forest where she faces flesh-eating predators, telekinetic zealot-warriors, and the demons of her own past.
Olivia’s quest for answers forces her to decide to either seek justice for both sides or continue the cycle of war, revenge, and death.
In this captivating sci-fi debut, a nonverbal autistic woman refuses to stand by as her sexist, ableist, dogmatic society clings to a centuries-long conflict.
Citadel, the only city on the planet Edalide, has a holy exterminate the demons from the Flooded Forest. The unholy, vicious animals were a mistake made by their god that must be corrected.
Or at least, that’s what everyone’s been told.
When Olivia, a nonverbal autistic nineteen-year-old, has a chance run-in with a “demon,” she realizes that these beings are not vicious, animals, or unholy, but sentient people. Forever scarred by her mother’s legally sanctioned murder, and determined to prevent either side from losing more loved ones, Olivia embarks on a hazardous journey into the Flooded Forest where she faces flesh-eating predators, telekinetic zealot-warriors, and the demons of her own past.
Olivia’s quest for answers forces her to decide to either seek justice for both sides or continue the cycle of war, revenge, and death.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2023
128 people are currently reading
4625 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
June 4, 2023
Citadel
by C.M. Alongi
Science Fiction Dystopian
NetGalley ARC
Publication June 20, 2023
Ages 15 +
Olivia, nineteen and a nonverbal autistic girl lives in Citadel, the only city on the planet Edalide. The city's walls protect them from the weekly floods and the creatures that lurk in the Flooded Forest, especially their mortal enemies the demons. The only way their god will allow the people of Citadel to enter heaven is for them to destroy all of those demons.
Even though her boyfriend was killed months before in the forest while on a demon hunt, she was still willing to go out into the forest for scientific reasons, and on one of these trips collecting flowers, she crosses paths with a demon. But instead of tearing her viciously apart, it only watched her before snatching her food from her hands before flying away. It returned a few moments later with the same flowers Olivia was collecting.
As with a lot of Science Fiction stories, religion is the bases of this civilization, meaning their religious beliefs are the politics that control the citizens of Citadel, and disagreeing with it will cost you your life. The belief system of these people is the reason the demons are hunted.
This is a really good story and the characters are well thought out, especially Olivia, the author did a great job giving her a voice when she didn't have one. But I do feel as if the author had left out the reasoning for Olivia to be wearing earmuffs and her breakdowns. I didn't get the significance of these until deeper into the story. Details of why and how, not just that she did, would have given me a deeper connection with Olivia much sooner and shown me who she really was.
All of the characters are really great, though I feel that Augustus needed more time in the light to make him even more of a villain.
I did have a few guesses on where the book was going, and most were pretty close, but I did not know this was the first book in a series. I have yet to find any wording that it is, but the story is left wide open for there to be another book, which I would like to read.
3 Stars
by C.M. Alongi
Science Fiction Dystopian
NetGalley ARC
Publication June 20, 2023
Ages 15 +
Olivia, nineteen and a nonverbal autistic girl lives in Citadel, the only city on the planet Edalide. The city's walls protect them from the weekly floods and the creatures that lurk in the Flooded Forest, especially their mortal enemies the demons. The only way their god will allow the people of Citadel to enter heaven is for them to destroy all of those demons.
Even though her boyfriend was killed months before in the forest while on a demon hunt, she was still willing to go out into the forest for scientific reasons, and on one of these trips collecting flowers, she crosses paths with a demon. But instead of tearing her viciously apart, it only watched her before snatching her food from her hands before flying away. It returned a few moments later with the same flowers Olivia was collecting.
As with a lot of Science Fiction stories, religion is the bases of this civilization, meaning their religious beliefs are the politics that control the citizens of Citadel, and disagreeing with it will cost you your life. The belief system of these people is the reason the demons are hunted.
This is a really good story and the characters are well thought out, especially Olivia, the author did a great job giving her a voice when she didn't have one. But I do feel as if the author had left out the reasoning for Olivia to be wearing earmuffs and her breakdowns. I didn't get the significance of these until deeper into the story. Details of why and how, not just that she did, would have given me a deeper connection with Olivia much sooner and shown me who she really was.
All of the characters are really great, though I feel that Augustus needed more time in the light to make him even more of a villain.
I did have a few guesses on where the book was going, and most were pretty close, but I did not know this was the first book in a series. I have yet to find any wording that it is, but the story is left wide open for there to be another book, which I would like to read.
3 Stars
October 18, 2023
The premise of this book was fantastic. A non-verbal austic girl in a dystopian society reeling from the loss of her love. She soon finds that the creatures that killed her beloved are sentient and capable of communication through telepathy. The action sequences were good, and I liked the forgiveness that was shown from both the chimera and Olivia.
I really loved the story, but the pacing felt a little off. I really struggled to stay focused until about 2/3 through. I think also this book would benefit from a good editor as I noticed several grammatical issues/typos that were distracting. The dialogue between characters often felt juvenile or forced and characters fell a bit flat in my opinion.
I really loved the story, but the pacing felt a little off. I really struggled to stay focused until about 2/3 through. I think also this book would benefit from a good editor as I noticed several grammatical issues/typos that were distracting. The dialogue between characters often felt juvenile or forced and characters fell a bit flat in my opinion.
April 30, 2023
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book!*
"Citadel" is a sci-fi / dystopia where monsters roam the forest outside the walled city and the people within are struggling to survive which is why they need to do research, gather supplies or explore the forest strongly influenced by high tides. The society in the City is very strict, patriarchal, sexist, ableist, homophobe and our main character is a young, non-verbal autistic woman who has lost her partner to the "demons" beyond the walls. But nothing is as it seems in this novel.
While I could foresee the majority of the plot, I found the main character absolutely wonderful. I don't want to spoiler anything, but the novel was absolutely worth reading for the autistic rep only. I'd never read anything like this, especiall making the character in this sci-fi/fantasy/dystopia setting non-verbal.
4.5 stars
"Citadel" is a sci-fi / dystopia where monsters roam the forest outside the walled city and the people within are struggling to survive which is why they need to do research, gather supplies or explore the forest strongly influenced by high tides. The society in the City is very strict, patriarchal, sexist, ableist, homophobe and our main character is a young, non-verbal autistic woman who has lost her partner to the "demons" beyond the walls. But nothing is as it seems in this novel.
While I could foresee the majority of the plot, I found the main character absolutely wonderful. I don't want to spoiler anything, but the novel was absolutely worth reading for the autistic rep only. I'd never read anything like this, especiall making the character in this sci-fi/fantasy/dystopia setting non-verbal.
4.5 stars
June 5, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending me a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
4,5 stars! Citadel surprised me so much! What an incredible story.
