Repression Ground

by E.M. Carter

'A triumph in dystopian teen fiction. ' LG Jenkins, Author of the Merit-Hunters Series

An indoctrinated girl. An unquestioned ideology. An explosive secret.
But all she wants is a name.

Girl C has been waiting all her life. Waiting to stop being the odd one out. Waiting to go to Ashton Training House. Waiting for her Productivity Ceremony where, at last, she will be assigned a name of her own.

Living in a post-plague world, she's certain of one thing: the Party only wants good for all its citizens. But when her only two friends – one hated, one illegal – challenge the narrative, the questions won’t stop. Who is she? Why is she defective? Why is she forbidden to visit her parents? And what really happens to the losers on the sinister state game show? Everything turned upside down, she is plunged into an uncertain world full of secrets and shadows and must find a way out. Can she escape her brainwashing, discover her identity and survive her harsh new world?

Repression Ground is the first book of the Newland Trilogy, set in a future version of England. The second and third books, Rebellion Ground and Redemption Ground, will be released in 2024.

What people are saying:

"Stark, memorable, beautifully written - Repression Ground captures the fears and hopes of those growing up in a dystopian world created by a previous generation, and how a sense of purpose and friendship can lead to a better future. A rare and thrilling dystopian novel, EM Carter creates a believable world of courage, friendship and the inherent value within ourselves." CF Dunn, author of The Tarnished Crown series

"Repression Ground took me straight into a dystopian world which has more questions than answers, more danger than safety, more prejudice than acceptance. I was gripped by the narrative and kept racing through the pages to find out what was really going on!" Ruth Leigh, author of the Isabella M Smugge series

"A triumph in dystopian teen fiction, Repression Ground helps you recognise love, friendship and bravery in a sometimes cruel world." LG Jenkins, Author of the Merit-Hunters series

"Immerse yourselves in a Britain where love doesn't count, your real name is illegal and teachers set out to deliberately destroy you. Repression Ground is a high-octane story of courageous teenagers battling to get free and save others on the way - a book you would want your kids to read." Trevor Stubbs, author of The White Gates series

'Repression Ground is a breathtaking, exciting and important read, a glimpse into an all-too-possible future in which productivity is prized above everything. It made me turn the pages, reconsider my view of the world, and long for the sequel. Highly recommended!' Amy Scott Robinson, author of the Gladstone Trilogy

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Fantasy

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2023

About the author

E.M. Carter (Liz) is an award-winning author, poet and editor who loves writing in all genres as she can’t get enough of words. She is the author of the dystopian Newland Trilogy: Repression Ground, Rebellion Ground and Redemption Ground.

Liz was the poet in residence for Wellington in Shropshire for 2022/23. For other writers, she offers a freelance service proofreading, formatting and designing book covers and interiors for paperbacks and e-books, edits videos, designs and maintains websites, offers commercial copywriting and produces designs for social media.

Liz likes to spend her days clad in vintage turquoise dresses trying not to eat chocolate, and is proud to be a grammar pedant.

She has also written three non-fiction books for the Christian/spirituality market as Liz Carter: “Catching Contentment”, “Treasure in Dark Places” and “Valuable”.

Reviews

[Trevor Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am pleased to have been given an advanced copy to review.

This is a great story and just the ticket for a dystopian novel set in the UK for a change. In a world where a person’s worth is determined solely on the grounds of their productivity or, in the case of teenagers, their potential productivity, ‘non-productives’ are shipped off to the ‘Home’ – which even includes parents and grandparents, while their kids go to boarding school. Are they privileged? Can matters of the heart be suppressed? And what happens if kids find themselves on the wrong side of authority? As in all YA dystopian literature, it is teenagers who come to realise difference between truth and lies and teenagers who use their courage to stand up against it. This is the first part of trilogy.

