True North

by Kira D Glasgow

Genres: Dystopia

196 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2024

Reviews

[Teanna George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parker Riel is an ambitious 15 year old living in the last remnants of civilization after the world was pushed into nuclear war. She has set her sights on a spot on The Force, a military academy responsible for law, security, fire management and rescue efforts with the settlement. Unfortunately this organized system is not as it seems and Parker will have to make some hard decisions that will affect the future of the last of humanity.

{This is a spoiler free review}

I love that this book features Canada, specifically British Columbia, as a setting. Few young adult titles choose Canada for their world building and it was refreshing to see my home featured within this book.

The beginning of this book felt a little bit slow for me but picked up in the last half.
The characters feel like actual teenagers, drama and all. You can tell the author has experience around teens.

This book would be perfect for anyone just starting out on a YA dystopian journey. It’s an easy concept to grasp and has great explanations of the fallout of civilization after nuclear war.

True North got a three star review because I felt a little old reading it.
I’m definitely not in my teens anymore and found that I was not the right audience for this book. This audience issue impacted my engagement with the world and the characters. Obviously this is completely my fault but I figured future readers might appreciate the heads up.

I eagerly await book two and am interested in seeing where Parker’s relationships and decisions take her.

Thanks for bringing BC into the spotlight Kira!
☕️♥️

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young adult dystopian novel set in Canada. Very cool premise!!

Parker Riel begins as a 15 year old in training at the Force Academy and trying to get onto a select Elite team. She has to navigate her training, her boyfriend, and a seeming hidden plot to kill her. She also begins to learn of issues with her politically ambitious, but nonexistent, parents.

This book definitely kept me turning the pages. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Angela Winger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that grabbed my interest right from the start. It is an excellent dystopian YA novel that will be great for fans of the Hunger Games or Divergent, while still being a unique story. The dystopian setting feels believable but still different enough to be interesting and feel like an escape to read. I loved the Canadian setting, although those who have never visited will have no trouble connecting. I was drawn in by the story, which has it all: romance, intrigue, plot twists, characters that end up surprising you, and more! The YA genre can sometimes lead to overly angst drama and frustrating plot details for the adult reader, but I would happily recommend this to both adults and teens alike. It is a gripping story that will leave you anxiously awaiting the next installment!