Citadel follows Olivia, a nineteen year old nonverbal, autistic girl, who lives in a walled city which is surrounded by a forest full of demons. Her lover was killed, which is why she sets out to exterminate the demons responsible. During her time in the forest, she runs into one of these demons and begins to realise the demons are not what they’re thought to be. She learns to communicate with them telepathically and finds out that the demons are not as evil as is told in her society.
This book was so much better than I expected it to be. The plot was very exciting, and I really liked seeing everything play out and all the twists and turns. The main character was well developed. Besides Olivia's chapters, there are some chapters from the POV of side characters, such as Riley, Olivia’s best friend, and Ormus, Olivia’s father. I really liked reading from their perspective as well and the multiple POV’s gave more depth to the characters. The worldbuilding was done fantastically. I loved the way the world is described throughout the book.
In short, I can definitely recommend this book. I didn’t realise this book was part of a series at first, but I can’t wait to read book two.
4,5 stars! Citadel surprised me so much! What an incredible story.
Citadel follows Olivia, a nineteen year old nonverbal, autistic girl, who lives in a walled city which is surrounded by a forest full of demons. Her lover was killed, which is why she sets out to exterminate the demons responsible. During her time in the forest, she runs into one of these demons and begins to realise the demons are not what they’re thought to be. She learns to communicate with them telepathically and finds out that the demons are not as evil as is told in her society.
This book was so much better than I expected it to be. The plot was very exciting, and I really liked seeing everything play out and all the twists and turns. The main character was well developed. Besides Olivia's chapters, there are some chapters from the POV of side characters, such as Riley, Olivia’s best friend, and Ormus, Olivia’s father. I really liked reading from their perspective as well and the multiple POV’s gave more depth to the characters. The worldbuilding was done fantastically. I loved the way the world is described throughout the book.
In short, I can definitely recommend this book. I didn’t realise this book was part of a series at first, but I can’t wait to read book two.
June 18, 2023
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book!*
I absolutely loved this story! The world building was there, but what really sold me is the FMC. She's in a society in that's very strict, sexist, ableist, homophobe and she is a young, non-verbal autistic woman. As person with Autism, it was so amazing to see the representation, to see her success, and feel like the world has truly misjudged so many people. Both there's and ours
I absolutely loved this story! The world building was there, but what really sold me is the FMC. She's in a society in that's very strict, sexist, ableist, homophobe and she is a young, non-verbal autistic woman. As person with Autism, it was so amazing to see the representation, to see her success, and feel like the world has truly misjudged so many people. Both there's and ours
August 7, 2023
I really wanted to love this book, and it got off to a decent start. I'm likely neurodivergent to some degree (not officially diagnosed) and thought it could be intriguing to have a nonverbal main character.
Can a neurotypical author write neurodivergent characters successfully? I believe they can, but it's challenging. In this instance, it ended up feeling patronizing. The characters just didn't have much depth, and autistic people tend to be complex and nuanced, just as the neurodivergent spectrum is.
I think for a young adult sci fi book it's not bad, but it didn't seem to be categorized as YA, so that's not what I expected when I started reading (I've heard that publishers stopped using the YA label for sci fi books because they don't sell - fair enough). If I'd known that going in, my expectations would have been different.
But, as an adult book, it just doesn't hold up.
Two stars because the world building and history weren't bad.
Can a neurotypical author write neurodivergent characters successfully? I believe they can, but it's challenging. In this instance, it ended up feeling patronizing. The characters just didn't have much depth, and autistic people tend to be complex and nuanced, just as the neurodivergent spectrum is.
I think for a young adult sci fi book it's not bad, but it didn't seem to be categorized as YA, so that's not what I expected when I started reading (I've heard that publishers stopped using the YA label for sci fi books because they don't sell - fair enough). If I'd known that going in, my expectations would have been different.
But, as an adult book, it just doesn't hold up.
Two stars because the world building and history weren't bad.
December 11, 2023
I stopped half way through. The world building seemed inconsistent. Characters used concepts and words that they would not know in their world. The autistic lead character seemed insufficently scarred by what she had gone through.
December 24, 2023
C.M. Alongi is on the short list of creatives whose work I will always choose to read/watch, no synopsis needed! She writes excellent diverse characters, and her world building is well thought out and captivating!
October 21, 2024
Two main characters are neuro divergent and they don't end up falling in love and that's a good thing. Refreshing take on a cautionary tale with dragons that aren't dragons that is more relevant than ever
June 9, 2023
I've finished this book almost 24h ago and is very hard to convey the feelings this book brought to me and to explain how awesome it is. There is no doubt that is one of the best books I've read this year! Olivia is a great character, living in a society in that's very strict, sexist, ableist, homophobe, with her being a young, non-verbal autistic woman. The author did such a great job and If this is the debut, I can't wait to read their next books.
5+++ stars
~ I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own Thank You so much NetGalley for the oportunity to read this masterpiece! ~
5+++ stars
~ I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own Thank You so much NetGalley for the oportunity to read this masterpiece! ~
September 4, 2023
Reads like an author's first book for all the wonderful and negative connotations that may bring. A fascinating setting, a delicious pacing that kept me looking forward to every time I could sit down and open this text. Some of the thoughts, feelings and political views are heavy-handed but I could imagine the same may be said for aggressively conservative propaganda - I couldn't tell you as I don't waste my time with that.
A book with a strong heart. I had fun and would recommend it.
A book with a strong heart. I had fun and would recommend it.
April 14, 2023
Citadel was surprising, in a great way. All I really knew going in was the main character Olivia, is autistic and the genre is sci-fi. I was (metaphorically) on the edge of my seat throughout the book. I love Olivia's character, I loved that she was autistic and nonverbal. The moment when she realized she had judged the chimera the same way the other humans judged her for her apparent inability to communicate was profound and very impactful. I found the story to be original, and well done, mixing sci-fi and dystopian futuristic in a fantastic way. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!
April 10, 2023
Really fun, tense, well-paced adventure with really complex enjoyable characters and awesome worldbuilding.
July 18, 2023
✨New Review✨
📚 Citadel
✍🏼 C.M. Alongi
Pub date: June 20, 2023
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to @Netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for this Advance Reading Copy. I was providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
🖤 Read this if you like:
- Sci-fi (or even if you don’t! It’s not my favorite genre, but I really liked this one!)
- Dystopian stories
- Unexpected friendships
- Autism representation
🖤 Brief synopsis:
Olivia, a non-verbal autistic 19 year old, has always been an outcast in her hometown of Citadel, a religiously extreme city on the planet of Edalide. The leaders of the city have always preached that the demons in the forest outside the city must be killed in order for the people to be forgiven by God. Too often, the demons kill them first. However, when Olivia has some friendly encounters with a few of the “demons” while in the woods, she is astonished to learn she can communicate with them…and that they aren’t demons at all. Can she make everyone see the truth and save both her new friends and her family?