I can see teenagers getting a lot from this. The way the author contrasts the caring inclusiveness of the teenagers with the repression and oppression of a heartless state is very well done. I like that no one is abandoned for being weak or old – even if unconscious and dying. And the dead, too, are treated with the greatest respect by these young people. They do everything to save themselves without killing anyone.

Nothing is laboured in the telling; there is no moralising or preaching here – it’s all in the actions of the kids – the way they behave. (Spoiler alert: I love it that even some of the teenage nemeses have learned to substitute heart for the desire to conform – but I shall say no more.)

If I have one criticism, it’s that Part One moves rather slowly. Some of the main characters – the boys in particular – don’t appear in the first few chapters at all. But I would urge teen readers, boys especially, to be patient and stick with it. I promise you, it’s going to take off and leave you breathless from Part Two onwards and you’ll not be able to put it down.

What we have here has the potential of being up there with the best in this genre. I can see teenagers really engaging with it with great characters they can identity with, each with their strengths, each with their flaws, all excellent team players who do all the right things to make this world a better place.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! It had me gripped and I had to finish it the same day. The main characters of Girl C, Jacob and Girl P (I don't want to give away any spoilers at this point) were well written and engaging. The story is exciting and the tension builds well. Young adult fiction explores meaty themes and Repression Ground is no different. I was reminded of The Giver by Lois Lowry and I would recommend this book to anyone who read and enjoyed the former. I was very pleased that this is the first of a trilogy and I look forward to reading the next instalment!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the minute I began reading, I was drawn into a dark, dystopian world. Liz Carter's writing reminded me of Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and I can pay it no higher compliment than that. There is a lot going on with the protagonist and Carter is a clever enough writer to drop tantalising clues into the narrative without ever showing the eager reader the full picture. It rattled along at breakneck speed and when I arrived at the end, I was most disappointed to realise that I will have to wait for some time before the second instalment arrives. A great read and very well written! I was given an ARC copy but was under no obligation to provide a favourable review.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very exciting. Read it in a few days. Brilliant characters and looking forward to the next one!

[Anyssa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
A lot of this is nostalgia because it made me remember all the the books I read as young girl. I feel the beginning is well paced and it gives you just enough information to keep interested and see that things aren’t what they seem. After that halfway point, it’s a race of survival and to save everyone. It was so good. It tugged at my heart when Sim died. The kids from the school and Mercia helping save them at the end was perfect. I’m glad she saw the error of her ways. I’m curious to see where book two takes them. I feel revolution is cominggggg

[Katherine Blessan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A staggeringly brilliant book. It's a story set in a world several decades from now where being productive is highly prized and the leaders value strength above weakness. In this disturbingly familiar world, Girl C and her friends Amy and Jacob are all misfits in the training centre Ashton House and gradually find themselves rebels and outcasts. Despite being a first novel, E. M. Carter has written a deftly paced and taut thriller which effectively ramps up the tension one notch at a time.

[Amanda Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had me hooked from the start, I think I read the last 50% faster than ever. It reminded me of the hunger games in style, but didn't feel quite as violent. Such a good book, it felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster! I desperately want to know what happens next! Can't wait for the book!

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl C lives in a post-plague world where the ruling NForce brainwashes people into believing that productivity is the key to success and that illness is weakness. Children go into Ashton Training House and are known as Boy or Girl followed by a letter of the alphabet, they do not receive their name until they can prove they are fully productive to society. Those who do not pass the training are moved to a place called the Home. Girl C finds herself struggling to measure up and together with her two friends begins to question what they have been taught. As they start discovering the truth they plot to escape and rescue others, including Girl C’s parents in the Home. This is a gripping book which explores themes relevant to our own society, is our worth shaped by us being productive and how do we value those who are sick or elderly? This is the first book of a trilogy and I for one can’t wait to read the next two!

[Alex Banwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Repression Ground was a new reading experience for me. I was unfamiliar with dystopian fiction, but having enjoyed Liz Carter’s non-fiction titles, I took the plunge. Her story drew me into a different yet relatable world.


