Dissipation

by R.O. Carol

What secrets are hiding behind the perfectly manicured façade of Ascencio, Inc.?
Working for the most advanced mental health institute in the United Districts of the New World is a privilege not granted to many. When the company sends Alethia off with her exasperating supervisor, Odeza, on a strangely romantic tour of other district facilities, things seem too good to be real. Especially when she learns of the new “miracle drug” Ascencio is testing.
Meanwhile, Mora has checked herself in as a resident at Ascencio, Inc. When she is offered a spot in a clinical trial for a drug to cure her depression, she has nothing to lose. The two women’s stories collide as Alethia tries to unravel the truth behind Ascencio’s methods.

258 pages, Paperback

Published July 23, 2024

Reviews

[❆ Ash ❆ (fable link in bio) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧

★★★★ ½
THANK YOU R.O. CAROL!!
WOW
WOW
WOW
I really enjoyed this one. My only real complaint? I wanted more. It honestly could’ve been 200–300 pages longer and I still wouldn’t have been satisfied. The world felt so rich, and exploring the different districts was one of my favorite parts, it added so much depth and made everything feel bigger and more immersive.
The romance also didn’t feel over the top or cringey, which I really appreciated for this kind of story. It complemented the plot instead of taking over, and that balance worked really well. It was such an entertaining read, and I don’t think I’ve ever started a sequel faster.


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✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Quotes ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧

“ɪ ꜱᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ,” ʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ. “ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀʏ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴅᴇ, ɪ ꜱᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜʏ.”

“ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴀᴄᴋ ᴍʏ ʙᴀɢꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ—ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴏꜰꜰ, ɢᴏ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴀɴʏᴡʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘʟᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛ ᴢᴏɴᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛᴏᴏ ꜱᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ. ꜱᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ. ꜱᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ɴᴏᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟ ᴏꜰ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ. ꜱᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴅɪꜱᴀᴘᴘᴏɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴅᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ꜰɪʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴘᴛɪɴᴇꜱꜱ. ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴏᴡ, ʜᴇʀᴇ, ꜱᴏ ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅʟʏ... ɪ ɢᴜᴇꜱꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴꜱ ᴡʜʏ ɪ’ᴍ ꜱᴏ ᴜᴘᴛɪɢʜᴛ. ɪ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴀꜰᴇᴛʏ ɪɴ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴇᴅɪᴄᴛ ᴍʏ ꜱᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢꜱ.”

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author kindly sent me a copy of this book as part of an ARC review for the second book, Degradation.

I. Flipping. Loved. This. Book. 🤯

This was something completely different for me — I don’t think I’ve ever read a dystopian before, and now I’m wondering why I waited so long.

The opening gave me major Hunger Games vibes, which immediately hooked me. Our FMC, Alethia (and yes, I absolutely hear myself saying her name with a lisp in my head 😂), is competing to land her dream job at Ascensio Inc — an advanced mental health institute claiming to offer not just treatment… but a CURE for mental health issues?

And then there’s her supervisor, Odeza. Tall. Dark. Handsome. Grumpy. Brooding. Sexy.

So obviously… I was all in. 😌

But things take a turn when Alethia and Odeza encounter a patient who has taken the miracle drug to cure her depression… and quickly realize that everything is not as it seems….

Chapter 33?
I nearly tripped over my own jaw when it hit the floor. 😳

I genuinely can’t say more without spoiling it — you just need to experience this one for yourself.

💉 Psychological
💉 Dystopian
💉 Futuristic
💉 Slow-burn forbidden romance
💉 Advanced mental health institute
💉 Dark secrets
💉 Short chapters
💉 Multiple POV

So clever. So fun. Totally unputdownable.

This NEEDS to be made into a movie. 🎥🍿

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhh this was perfect! Such an unsettling and tense piece of dystopian fiction and exactly the palate cleanser I was looking for!