🖤 My thoughts:
To be honest, I originally did not think I was going to like this book as much as I did. I don’t read a lot of sci-fi, but I do like a few of them, so I have it a shot. I’m so glad I did because I loved it! This book is so unique and imaginative. I loved the unexpected and adorable relationship between Olivia and the younger “demons”. It ended on what I assume is a lead-in for a second book in the series, and I can’t wait to read it!
❓What is a book you didn’t expect to like as much as you did?
⚠️ CW (list may not be exhaustive): death of loved ones (partner and parent), drowning, religious extremes, bullying of an autistic person, some homophobic speech
🏷️ #bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd
📚 Citadel
✍🏼 C.M. Alongi
Pub date: June 20, 2023
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you to @Netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for this Advance Reading Copy. I was providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
🖤 Read this if you like:
- Sci-fi (or even if you don’t! It’s not my favorite genre, but I really liked this one!)
- Dystopian stories
- Unexpected friendships
- Autism representation
🖤 Brief synopsis:
Olivia, a non-verbal autistic 19 year old, has always been an outcast in her hometown of Citadel, a religiously extreme city on the planet of Edalide. The leaders of the city have always preached that the demons in the forest outside the city must be killed in order for the people to be forgiven by God. Too often, the demons kill them first. However, when Olivia has some friendly encounters with a few of the “demons” while in the woods, she is astonished to learn she can communicate with them…and that they aren’t demons at all. Can she make everyone see the truth and save both her new friends and her family?
🖤 My thoughts:
To be honest, I originally did not think I was going to like this book as much as I did. I don’t read a lot of sci-fi, but I do like a few of them, so I have it a shot. I’m so glad I did because I loved it! This book is so unique and imaginative. I loved the unexpected and adorable relationship between Olivia and the younger “demons”. It ended on what I assume is a lead-in for a second book in the series, and I can’t wait to read it!
❓What is a book you didn’t expect to like as much as you did?
⚠️ CW (list may not be exhaustive): death of loved ones (partner and parent), drowning, religious extremes, bullying of an autistic person, some homophobic speech
🏷️ #bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd
May 9, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
"Citadel" is such a wildly cool book. From the nonverbal autistic-coded main character to the surprise Sci-Fi, I enjoyed reading this one so much. Olivia, the main character, is a freaking badass. She's curious, intelligent, brave, and stubborn. I love her and would die for her.
The story of "Citadel" follows Olivia and her people in Citadel, a walled town that is in opposition to these demons that occupy the surrounding forest. After the killing of her boyfriend, Elias, Olivia goes into the forest alone and discovers that the demons are not what the people of Citadel have believed them to be. I don't want to spoil anything but Olivia's discovery and forest journey is so freaking cool and well done. It easily could have resulted in Olivia being perfect and never doing anything wrong but she struggles and things go wrong and so, it's so gratifying when she does succeed.
I am so excited for the next book and will definitely be picking it up when it's announced.
"Citadel" is such a wildly cool book. From the nonverbal autistic-coded main character to the surprise Sci-Fi, I enjoyed reading this one so much. Olivia, the main character, is a freaking badass. She's curious, intelligent, brave, and stubborn. I love her and would die for her.
The story of "Citadel" follows Olivia and her people in Citadel, a walled town that is in opposition to these demons that occupy the surrounding forest. After the killing of her boyfriend, Elias, Olivia goes into the forest alone and discovers that the demons are not what the people of Citadel have believed them to be. I don't want to spoil anything but Olivia's discovery and forest journey is so freaking cool and well done. It easily could have resulted in Olivia being perfect and never doing anything wrong but she struggles and things go wrong and so, it's so gratifying when she does succeed.
I am so excited for the next book and will definitely be picking it up when it's announced.
July 10, 2023
This was a fast-paced and exciting Dystopian Sci-Fi/Fantasy!
The world building was well thought out and imaginative. The 19 year old FMC, Olivia, who is a nonverbal autistic woman, was wonderful and smart and tough. The lore about their religion vs. Olivia's science minded view on things was incredibly relevant and interesting. I enjoyed the creative monsters as well.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to dabble in Sci-Fi without it being overly complicated.
Thank you so much to TLC Booktours for the copy and including me in the book tour.
The world building was well thought out and imaginative. The 19 year old FMC, Olivia, who is a nonverbal autistic woman, was wonderful and smart and tough. The lore about their religion vs. Olivia's science minded view on things was incredibly relevant and interesting. I enjoyed the creative monsters as well.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to dabble in Sci-Fi without it being overly complicated.
Thank you so much to TLC Booktours for the copy and including me in the book tour.
January 27, 2024
Wow. Just wow.
First off, I think it was a solid call on the authors part to give us the TW note and very explicitly tell her readers that this story is set in a messed up world intentionally.
The prose was entrancing, I wanted to keep reading at all points in this book. Not only that, but the POV character Olivia being nonverbal was something entirely unique. I’ve never read that in a book and it was so very well done.
I loved everything about this book and I was genuinely surprised that I did. I think this will easily be one of the best books I read this year.
First off, I think it was a solid call on the authors part to give us the TW note and very explicitly tell her readers that this story is set in a messed up world intentionally.
The prose was entrancing, I wanted to keep reading at all points in this book. Not only that, but the POV character Olivia being nonverbal was something entirely unique. I’ve never read that in a book and it was so very well done.
I loved everything about this book and I was genuinely surprised that I did. I think this will easily be one of the best books I read this year.
April 28, 2024
4.5/5 Stars
Citadel is definitely one of my biggest surprises of this year and deserves so much more attention. Citadel is mainly from the point of view of Olivia, a nonverbal autistic teen who has dealt with her fair share of trauma living in this SciFi city with a holy mission to rid their planet of the demons. There is so much to touch on because C.M. Alongi has packed this book full of tough conversations, but doesn’t make it feel preachy. This book focuses on abelsim, gender expectations, religious prosecutions, weaponization of religion and propaganda, and prejudices that plague the city of Citadel. With a very ableist society, Olivia faces prejudice from not only the community, but also within her family. The people around her struggle to understand her disability and many see her as a defect with little to contribute, especially in a society that prioritizes health, status, and genetic quality when determining people’s value. This is also very evident with Riley, Olivia’s childhood friend and son of the governor, whose chronic illness has damaged his “value” in his father’s eyes. But through these shared experiences of being seen as ‘damaged,” Olivia and Riley have built a strong friendship full of understanding. They each see the other as a person first. Alongi makes a disclaimer in the beginning of the book that she is nuerotypical, but tried to the best of her abilities to make this book inclusive, accurate, and sensitive to those in the community that she is writing about by heavily researching and using sensitivity readers. As someone who is Neurodivergent, I think this was done quite successfully. Olivia did not feel like a caricature of an autistic/ AuDHD person, but a multidimensional, fleshed-out character with individuality and opinions. Alongi never wrote the characteristics or symptoms of being Neurodivergent as a flaw or fault that needed to be corrected. They were written more as quirks of their personality. An example of this was how Olivia’s meltdowns were handled. The meltdowns were not written as a flaw, but more of an aspect of Olivia’s disability that affected her day to day functioning and other people’s struggle to understand her disability. There is also not a magical cure at the end, because disabled people do not need to be cured. They need a community that tries to learn to understand them and their disability and accommodations.
