The Day of the Dice: a dystopian Pride and Prejudice

by Sophie Toovey

On the Day of the Dice, Elise’s fate will be sealed—and love is the last thing she expects.

As the illegitimate daughter of a shamed woman, she’s destined for rejection. But when William Derby, heir to a powerful family, defies tradition to notice her, Elise begins to question everything she’s been told.

When a buried secret reveals that Whitecroft isn’t the last population left, Elise must escape to freedom, or risk her heart on the boy she never meant to fall for.

A kisses-only romance full of forbidden love, slow-burn tension, and post-apocalyptic regency flair, perfect for fans of The Selection and clean dystopian romance.

If you love high-stakes longing, secret hope, and heroines who dare to choose their own destiny, dive in today. Grab your copy now and start the journey.

Genres: Romance, Dystopia, Adult, Enemies To Lovers

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2024

About the author

Sophie Toovey loves reading and writing romance. She's an English teacher who drinks too much tea, and a total Jane Austen geek. She lives in Wales, in the UK, and enjoys smart romcoms where there's a bit of grit and realism. She writes clean, closed door romance with kisses only. Sign up for her newsletter at https://sophietoovey.com and receive a free ebook of I Want You Back, a contemporary retelling of Persuasion. If you follow Sophie on BookBub and Amazon, you'll get notified whenever she has a new release. Go to https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sophi... and to https://shorturl.at/7Hygj to follow her.

Reviews

[Elly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Day of the Dice by Sophie Toovey is a dystopian retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in a world where fate is determined by the Casting ceremony. In this rigid society, young individuals are paired on the Day of the Dice, a ritual that shapes their future.

Elise, carrying the weight of her past, dreads what this ceremony might mean for her. When she crosses paths with William Derby, a member of the privileged class, their interactions are filled with tension, shaped by societal expectations and personal struggles. As she navigates the constraints of her world, Elise begins to question the system that governs their lives.

Toovey’s writing is immersive, creating a vivid setting that blends futuristic elements with echoes of the past. The world-building is detailed, drawing readers into a society clinging to order amidst uncertainty. Themes of choice, love, and power dynamics are woven throughout, making it more than just a retelling.

The thought-provoking premise and engaging narrative offer a fresh take on a beloved classic, inviting readers to reflect on autonomy, destiny, and the complexities of human connection.

[G~U~R~I · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️

I really like the concept and idea behind this book! I feel like it has so much potential, but unfortunately the execution wasn’t super successful…

I felt like our main character kind of lost her spirit and willpower for a boy… and I honestly couldn’t connect with the characters super well.

It was an okay read, but it has SO much potential!

[Tiffany W · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this book was very different from where are usually but I actually love Sophie’s writing so much I decided to pick it up, and I’m so glad that I did.

Ok so both Elise and Williams had their own set of problem and to me that’s what makes this book very relatable. Like most of us Elise wants it all, but we have to asked ourself.. but at what cost? William a member of high society also has his own issues.. we follow along their journey as they figure it all out.

I really enjoyed this book so much! It’s beautifully written and it’s very engaging.. it would actually make a great book club book, because I found myself asking and wanted the answers to so many question from the different themes is this story! I just loved how even though it was set in the past, it really didn’t feel like it.. it could very well be happening in present life.

I honestly can’t wait to see what Sophie writes next!

[Liz H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book

How would you build a society if you were the last ten families alive on Earth? That was the choice the people of Whitecroft needed to make. How would that society change over time? Elise and Will are part of the third generation of Whitecroft. They face their own challenges along with the challenges facing the community as a whole. Can she love him enough to put aside her fears?

The author does a great job of describing the society and the feelings of the characters. I look forward to reading the sequel, to be titled 'The Way of the Island' when it comes out.