Dissipation is set in 2072 when the world is facing a mental health crisis. The plot focuses around medical corporation/treatment facility Ascencio whose primary focus seems to be eliminating mental health conditions - particularly depression. Dissipation follows Alethia (a budding intake specialist for Ascencio), Odeza (her handsome, moody boss) and Mora a patient at the facility.

This was a super quick read. The multiple POVs kept the pace up, built the SLOW BURN of Alethia and Odeza’s relationship and combined it with tension through the underlying unsettling feeling that something is deeply wrong with Ascencio added to by Mora and her boyfriend Jason’s narratives. I LOVED the tiny inclusion of trials at the start as part of Alethia’s selection process!

The characters were interesting and likeable. I am hoping for more a villain narrative from Elizabeth in the next book.

At the end of the book, I feel like the plot has just taken off and what a cliff hanger - I can’t wait to get stuck into book 2!

#dystopianfiction #bookrecommendations #dystopianreads #bookreview

[Jentori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is captivating; the idea itself is enthralling! The focus on mental health and the thought of people being brainwashed into forgetting their trauma is fascinating. The idea stands out to me so much that I feel like I haven't seen many if any dystopian books that focus on mental health.

My only thing is I wish the book had focused more on the Dystopian aspect than the romance.

Don't get me wrong I love Alethia and Odeza! I love everything between them! I mean my favorite quotes from the book are probably a lot of them and their romance, examples being:

"His eyes, however doused her in hot water. They sang to her. There was so much communication in that one look. He was telling her to be careful. And, perhaps, that he had faith in her too."
-Alethia

"I see you. Even when you try to hide I see you." -Odeza

And many more quotes but I fear this review would be too long if I were to put each and every one.

THE ENDING!!! A cliffhanger that keeps you wanting more! One I didn't see coming. I cannot wait to start the second book!

Thank you R.O Carol for writing an amazing book!!!

[Liz Fully Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dissipation by R. O. Carol is a short thriller about two different women, taking place in a dystopian near future. One has just landed a job at Ascencio, an advanced mental health institute, and the other has checked herself in to one of Ascencio’s facilities to help with her mental health. But there’s something shady going on at Ascencio, and one of our FMCs is trying to find out what.

The majority of the story focuses on Alethia and Odeza, her supervisor, and their slow burn romance. He’s taking her on a tour of their facilities with an ulterior motive in mind, meanwhile they find themselves attracted to each other. I would have loved to see more of the dystopian storyline fleshed out. Despite it being a main part of the story, it was just the backdrop to the rest of what was going on.

For being so short, this book was pretty good. Over all, the plot was engaging and the book was really entertaining, I just would have liked more! I’m definitely interested in reading book two, to see how the story turns out.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a futuristic world divided into districts, Dissipation follows Alethia as she lands a coveted job at one of the largest mental health institutions, Ascencio Inc. From the very beginning, her interview process feels… off.

Once she’s hired, everything appears normal — until it very much isn’t.

This book kept me hooked the entire time. I was constantly questioning what was really going on with Ascencio Inc., what the true purpose of Alethia’s mysterious “business trip” might be, and how deep the company’s secrets actually run. The suspense builds steadily, and I loved the tension between two of the characters.

And the twist at the end I genuinely did not see coming. It left me needing answers.
I’m really looking forward to reading Degradation and seeing how everything unfolds in book two!

[Karidad Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was different and perfect!

I won a giveaway where the author sent my this book and I am so ashamed to have waited so long to have read it. What made me want to read this book was its psychological theme and I'm glad I finally had the chance to sit down and read it.

This book portrays themes of mental health and science, but it also has romance throughout the story. It's exciting, it's addictive, it's intense and at the end it will leave you feeling tense in the best way.

The story is short, so if you are worried of getting into a long book, don't worry about that. Besides, if you like this book as much as me, you'll finish it before the day ends and you'll be asking for more.