Communication is a very large focal point, especially since out main character is nonverbal. The ways that Olivia communicates with different people in her life grows and changes. Communication and information also bleed into the prejudices and politics of the city’s relationship with the demons in the flooded forest and subsequently, the never-ending war.
One of the big things that I liked about Citadel was that even though Olivia is atheist and Riley is religious, they both seem to try their best to respect the other’s faith or lack of faith. They both challenge their community’s views on gender expectations, each wanting to follow a path that doesn’t strongly align with what is expected of them. Even Evelyn, Olivia’s sister, challenges their father’s goals for her life.
I was surprised how much I ended up enjoying Olivia’s father’s POV, especially since he is not viewed in a positive light for many of the other characters. His internal struggle of his loyalty to the government and political pressures and his love for his daughters was interesting to see and I am happy that we are able to see his thought process. I don’t think it would have been as effective if we had not been able to be in his head. A big part of this book is characters having to choose between what they believe is right and following a path they choose or accepting their fate chosen by their family and going along with the law even if it feels morally wrong. Alongi also makes the reader aware of the corruption within the city government, abusing its power to execute any who challenge their strict beliefs and by creating a large divide between the wealthy, high class, and the impoverished low class. The city of Citadel is on the brink of collapse, citizens starving and sick, and the powerful ignore the issues as much as they can.
The Demons are one of the most compelling parts of the story. Olivia, even though she is not religious and doesn’t believe in the holy mission to eradicate all the demons, has been raised in a society that does and has her own personal reasons to hate the demons. Her curiosity allowed her to challenge even her deeply held beliefs and her strong moral compass helps her look at situations objectively, even when her emotions may sway her.
Olivia’s journey forces her face her own desire for revenge and grapple with what true justice really is. I appreciate the care the author took to not paint Olivia’s autism as a flaw or as a superpower, not a positive or negative, but as a part of her that makes her uniquely herself. Alongi has confirmed that she is writing a sequel and I could not be more excited. I think that the ending, while it felt wrapped up enough to leave the reader with enough of a conclusion that it could be left as a stand alone, sets up the next book to explore these topics with even more nuance and a way to expand the plot and world.
*Even though I am Neurodivergent, I am not privy to the experiences of all Neurodivergent individuals or an expert on ASD or ADHD, so please feel free to give me feedback if you feel if anything in my review is harmful or inaccurate.*
Citadel is definitely one of my biggest surprises of this year and deserves so much more attention. Citadel is mainly from the point of view of Olivia, a nonverbal autistic teen who has dealt with her fair share of trauma living in this SciFi city with a holy mission to rid their planet of the demons. There is so much to touch on because C.M. Alongi has packed this book full of tough conversations, but doesn’t make it feel preachy. This book focuses on abelsim, gender expectations, religious prosecutions, weaponization of religion and propaganda, and prejudices that plague the city of Citadel. With a very ableist society, Olivia faces prejudice from not only the community, but also within her family. The people around her struggle to understand her disability and many see her as a defect with little to contribute, especially in a society that prioritizes health, status, and genetic quality when determining people’s value. This is also very evident with Riley, Olivia’s childhood friend and son of the governor, whose chronic illness has damaged his “value” in his father’s eyes. But through these shared experiences of being seen as ‘damaged,” Olivia and Riley have built a strong friendship full of understanding. They each see the other as a person first. Alongi makes a disclaimer in the beginning of the book that she is nuerotypical, but tried to the best of her abilities to make this book inclusive, accurate, and sensitive to those in the community that she is writing about by heavily researching and using sensitivity readers. As someone who is Neurodivergent, I think this was done quite successfully. Olivia did not feel like a caricature of an autistic/ AuDHD person, but a multidimensional, fleshed-out character with individuality and opinions. Alongi never wrote the characteristics or symptoms of being Neurodivergent as a flaw or fault that needed to be corrected. They were written more as quirks of their personality. An example of this was how Olivia’s meltdowns were handled. The meltdowns were not written as a flaw, but more of an aspect of Olivia’s disability that affected her day to day functioning and other people’s struggle to understand her disability. There is also not a magical cure at the end, because disabled people do not need to be cured. They need a community that tries to learn to understand them and their disability and accommodations.
Communication is a very large focal point, especially since out main character is nonverbal. The ways that Olivia communicates with different people in her life grows and changes. Communication and information also bleed into the prejudices and politics of the city’s relationship with the demons in the flooded forest and subsequently, the never-ending war.
One of the big things that I liked about Citadel was that even though Olivia is atheist and Riley is religious, they both seem to try their best to respect the other’s faith or lack of faith. They both challenge their community’s views on gender expectations, each wanting to follow a path that doesn’t strongly align with what is expected of them. Even Evelyn, Olivia’s sister, challenges their father’s goals for her life.
I was surprised how much I ended up enjoying Olivia’s father’s POV, especially since he is not viewed in a positive light for many of the other characters. His internal struggle of his loyalty to the government and political pressures and his love for his daughters was interesting to see and I am happy that we are able to see his thought process. I don’t think it would have been as effective if we had not been able to be in his head. A big part of this book is characters having to choose between what they believe is right and following a path they choose or accepting their fate chosen by their family and going along with the law even if it feels morally wrong. Alongi also makes the reader aware of the corruption within the city government, abusing its power to execute any who challenge their strict beliefs and by creating a large divide between the wealthy, high class, and the impoverished low class. The city of Citadel is on the brink of collapse, citizens starving and sick, and the powerful ignore the issues as much as they can.
The Demons are one of the most compelling parts of the story. Olivia, even though she is not religious and doesn’t believe in the holy mission to eradicate all the demons, has been raised in a society that does and has her own personal reasons to hate the demons. Her curiosity allowed her to challenge even her deeply held beliefs and her strong moral compass helps her look at situations objectively, even when her emotions may sway her.