[MacKenzie Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so much more than I was expecting. It gave me the feel of books that I had read in high school such as the giver, Fahrenheit 451 and the hunger games. We see a society that the leaders consider a utopian society but really it’s a dystopia. I could stop read and couldn’t get enough of this story. We see this story from the perspective of Elise and follow her journey as a daughter of a woman who was “blanked”. We get all the intense feelings from the dystopian society and Elise trying to buck the system in her own way while also getting a side of romance which I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt like this gave the story some relief from the intense reign of the General.

This book is outside of my normal reading but I would recommend it to everyone.

[Lilly Guirguis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie, you made me love this crossover between pride and prejudice and the hunger games.

[Kinsey Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never did I think that Pride and Prejudice and dystopian were a mash up I needed. I was wrong. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours. There were enough similar elements to the original tale to make it feel familiar and comfortable but so many new elements that kept it fresh and enticing. Cannot wait for the sequel!

[Kelsey Low · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had the absolute privilege to be a BETA reader for this book & it is so fun!! Such a unique concept & I loved the way it was set in the future but felt classic & nostalgic. Sophie’s writing is so well-done & I can’t wait to see how the story progresses & grows. One to look out for!

[Lydia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was awful. Elise is the dumbest protagonist and everyone makes the stupidest decisions. The villains are comically bad. I slogged through and finished this book just so I could give an honest review.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Will & Elise's fiery, intense, sweet, caring, loving, swoony story!!

[funkelbunt.liest · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars rounded to 5

Day of the Dice is a really interesting mix. It definitely fits the genre of YA Dystopian and is set in the future, but the way the people live doesn’t seem modern at all, so like the blurb says, the portrayed culture reminds of the past.

Sophie is a talented writer and I was pretty quickly sucked into the story. While I discovered elements of Pride and Prejudice, both main characters differ in many ways from Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and I think this was a new, a different love story with just a few hints that everyone who loves P&P can definitely enjoy.

Like so many others I absolutely love Mr. Darcy and his character arc. I also loved William, but in my opinion he was pretty much perfect from the beginning. Thoughtful, caring, understanding instead of prideful or condescending.

Elise was a different story and I have to admit I didn’t like her nearly as much as I do Elizabeth. Both are witty and sarcastic, but where Elizabeth is also kind and considerate, Elise is snarky, sometimes rude and kind of fixated on her own feelings. The overall vibe she was giving me was more spiteful, full of self pity and bitterness towards the people who had a better standing in their society.
I guess she is the one with the more obvious character growth, but I still hope to see more of it in the sequel, since the way she treats others even in the end didn’t always sit right with me. So to be honest, I don’t really know what William saw in her to pursue her the way he did.

The world building was really interesting and the more the story progressed, the more I could imagine how the people in this futuristic yet historical setting lived.
I would love to have learned more about the history, but I guess there are still secrets to discover in the next book.

There are only 10 (original) families living in the community, but since there are multiple generations with connections mostly through marriage and new children I have to admit that I was sometimes really confused and didn’t really know who was who and how they were connected through the generations. It didn’t make it easier that there were so many secrets shared with different groups of people and sometimes secret gatherings were so big, I honestly wondered how many people were left that didn’t know about them.

Fortunately the overall confusion I felt in many situations throughout the book didn’t hinder my enjoyment reading it and I hope and think that a lot of things will be clearer after the sequel.

I hope to see some more character growth for Elise and that William gets the HEA he deserves.

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 4-star book (only not a 5 because I'm past my dystopian phase). It gives a nod to Pride & Prejudice, mostly in the set-up, as the MMC William is overheard by the FMC Elise, when he makes a derogatory statement about her parentage. Elise then is prejudiced against him, even as he comes to love her (until her feelings later change, because we do need the HEA). Another similarity to P&P in this book is that William has a higher status in society than Elise does.

I have to say that even though I've been "over" my dystopian book phase for a good decade, I enjoyed this story. It brings up many questions & concepts to ponder & discuss about values & constructs which are important/essential in order to organize & maintain a peaceful, successful society. How important is it to remember & teach the past/history/how we got to this point? How important is honesty & full disclosure, versus keeping certain secrets to avoid conflict/disunity? What leadership structure & dispersing of jobs/roles will work best? How should family units be decided/formed/organized to ensure the effective re-population of society after an apocalyptic time, for example? What role should love have in this process and how much individual choice is to be available to each individual in society? What responsibility does the group & the individuals in the group have towards the well-being of each member of society & how do we go about it?