As someone living with a lifelong disability, I’ve always struggled with the concept of usefulness and productivity. Am I less productive because of my limitations? Having witnessed many changes in society, I can imagine the world the author has created. It is like Hitler’s Nazi regime, but more toxic.



From the outset, I sensed deception. The unnamed Girl C has fallen for the party byline and believes her greatest goal is productivity. Girl C’s observations are shared in the first person, while her friends’ points of view are in the third, but all three characters are vital to the story.



The first section was slower paced, giving me a chance to get to know Girl C, Jacob, and Amy. This was my favourite part of the story, because I enjoy finding out who people are and what motivates their actions. Later, there was non-stop, fast-paced drama, and without the time to invest in the characters, I might have been overwhelmed by the frantic pace.



I appreciated how the author used her narrative to emphasize respect for the disabled, elderly, and infirm. This book is aimed at teenagers, and it’s a message they need to hear, shared in a clear and accessible way.



Although this isn’t Christian fiction, subtle references give us glimmers of hope for the protagonists. I especially loved the part where young Jacob’s grandfather urged him to follow divine guidance, even though he didn’t say it outright. Even those with an inkling of faith don’t seem to understand what they have faith in, but this is believable in a society without knowledge of God and the Bible. I finished the book with a sense that God’s light is breaking into the darkness, so I am looking forward to reading the next instalment.

[S.C. Skillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is set in a nightmarish post-pandemic world in a country called Newland – which, we are to understand, is future England. The pandemic is known as “the Scourge”. Life prior to that is now known as “the Before” and the brainwashed inhabitants of Newland know nothing about the past – so this resonates with present-day “rewriting of history” by the propagandists of autocratic and tyrannical regimes. However, to my mind, the extent of their ignorance does suggest a time gap of several generations between the dystopian world of the story, and our present-day society.

This is a world of tight control, taken to extremes, and there are many graphic descriptions of relentless child abuse, psychological, emotional and physical, in a Training Institution known as “Ashton Training House”. Institutional abuse is rife here, in a society with a ruthlessly-enforced One-Child Policy using a squadron of NForce Officers. All electronic media is Prefixed with N for Newday – so we have NPhones, NSlates, NCom, NBook and NDOS 7 – Newday Operating System 7. I was delighted to see, however that one of the main protagonists has consummate skills in IT and is able to break into these systems!

The Party who control this society are inspired and motivated by their ultimate authority, the Illumen. Children in Ashton Training House are known only as Girl or Boy followed by a single letter of the alphabet and a surname composed only of the trade or business of their father. Everyone is judged entirely accordingly to their Productivity. Only when the children grow to adulthood as full Productives are they entitled to receive a name.

The Unproductive get removed to a mysterious and sinister location euphemistically known as the Home. Those who rebel find themselves in the hideous “Compound Think”. Within Ashton Training House, the children are punished by incarceration in The Think, supposedly to make them bring their views into line with The Party; but in reality, solitary confinement in a bare cold room.

The main protagonists are three teenagers: Amy, Carys and Jacob. The teachers in the Ashton Training House are mainly sadists: Miss Warden and Miss Principal, and many others. The institution’s gardener is also highly malevolent as are the majority of the adults who control the children, though Trainer One is a bit more reasonable and kind.

Jacob is an ally to Carys, has plenty of spirit and high technical gifts, and plans to mastermind their escape into The Outside where Carys hopes to go to the Home and find her parents (sent their years before).

How Jacob and Carys manage their escape, along with their friend Amy, and other friends they hope to rescue too, forms the thrilling substance of this story. They survive many crises, on several occasions slip the net despite traumatic recapture, and penetrate Compound Think to carry out more rescues. Along the way they start to have their eyes opened about past freedoms, the lies they have been told, the history that has been falsified and the propaganda they have believed. Ultimately they will discover the true nature of the Home, and what happened to their parents and all others who were taken there.