Olivia’s journey forces her face her own desire for revenge and grapple with what true justice really is. I appreciate the care the author took to not paint Olivia’s autism as a flaw or as a superpower, not a positive or negative, but as a part of her that makes her uniquely herself. Alongi has confirmed that she is writing a sequel and I could not be more excited. I think that the ending, while it felt wrapped up enough to leave the reader with enough of a conclusion that it could be left as a stand alone, sets up the next book to explore these topics with even more nuance and a way to expand the plot and world.
*Even though I am Neurodivergent, I am not privy to the experiences of all Neurodivergent individuals or an expert on ASD or ADHD, so please feel free to give me feedback if you feel if anything in my review is harmful or inaccurate.*
October 28, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I am wondering if there will be a second one to it or if it will be left as a stand alone. I love the Rylie and Liv duo and them standing for what is right. There were some good jaw droppers and emotional moments. It definitely left me at the edge of my seat quite a few times. I hope there will be a second one I still have unanswered questions. Over all she did a great job.
March 16, 2025
First time in a long time where I hit the middle of the book and was dreading the end. A great read with interesting characters that are not only relatable but believable. I definitely recommend this novel.
July 23, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. The characters are all well written and have such depth. They really drive the narrative and made this book an incredible experience. 5/5 stars!
April 22, 2023
It's a good read--dark topics, but told in clear contemporary prose, which balances out some of the really f'd up stuff. I loved the blend of SF and fantasy.
April 19, 2023
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book takes place in a futuristic world in which humans have colonized the planet of Edalide, living in the titular Citadel. Externally, they battle the demons that Scripture tells them must be defeated in order for humans to regain access to Heaven; internally, they face corruption, starvation, disease, and bigotry.
Our two protagonists, Olivia and Riley, are both outcasts in the extremely rigid society of Citadel. Olivia is on the autism spectrum and is nonverbal (with the representation done very well, props to the author!), struggling with the grief of losing her love Elias a year ago and her mother ten years prior. Riley is the son of the governor, but faces abuse from his father, his mother’s alcoholism, and his own desire to pursue a career path that is all but forbidden. These two have a beautiful friendship and together they are the heart of the novel. They’re both determined and courageous, they inspire each other, and they try to do their best to help those around them. Honorable mentions have to go out to almost all the other supporting characters: Ormus, Olivia’s traditional but upstanding father; Asiya, her compassionate and intelligent stepmother; Evelyn, her brilliant and just as individualistic stepsister; and Augustus, Riley’s maniacal father who makes a truly terrifying villain. The best part of this book was the crafting of the characters and the interactions between them; I almost would have preferred that this book was solely a psychological thriller without all the sci-fi elements.
An additional honorable mention for the world building: Edalide was so beautifully constructed, with so much detail and thought put into the geography and ecosystems of the planet and the ways that different species evolved and adapted to them. It was reminiscent of N.K. Jemison’s Broken Earth Trilogy, or the way Brandon Sanderson constructs warfare in the Stormlight Archives. It was so well thought out and so gorgeously described, and it gave me similar vibes of one of my favorite TV shows, “Terra Nova.”
My struggles with this book are mostly with the writing style and the main plot line. The writing was fairly choppy, at times too conversational and at other times beautifully illustrative in a way that felt very inconsistent. I also wasn’t able to really invest in the main humans vs demons storyline; since the demons were killing Citadel’s humans, who largely suck, the stakes didn’t feel very important to me. Truthfully, Citadel does not seem worth saving. I also felt that the subplot involving the Doves was underdeveloped and was seemingly only added to give Riley even more of a sense of isolation from his family.
This book takes place in a futuristic world in which humans have colonized the planet of Edalide, living in the titular Citadel. Externally, they battle the demons that Scripture tells them must be defeated in order for humans to regain access to Heaven; internally, they face corruption, starvation, disease, and bigotry.
Our two protagonists, Olivia and Riley, are both outcasts in the extremely rigid society of Citadel. Olivia is on the autism spectrum and is nonverbal (with the representation done very well, props to the author!), struggling with the grief of losing her love Elias a year ago and her mother ten years prior. Riley is the son of the governor, but faces abuse from his father, his mother’s alcoholism, and his own desire to pursue a career path that is all but forbidden. These two have a beautiful friendship and together they are the heart of the novel. They’re both determined and courageous, they inspire each other, and they try to do their best to help those around them. Honorable mentions have to go out to almost all the other supporting characters: Ormus, Olivia’s traditional but upstanding father; Asiya, her compassionate and intelligent stepmother; Evelyn, her brilliant and just as individualistic stepsister; and Augustus, Riley’s maniacal father who makes a truly terrifying villain. The best part of this book was the crafting of the characters and the interactions between them; I almost would have preferred that this book was solely a psychological thriller without all the sci-fi elements.
An additional honorable mention for the world building: Edalide was so beautifully constructed, with so much detail and thought put into the geography and ecosystems of the planet and the ways that different species evolved and adapted to them. It was reminiscent of N.K. Jemison’s Broken Earth Trilogy, or the way Brandon Sanderson constructs warfare in the Stormlight Archives. It was so well thought out and so gorgeously described, and it gave me similar vibes of one of my favorite TV shows, “Terra Nova.”
My struggles with this book are mostly with the writing style and the main plot line. The writing was fairly choppy, at times too conversational and at other times beautifully illustrative in a way that felt very inconsistent. I also wasn’t able to really invest in the main humans vs demons storyline; since the demons were killing Citadel’s humans, who largely suck, the stakes didn’t feel very important to me. Truthfully, Citadel does not seem worth saving. I also felt that the subplot involving the Doves was underdeveloped and was seemingly only added to give Riley even more of a sense of isolation from his family.
May 5, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Summary: Alongi does not shy away from commentary about corrupted, greedy politicians utilizing their power as religious figures to line their own pockets while their constituents starve. It's a brave, realistic representation of "othering" those who do not fit the mold of the society to cast blame and distract from the true problems.
Our two main protagonists, Olivia and Riley, approach not only the faith of the hundred-faced god in different ways, but also how to address the Citadel's poverty, crime, and corruption. Olivia is content to see the Citadel be destroyed after its beliefs killed her mother and sent her lover to an unnecessary death while Riley strives to face inner demons to reach heaven. Throw in Ormus, Olivia's father, who sees the laws and beliefs of the Citadel as almost a necessary evil, and you've got all sides of the ongoing debate of separation of church and state.