I want to thank R.O. Carol for gifting me this book, I enjoyed every minute of it and I am so happy and honored I get to ARC read te next one.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had promise, and I hope book 2 delivers. Book one of the Dissipation series followed the lives of Odeza, Alethia, and briefly Mora and her boyfriend Jaxson, as they navigate Ascencio, Inc. and the book itself seemed to be a large setup for book 2. The description didn't seem to align with what the actual story was about, and it felt a lot of the content was a budding romance. I will read book 2 to see if more develops of the story as it is an interesting concept and perhaps now that we have some of the overall plot's introduction out of the way, there can be more to the interactions with characters and uncovering the major antagonist and their goals.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Books Of Momo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book directly by the author and I am genuinely very impressed. The characters feel very consistent and I love the intensity of their reactions, I was a tad worried about half way through that it was going to fall into a tropey romance but just as my brain was like "oh no" soemthing happened and my attention snapped into focus. I will say the sarcastic banter between the two mains is quite good I like thst they each give and take each other's snark . Its fast paced and really knows how to grab your attention at all the right parts.
If i had to complain just slightly id say it could be a smidge longer? Though better to short than too long if im honest and its a tad light on world building but my intrigue is fully peaked and I cannot wait to immediately dive into book 2!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Just finished this ARC and I’m already ready for Book 2 👀📚

This was short, fast-paced, and super engaging—the kind of read you fly through in one sitting. I’m officially invested in where this story is going. 🚀

Would I have loved a little more world-building and character development? Absolutely. But as a start to the series, it pulled me in and left me wanting more… which means it did its job.

Now I need Book 2 because I have questions. 😅

Thank you to the author for the ARC! 💙

#arcreader #arcbookreview #advancedreadercopy #booktok #booktokbooks #bookstagram #bookreview #scifibooks #scifireads #indieauthor #supportindieauthors #bookcommunity #readersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #newbookal

[Theenrichmentoffiction1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alethia has earned her spot at Ascencio Inc. going through all the tests they throw at her only to shower then how fast her mind and feet can be.

When she meets her Supervisor Odeza, he tests her in many ways to see how far her loyalty will go for the company, but with one thing out of place in what seems a perfect vicinity, she wants answers and tries her best to get them in a safe manner.

But her heart will also be taken by one man she didn't know she would fall for in so little of time.

Questions are asked and secrets are kept but how far will Alethia go with her heart for the ones she wants to help and the one she loves?...

[Stephie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ Great pick for anyone looking for a fast paced dystopian story to blast through!

A quick, gripping read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The pacing felt fast and purposeful, which worked really well for the story - it constantly felt like something was just about to go wrong. There’s a strong sense of unease threaded throughout the book, and that underlying tension made the suspense really effective. I loved slowly uncovering the darker truths behind the seemingly perfect system, and the dual perspectives added an interesting layer to the story. Overall, a tense, intriguing read that kept me turning the pages.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dissipation is the first dystopian thriller I have read and it didn’t disappoint!! I really enjoyed the book. It was easy to get into for sure. I read the whole thing in one sitting, but man does it end on a cliff hanger!!!

You start the book thinking the premise is a happy one. A company working to fix mental health struggles? Sounds great! But as you get further into the plot, you realize there’s way more happening behind the scenes. This is the first book out of two in the series so far written by R.O Carol and man am I glad I was given an ARC for the second book…. Talk about a cliff hanger!

*I was given a copy of this book by the author. This is my honest review of the book*

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Dissipation by R.O. Carol unsure, since I don’t usually read science fiction. I wanted to try something different and I’m glad I did. I expected it to feel complicated, but it was surprisingly easy to get into. It isn’t a super long book and I do think it could have been another 100 pages long but I enjoyed it.

The story mixes smart science ideas with real emotion, making it both interesting and personal. It definitely changed my mind about sci-fi. I cannot wait to read the second one so we can find out what is happening to Alethia.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! Going into it, I thought it was going to focus more on the futuristic/dystopian side but it had a large focus on the romance between Alethia and Odeza! Their banter was great! There still was that futuristic/dystopian vibe and it began to pick up when I was about half way through, I couldn't put the book down! I loved how all the separate time lines came together in the end! This was a really quick read (took me about a day and a half) and I can't wait to read the second book and see where the story goes!