This is a tense and compelling novel – and it is strong stuff. For anyone sensitive about child abuse, or indeed with experience of it, this would make for a challenging read. The writing is sharp and crisp, and extremely vivid. The story made me re-think some of my own attitudes to control of human behaviour in a community. There is plenty to reflect on here, both about our present world, and about the possibilities ahead if certain paths are followed and extremists have their way. Highly recommended.

[Paul Trembling · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Repression Ground' is a novel which can be read on two levels.

On the first level, you can read it as a well paced and exciting story of young people (and some older ones) slowly coming to recognise the true evil of the society they live in, and struggling to find a way to escape. And as such it works very well. The character development is very deftly handled, especially with 'Girl C' who is forced to move from an enthusiastic supporter and a willing participant of the system to become a rebel against it. A vital part of this development are her companions, people who she comes to value whilst realising that the state - Newland - does not value them at all.

The reader learns about Newland through their eyes, but the clever bit is that we - looking from outside - recognise the horror of this dystopian world long before the protagonists do. However it's only as they are forced to dig deeper into the truth of it that they discover just how monstrous a society has been built on the wreckage of the Britain we know today. Newland is a fine example of world building - and a terrible place to live. Escaping from it seems almost impossible, even with the loyalty, courage and talents that the companions display. Their attempt to do so leads to the sort of climax for which the term 'nail-biting' was invented!

But there is a second level, and thoughtful readers will come to it - perhaps during a pause in the action, perhaps in retrospect after they've finished. This level is about the basis of Newland society. All it's members must be 'Productive'. Their value as people depends on what they contribute to society. E.M. Carter does a brilliant job of showing us, subtly but clearly, just what that attitude leads to - the casual cruelty, the blatant hypocrisy, the systematic evil. But she also shows the essential weakness of such a system, for people can rise above that, can learn a better way of valuing each other and themselves.

This second level makes 'Repression Ground' a profoundly powerful book - and perhaps all the more so for being well pitched for a YA audience. They are, after all, the people who will have to live in whatever future world we are creating. But we all need to consider what would make that world into a Newland-like dystopia.

[Cristy Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent! what a read

Repression Ground was an excellent opener to the Newland Trilogy series. I was hooked from the start. Carter gave the reader enough exposition to understand without overwhelming the reader with details. I loved how the characters interacted, in fact it made me feel like I was back in high school with the cliques and the gossip. The premise of the book is the world crashed due to selfishness, consumption, and laziness around our current day. Several hundred years later the Newland Party is in charge and everyone must be productive. It’s communism at its most oppressive. No choice, no freedom, no name even until you graduate school. In this setting we meet Girl C, destined to become a clerk, except she has dyslexia, an issue this regime doesn’t bother dealing with. Her friends, Jacob and Amy, who have secret names given to them by their families, attempt to save her from a prison. Only there to find out the prison is far more sinister than anyone could imagine. There’s a decent resolution in this book (for those who hate cliffhangers). Though our heroes are definitely not out of trouble, the immediate danger has seemingly passed. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of this completed series.

[Dawn James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world tilts beneath your feet as you get lost in E.M.Carter's Newlands world.

In an existence where the vulnerable are the victims and the strong are the decision-makers, a story of resistance slowly unfolds. Tentative friendship strengthens into staunch support as a handful of young people hunt desperately for the truth. As lie upon lie is unpeeled on their harrowing journey, we see golden threads of love, courage and strength weaving through the brokenness, and the emergence of a determination to uncover the truth at any cost.

The story grabs you from the start, and takes you on a rollercoaster ride, immersing you in a new and alarming world. E.M. Carter's writing is vivid, believable and compelling and I found it hard to put down as it roared to a dramatic conclusion.

The sequel can't come soon enough!

[Jenny Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA lovers of dystopian fiction will love this book.