The worldbuilding of the setting is beautifully done, and I loved the idea of the flooded forest where the demons lived. The complexity of the characters really fed into the immersion of the world, however I needed more from Augustus (Riley's father and the governor). At times, he was evil just to be the antagonist and cause conflict. We saw a very one dimensional version of him, ruling with fear and nothing else. Also, as we were only in the heads of those who had doubts about the Citadel and who were not as affected by the poverty, it was very difficult to understand what mechanisms were in place to keep average citizens from rebelling.
My other issue with the book was the lack of subtle ways the social commentary was integrated. It was all very shoved down our throats, with the characters directly saying how they were affected more often than the author showing up through various interactions.
I wouldn't say the book ends on a cliffhanger, more like in the middle of action. It left me wanting more...but not in a good way. The final conflict felt un-climatic, and I felt like I was cheated out of another 4 or 5 chapters.
Overall, yes I would recommend this to a friend and I will be requesting the sequel when it becomes available.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Summary: Alongi does not shy away from commentary about corrupted, greedy politicians utilizing their power as religious figures to line their own pockets while their constituents starve. It's a brave, realistic representation of "othering" those who do not fit the mold of the society to cast blame and distract from the true problems.
Our two main protagonists, Olivia and Riley, approach not only the faith of the hundred-faced god in different ways, but also how to address the Citadel's poverty, crime, and corruption. Olivia is content to see the Citadel be destroyed after its beliefs killed her mother and sent her lover to an unnecessary death while Riley strives to face inner demons to reach heaven. Throw in Ormus, Olivia's father, who sees the laws and beliefs of the Citadel as almost a necessary evil, and you've got all sides of the ongoing debate of separation of church and state.
The worldbuilding of the setting is beautifully done, and I loved the idea of the flooded forest where the demons lived. The complexity of the characters really fed into the immersion of the world, however I needed more from Augustus (Riley's father and the governor). At times, he was evil just to be the antagonist and cause conflict. We saw a very one dimensional version of him, ruling with fear and nothing else. Also, as we were only in the heads of those who had doubts about the Citadel and who were not as affected by the poverty, it was very difficult to understand what mechanisms were in place to keep average citizens from rebelling.
My other issue with the book was the lack of subtle ways the social commentary was integrated. It was all very shoved down our throats, with the characters directly saying how they were affected more often than the author showing up through various interactions.
I wouldn't say the book ends on a cliffhanger, more like in the middle of action. It left me wanting more...but not in a good way. The final conflict felt un-climatic, and I felt like I was cheated out of another 4 or 5 chapters.
Overall, yes I would recommend this to a friend and I will be requesting the sequel when it becomes available.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 2, 2024
The world building was both interesting and yet poor. And if I reveal too much I will spoil the book. Let's just say that a world where a stupid religion that is very patriarchal is the monoculture and gender roles are very strict is not what I care to read any more. Like, I nope out of struggle romances these days and a struggle world is worse.
What kept me going is that the main character is a non-verbal autistic in a world that does not know autism is a thing. I loved seeing the ways her family and friends both supported and failed her. I loved the alien life that she was best suited to contact. I appreciated the romantic thread that was cut short and that we got to see the grief of that lost love. (Which was even more unusual in that the lost love was a man and not a woman and it also wasn't the main driver for the plot.) I love that she was a fighter but even more so an intellect. I love that her relationship with her stepsister wasn't perfect, but it was deep. I loved the ways her father was learning to Dad and her stepmother was deeply awesome in different ways from her mom. There is a lot to love here.
Yet. It also felt like the author took a bunch of decrepit old ideas and mixed them with their much better ideas and then built up the story on this very shaky foundation instead of just throwing out the old ideas. The world did not need to be capital 'P' patriarchy to still work the way it did. The bad guys didn't need to be so bad. An experienced author would have recognized that they didn't have to hit these jarring extremes to tell the exact same story. Given Alongi's publishing history on Goodreads, it looks like they've published four novellas and then a longer sequel. So definitely a writer starting their career.
And because of that I will commend the author: this was not a light book. And it does feel like the author took on heavier world building / topics / character type than they might have been quite ready for, but as long as Alongi keeps writing what will happen is that they will get better faster than other authors. They will (hopefully) learn they don't need those old ideas to tell the stories they are dreaming of. The core of this book is really good. So if the next book they write is a sequel or something else that interests me, I will definitely pick up that book to see what happens. But this book still, unfortunately, is 3 stars for me.
What kept me going is that the main character is a non-verbal autistic in a world that does not know autism is a thing. I loved seeing the ways her family and friends both supported and failed her. I loved the alien life that she was best suited to contact. I appreciated the romantic thread that was cut short and that we got to see the grief of that lost love. (Which was even more unusual in that the lost love was a man and not a woman and it also wasn't the main driver for the plot.) I love that she was a fighter but even more so an intellect. I love that her relationship with her stepsister wasn't perfect, but it was deep. I loved the ways her father was learning to Dad and her stepmother was deeply awesome in different ways from her mom. There is a lot to love here.
Yet. It also felt like the author took a bunch of decrepit old ideas and mixed them with their much better ideas and then built up the story on this very shaky foundation instead of just throwing out the old ideas. The world did not need to be capital 'P' patriarchy to still work the way it did. The bad guys didn't need to be so bad. An experienced author would have recognized that they didn't have to hit these jarring extremes to tell the exact same story. Given Alongi's publishing history on Goodreads, it looks like they've published four novellas and then a longer sequel. So definitely a writer starting their career.
And because of that I will commend the author: this was not a light book. And it does feel like the author took on heavier world building / topics / character type than they might have been quite ready for, but as long as Alongi keeps writing what will happen is that they will get better faster than other authors. They will (hopefully) learn they don't need those old ideas to tell the stories they are dreaming of. The core of this book is really good. So if the next book they write is a sequel or something else that interests me, I will definitely pick up that book to see what happens. But this book still, unfortunately, is 3 stars for me.
October 20, 2025
Olivia is a citizen of the Citadel, important by some social metrics because her father is Captain of the City Guard, but her story is more complicated than that. The Citadel is located on a planet where the tides roll in and bury much of the land, where the forests house "demons" only too happy to make a meal of humans that venture too far. Humanity is relegated to its one defensible city on a hill with necessary high ground to evade the tides. As the population has grown since its founding, it's become increasingly challenging to feed and house everyone, and demon attacks make it a slow process to find a spot for, let alone establish, another hill enclave to relieve some of those structural burdens. Rioting is becoming increasingly commonplace, and anyone viewed as standing in the way of community cohesion is dealt with summarily and violently. Threats to the Citadel's "values" are even scarier to those with power than those who get testy over rising food prices.