[Akina Blaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast paced book that I couldn't put down. While the characters and dialogue were rather cheesy, it kept you intrigued and I always loved a good biomed dystopian read. I would have loved it to focus more on that plot rather than what seemed like a teenage romance, hoping there might be a sequel that dives deeper. Otherwise a very exciting story that pulls you in and has a lot of potential to grow.

[Aelin Rea · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like dystopian thrillers, you’re really going to enjoy this one!

More than being a thriller, this book explores what happens when control disguises itself as care- in this case, through a mental health facility.

There's only one complaint I have about Dissipation: I wish it would've been longer!

The book is set in the 2070s, in a world divided into districts, where a facility called Ascencio claims to have developed a treatment that can completely heal the human mind... or so they claim. Suspiciously miraculous?

The story is told through multiple POVs and follows a slow-burn romance between coworkers as they begin to question (and unravel) the truth behind Ascencio's new groundbreaking treatment.

I also really enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story. It was genuinely hard to predict what was going to happen next, which isn’t always the case with thrillers. This one kept me on my toes from the beginning, and the unpredictability made the tension feel much more engaging.

The tension builds gradually, leaning more into psychological unease than fast-paced action, which makes the concept feel even more unsettling.

It ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m so excited to dive into the next book!

[Aanya Sachdeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a masterpiece!!
I was roped in from the first page the starting felt a bit scattered but when it all came together it was beautiful!
The world is facing a crisis, it is dystopic but not too far fletched and the pacing is perfect but omg the end on a cliffhanger??!!!
I’m so glad the second book was there because damn.
Absolutely loved it 5/5 stars would give it more if I could.
Also it is my review and I can give it more so 12/5 stars let’s go!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first dystopian thriller and I absolutely loved it. I was hooked within the first couple of chapters and did NOT want to put it down. The slow-burn romance between the two main characters was exactly what I was hoping for from the moment they went on that business trip. I’m now so invested in everything happening inside Ascencio and can’t wait to pick up book two.

[Alex Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant surprise add to my TBR! I needed a little bit of a palate cleanse in a long series and this fell into my lap. The summary is interesting, and about half way through, the book really picked up for me. I enjoyed the character reveals (and the internal do I like or not like him), and the ending had me wanting more. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in book #2!!

[KatsLostInPages · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Dissipation: Book One by R.O. Carol. From the beginning it pulled me into a fascinating futuristic world full of mystery and discovery. The concept is really intriguing and the atmosphere keeps you curious about what’s going to happen next.

The story builds tension in a great way and the setting feels vivid and immersive. Every chapter made me want to keep reading to uncover more of the mystery.

If you enjoy science fiction with a strong sense of exploration and suspense, this is definitely a book worth reading. I’m already looking forward to the next one!

[Bibbit Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.O. Carol reached out to me on Instagram to read this before an ARC of the second book in the series. This book was an easy, quick read and I am excited to see what happens in the second book! The concept of a future where there is a cure for mental illness is so fascinating and I was hooked to see what could possible happen next.

[Mj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fast paced, dystopian romance novel following Alethia, a new hire at the company Ascension, and her boss Odeza. When Alethia begins to doubt the things she is being told about the work they are doing, she enlists Odeza's help to discover the truth..but it takes a drastic turn when Alethia stumbles upon something she shouldn't know..

[McKenzie Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in this series completely exceeded my expectations. I loved how the multiple POVs built such a layered, interconnected storyline that came together perfectly at the end. And that cliffhanger… chef’s kiss. I cannot wait to dive into book two.

[Sonya Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book - told from multiple points of view, the characters build throughout the book and it ends on quite the cliffhanger!! I’m moving straight to Book 2, Degradation, to find out the fates of our characters and Ascencio Inc.

[Pippilotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, dystopian romance that ends on a cliff hanger! Can't wait to see what happens next!