EM Carter kicks off her trilogy in great style with a group of youngsters thrown together by circumstance in Newland where they had been looking forward to joining the ranks of the Productives before a happy and luxurious old age in The Home.

Readers familiar with this genre will catch on faster than the protagonists that all is not as rosy as has been presented. The cracks in the idyl grow quickly and soon Carys (formerly Girl C), Jacob and Amy are hanging on to their names and their friendship in a bid to escape a bleak future. Will anyone help them? What is the truth about 'Before' and is there a chance that life could offer more?

Great pace and some heart-thumping moments in the will-they-won't-they escape, together with some great twists and turns.

[C.F. Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl C is in Training. She tries her best, but her best is never good enough for the Productives. In a world where being 'productive' is the key to prosperity, what happens to those who fail?

With the help of forbidden friends, Girl C discovers the truth behind the regime, and together they find a better way of living.

Stark, memorable, beautifully written, Repression Ground captures the fears and hopes of those growing up in a dystopian world created by a previous generation, and how a sense of purpose, friendship and common humanity can lead to a better future.

A rare and thrilling dystopian novel, EM Carter creates a believable world of courage and friendship, and celebrates the inherent value within ourselves. Highly recommended.

[Sarah Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Carter's non-fiction book Valuable this seems very much an extension of the idea that our worth is not in what we do but who we are.

Set in the near future this dystopian tale is reminiscent in tone to the Hunger Games but less disturbing, children are not made to have to fight each other to the death. Instead the main characters work together to break free, helping out in the areas where they are weaker. There is a good underlying message to the story and I look forward to seeing where it develops.

[Justin Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. The first half of the book was lacking…something. I honestly almost made it my first DNF in a long time.

But I am so glad I stuck with it! The last half of the book moved along at a rapid pace - and kept me wondering what could possibly be coming next. Another fantastic addition to the dystopian genre - ready to read book 2!

[Louise Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

I really had to struggle very very hard to finish this book. It did not hold my attention at all and it was difficult to remain focused on what I was reading. It had the potential to be a good book but that potential fizzled out very very quickly. I wont read the remainder of the trilogy and neither can I recommend it. Thankfully I read this through KU.

[Laura Neale]

For a number of reasons, it took me much longer to read this than I had wanted but I’m grateful for the ARC and being asked to read and review this book, the first of Liz’s fiction books.
Building tension, complex themes, found family and so much more to found behind the words on the pages 👍🏻

[Cara Lynn Kasonovitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally don’t read YA but I love Hunger Games and this is also YA dystopian, so I decided to give it a whirl. It’s no Hunger Games but it was a worthy read. I got into it. It’s full of action albeit quite unrealistic at times. I’ll happily continue to read on to book two.

[Stacy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scarily relevant

The book consolidates a range of highly pertinent contemporary issues and elucidates potential future scenarios resulting from improper governmental decision-making.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible dystopian read!

Where to begin? Great world building and character development coupled with a lot of action! I couldn’t put it down!

[Ellen Heaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great concept

A great concept which we are at risk of seeing come true; but unfortunately I didn't find it engaging, it seemed quite slow paced in places.

[Michelle Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting book

I enjoyed this crazy , keep you entertained book. Did t want to put it down. Looking forward to the next one.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is for a younger audience than me. It is still decent but a slow burner. 3.75 stars. I’d recommend it to 14-16 year olds maybe.

[Deborah]

I’ve put this on hold for now. It’s not because it’s bad it’s just with how things are going in the world, America in particular. It’s just too depressing at the moment.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

actual rating: 2.75

[jackie portman]

Just so so good and apt for the time we’re in in the UK right now.

[Helen Homer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of action and terrifyingly relatable. A book that confronts you with real life prejudices and policies that feel far to close to the dystopian control seen in the story.

[Kas · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprising gem

Pretty good. Simi’s storyline being so short and cliche kind of annoyed me, but other than that, I very much enjoyed it.