Olivia was born to great scandal-- out of wedlock and to a mother who refused to marry her father despite the pregnancy. She grew up at the knee of her scientist, atheist mother in a world where Faith is not a choice. She was homeschooled when it became clear that her neurodivergence would make school a nightmare, but she was happy to learn from her clever mother and avoid the worst of her peers. Nonverbal and finding others' emotions difficult to read, Olivia encounters a world largely uncaring for her needs or desires. She detests crowds and loud sounds, and masking is a great burden in many of her interactions. Olivia was content with a life limited to her mother, uncle, and best friend, Riley. But when her mother was tried and executed for heresy in Olivia's preteen years, everything changed. Her grief landed on deaf ears in a society that viewed her mother's beliefs as a threat to the community. She was forced to move in with her estranged father, stepmother, and half-sister, Evelyn. She started at school, where bullies were only too quick to mark her as different and attack, the influential half of her parentage notwithstanding.
At the start of the book, we see Olivia experiencing a new loss. Her boyfriend was killed by demons while completing his mandatory military service. He was destined for a life of carpentry, but his time outside the wall, time he never wanted, cut that life short. Though this grief is more palatable to others than what she experienced over her mother's execution, it's still an isolating experience that has her father despairing of ever marrying her off. A community oddity with her strikingly light hair, the notebook she uses to communicate, and her disinterest in bowing to social niceties she doesn't understand or believe in, in some ways, her social circle hasn't broadened much since her childhood. What he refuses to acknowledge is that this distance from others stems from targeted cruelties, ones he dismissed when his daughter reported them as a child newly under his roof.
Olivia has followed her mother's example in more ways than one, working as a scientist. She ventures outside the Citadel on expeditions to gather data and valuable resources, routinely abandoning the protection of the guards who escort them, much to her father's dismay. Their latest quarry is a flower they've discovered to have an analgesic effect. When Olivia spots valuable specimens above, she climbs off alone to get the task done efficiently. It's then that she encounters a demon who seems to be non-hostile. Observing her actions, he even brings her more of the flowers she seeks. The story has Avatar vibes, but with a twist (keep in mind my reference is shaky because I only saw the first, and I prefer the Airbender variety, anyway). Olivia ends up leaving the Citadel without permission to learn more about the demons her community loathes, seeking information that would certainly be heresy for her to know.
Meanwhile, her friend Riley bucks social norms to seek a career as a healer, one of the only professions in their society that's traditionally feminine. We see him battle with his father, the mayor, over the choice, to the point of being disowned. All the while, he participates in a secret religious society that interprets the town's Faith in a way that's counter to official teachings, seeing the call to exterminate demons as actually referring to an inner, metaphysical battle rather than one of actual violence. This teaching is seen as a great threat to harmony in the Citadel, and Olivia's father closes in on the group at the urging of Riley's. At the same time, their children do their damnedest to overthrow the social order, intentionally or not.
I found this story interesting on multiple levels, from the personal stories of each character to the social commentary. There's a complex plot around family and loyalty. Olivia's bonds with her stepfamily may not be straightforward, but we see many layers as the story unfolds. Even her father, easy to distrust, has more to him than meets the eye. I especially appreciated the growth in Olivia's relationship with her stepsister. Evelyn wants to be a nun, which is both a religious order and a scientific pursuit. She hears the usual claptrap about her womanly duty to have children, how she'll be sorry to miss out on marriage once she's older, couldn't possibly know her own mind, etc., from everyone but Olivia. The criticisms of others fall on deaf ears in part because Evelyn's aroace, uninterested in the social bonds others are desperate for her to have. It's Olivia who, though allo, can empathize best with seeking a path less boring than conventional expectations. In Evelyn's case, it's a path of seeking knowledge and focusing on the social bonds she *does* find important-- those beyond romance and motherhood. It's also worth noting that the representation is positive because Evelyn doesn't fit the stereotypes of an aroace person. Meanwhile, Olivia *would* fit some of the stereotypes, but we know she was in a healthy, loving romantic relationship that met her needs and his.
Citadel covers important issues of structural violence, religion as a vehicle for class oppression, sexism, ableism, (all the -isms), but it also fosters hope for peace and better lives even in the face of a bitter history. In different ways, the characters struggle against the expectations that bind and harm them, seeking knowledge and experiences outside what's strictly allowed in the name of freedom and empathy. While I can speak more directly to the sidebar aroace rep, the more central example of Olivia's neurodivergence goes beyond my personal experience. I appreciated the author's heartfelt note on the topic and found Olivia to be a nuanced, fascinating character. However, I defer to reviewers who have a more similar background to better judge how she's portrayed. This is a layered, thoughtful story that asks big questions about humanity and rallies against social conservatism. It's a great science fiction read, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Thanks to Blackstone for my copy to read and review!
Olivia was born to great scandal-- out of wedlock and to a mother who refused to marry her father despite the pregnancy. She grew up at the knee of her scientist, atheist mother in a world where Faith is not a choice. She was homeschooled when it became clear that her neurodivergence would make school a nightmare, but she was happy to learn from her clever mother and avoid the worst of her peers. Nonverbal and finding others' emotions difficult to read, Olivia encounters a world largely uncaring for her needs or desires. She detests crowds and loud sounds, and masking is a great burden in many of her interactions. Olivia was content with a life limited to her mother, uncle, and best friend, Riley. But when her mother was tried and executed for heresy in Olivia's preteen years, everything changed. Her grief landed on deaf ears in a society that viewed her mother's beliefs as a threat to the community. She was forced to move in with her estranged father, stepmother, and half-sister, Evelyn. She started at school, where bullies were only too quick to mark her as different and attack, the influential half of her parentage notwithstanding.
At the start of the book, we see Olivia experiencing a new loss. Her boyfriend was killed by demons while completing his mandatory military service. He was destined for a life of carpentry, but his time outside the wall, time he never wanted, cut that life short. Though this grief is more palatable to others than what she experienced over her mother's execution, it's still an isolating experience that has her father despairing of ever marrying her off. A community oddity with her strikingly light hair, the notebook she uses to communicate, and her disinterest in bowing to social niceties she doesn't understand or believe in, in some ways, her social circle hasn't broadened much since her childhood. What he refuses to acknowledge is that this distance from others stems from targeted cruelties, ones he dismissed when his daughter reported them as a child newly under his roof.
Olivia has followed her mother's example in more ways than one, working as a scientist. She ventures outside the Citadel on expeditions to gather data and valuable resources, routinely abandoning the protection of the guards who escort them, much to her father's dismay. Their latest quarry is a flower they've discovered to have an analgesic effect. When Olivia spots valuable specimens above, she climbs off alone to get the task done efficiently. It's then that she encounters a demon who seems to be non-hostile. Observing her actions, he even brings her more of the flowers she seeks. The story has Avatar vibes, but with a twist (keep in mind my reference is shaky because I only saw the first, and I prefer the Airbender variety, anyway). Olivia ends up leaving the Citadel without permission to learn more about the demons her community loathes, seeking information that would certainly be heresy for her to know.
Meanwhile, her friend Riley bucks social norms to seek a career as a healer, one of the only professions in their society that's traditionally feminine. We see him battle with his father, the mayor, over the choice, to the point of being disowned. All the while, he participates in a secret religious society that interprets the town's Faith in a way that's counter to official teachings, seeing the call to exterminate demons as actually referring to an inner, metaphysical battle rather than one of actual violence. This teaching is seen as a great threat to harmony in the Citadel, and Olivia's father closes in on the group at the urging of Riley's. At the same time, their children do their damnedest to overthrow the social order, intentionally or not.
I found this story interesting on multiple levels, from the personal stories of each character to the social commentary. There's a complex plot around family and loyalty. Olivia's bonds with her stepfamily may not be straightforward, but we see many layers as the story unfolds. Even her father, easy to distrust, has more to him than meets the eye. I especially appreciated the growth in Olivia's relationship with her stepsister. Evelyn wants to be a nun, which is both a religious order and a scientific pursuit. She hears the usual claptrap about her womanly duty to have children, how she'll be sorry to miss out on marriage once she's older, couldn't possibly know her own mind, etc., from everyone but Olivia. The criticisms of others fall on deaf ears in part because Evelyn's aroace, uninterested in the social bonds others are desperate for her to have. It's Olivia who, though allo, can empathize best with seeking a path less boring than conventional expectations. In Evelyn's case, it's a path of seeking knowledge and focusing on the social bonds she *does* find important-- those beyond romance and motherhood. It's also worth noting that the representation is positive because Evelyn doesn't fit the stereotypes of an aroace person. Meanwhile, Olivia *would* fit some of the stereotypes, but we know she was in a healthy, loving romantic relationship that met her needs and his.
Citadel covers important issues of structural violence, religion as a vehicle for class oppression, sexism, ableism, (all the -isms), but it also fosters hope for peace and better lives even in the face of a bitter history. In different ways, the characters struggle against the expectations that bind and harm them, seeking knowledge and experiences outside what's strictly allowed in the name of freedom and empathy. While I can speak more directly to the sidebar aroace rep, the more central example of Olivia's neurodivergence goes beyond my personal experience. I appreciated the author's heartfelt note on the topic and found Olivia to be a nuanced, fascinating character. However, I defer to reviewers who have a more similar background to better judge how she's portrayed. This is a layered, thoughtful story that asks big questions about humanity and rallies against social conservatism. It's a great science fiction read, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Thanks to Blackstone for my copy to read and review!
May 16, 2024
Citadel
By C.M. Alongi
Blackstone Publishing
publishing date: 06-20-2023
430 pages
sci fi/ fantasy
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
What an incredible story! Initially, what attracted me was the gorgeous cover, and then I was hooked once I read the synopsis. This book definitely delivered all my hype, and then some!
Citadel is about a nineteen year old non verbal, autistic BAD ASS female named Olivia. Her lover is killed and she sets out to exterminate the demons- literally- responsible. Along the way, she comes across one of these demons, and comes to realise they are not what they are thought to be. She communicates with them telepathically and learns a great deal that she had not anticipated.
CW: ableism, sexism, death, demons, blood, violence.
The characters were SO well written. The prologue really set up Elias well, for the reader to really feel for Olivia. I loved the journal entries throughout. It kept Elias’ spirit alive and reminded me as a reader, why Olivia set out to do what she did.
The pacing was great and I read at chunks at a time because I was so invested in the story. The story made sense and I never felt lost or confused.
This is a great read for lovers of fantasy, in particular dark/demon themed. Speaking as someone with neurodiversity, it was great to be represented in such a fantastic fantasy story! I think this helps open up a whole new world of MC’s with neurodiversity and I hope to read more!
I am very interested in reading more by C.M. Alongi in the future!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending this book for review consideration! All opinions are my own.
By C.M. Alongi
Blackstone Publishing
publishing date: 06-20-2023
430 pages
sci fi/ fantasy
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
What an incredible story! Initially, what attracted me was the gorgeous cover, and then I was hooked once I read the synopsis. This book definitely delivered all my hype, and then some!
Citadel is about a nineteen year old non verbal, autistic BAD ASS female named Olivia. Her lover is killed and she sets out to exterminate the demons- literally- responsible. Along the way, she comes across one of these demons, and comes to realise they are not what they are thought to be. She communicates with them telepathically and learns a great deal that she had not anticipated.
CW: ableism, sexism, death, demons, blood, violence.
The characters were SO well written. The prologue really set up Elias well, for the reader to really feel for Olivia. I loved the journal entries throughout. It kept Elias’ spirit alive and reminded me as a reader, why Olivia set out to do what she did.
The pacing was great and I read at chunks at a time because I was so invested in the story. The story made sense and I never felt lost or confused.
This is a great read for lovers of fantasy, in particular dark/demon themed. Speaking as someone with neurodiversity, it was great to be represented in such a fantastic fantasy story! I think this helps open up a whole new world of MC’s with neurodiversity and I hope to read more!
I am very interested in reading more by C.M. Alongi in the future!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending this book for review consideration! All opinions are my own.
August 18, 2023
This book was a fun ride. I found the big story beats pretty predictable, but that was more than made up for by the cast of really distinct and well fleshed-out characters, and really cool world-building.
Wish I could get the clearly intended next installment immediately.
Wish I could get the clearly intended next installment immediately.
November 14, 2025
Olivia lives in Citadel, the only city on the planet. The people live to hunt demons that are outside the city walls in the forest, because their religion says that they'll earn their place in Heaven this way. Olivia works at a lab and goes into the forest with a group to collect a certain type of flower for research. A demon approaches her but doesnt attack, and even brings her more of tye flowers. She decides to go back in the woods solo to find out more about them and not only makes friends with several but because the flowers open the mind to telepathy, she is able to communicate back. For Olivia, a non-verbal autistic, this is refreshing. I think that Olivia was portrayed respectfully and realistically. I enjoyed her outside the box thinking. She was likable and the antagonist was easy to dislike. Descriptions were vivid without being too wordy.
July 26, 2023
Everything about this was exceptional! I haven't read autistic rep like this before and I loved the flow of the characters and their dynamics, even though Olivia is nonverbal. I really appreciate that kind of main character rep. This was some of the most unique world building as well. Sometimes dystopia/sci-fi all feel like the same concept but this felt flipped and new. Also, I just want to say I absolutely fell in love with the demons!
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