And then of course, there's at least one sweet, low-spice love story (or three) that develops through the book, one story of unrequited love, and so much more. Sophie Toovey is a very engaging storyteller and I became absorbed in the story from the very beginning. The day I received the arc e-book from the author, I sat down to just read a bit of the beginning of the book and didn't set it down till I was almost 100 pages in (sometimes "life" has to happen, interspersed with reading). While I was given this e-book to read & review for the author, any opinions & feelings expressed about it are my own.

[Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I loved the setting! The old timey feel, but it being in the future.

Secondly, I really liked Elise. I sympathized with her struggle of wanting to leave a society that takes way her right to make her own choices, or staying in said society to be with the one she loves. I also liked that she saw injustice and didn’t want to stay quiet.

The romance felt so realistic. It reminded me of when my husband and I first got together and had a lot of growing up to do. We also had a lot of disagreements to work through like Elise and Will. 🤣 I loved that the author had me flipping back and forth; agreeing with Elise and then agreeing with Will, and sometimes wanting to shake both of them, and sometimes seeing where both were coming from. Will and Elsie had a lot of personal growth by the end of the story. I appreciate the realistic portrayal that relationships between two imperfect people are going to have disagreements.

I also loved the theme through out that love is a choice.

I especially loved Elsie’s grandfather! He’s a gem!

The writing for the most part was really good. But there were a few times that I thought the transition from one scene to another could have been a bit smoother or less abrupt. I didn’t care for the use of parentheses the couple times that they were used. I didn’t think they were needed. But besides that I really enjoyed the writing. I felt by about a third of the way in the story really caught its rhythm.

Overall I really enjoyed The Day of the Dice, and the subtle nod to Pride and Prejudice.

Content: clean, no swearing, no spice, a couple of kisses, nothing gory

[Jo Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I was cautious about reading The Day of the Dice, which is described as a dystopian Pride and Prejudice, because the world is pretty dystopian at the moment anyway. With Pride and Prejudice being one of my favourite books though, I just could not resist and I am so happy I did! This first book in the Unity series sets the scene for what is to come. In a world where only a small number of families remain, and each family set into different career paths, it felt very much like the Divergent series, or the Hunger Games (but without the battles).

The similarities to Pride and Prejudice are immediate when Elise overhears William’s opinion of her heritage. Elise also believes she is not good enough for William because of the differences in their social standing, which is constantly reinforced by Alice, Elise’s cousin and very much a Miss Bingley in terms of her obsession with William. Ada, Elise’s best friend in personality and compliance is the Jane of the book, if comparisons to P&P could be made, and Elise’s grandfather is a definite Mr Bennett, wanting the best for his granddaughter, whatever that may be.

I loved the slow burn of the romance between Elise and William. She is so determined to never match with anyone, and live her life alone and free, but his kindness and his reassurances slowly make her realise that she has feelings that match his.The author specialises in ‘clean romance’ so she writes closed door romances with kisses only, which actually worked perfectly with the rules of this dystopian society that she has created.

The world-building in this story was spectacular, and I am so intrigued to read what happens next. The fact that across the sea there is another community suggests that the world is so much bigger than just the town of Whitecroft, and there may be even more communities existing in this new world. Seriously, I am hooked and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

[Mrs R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! That I will definitely read again. If you like the idea of a dystopian homage to pride and prejudice and Atwood’s, ‘Handmaid’s Tale’. Then I would highly recommend this book. This book is not a re-write of Pride and Prejudice, it is much more. The character’s are interesting and storyline is gripping. Elise is a flawed heroine and that makes her more intriguing. She grapples with trying to have it all and whether to forge her own path or follow her mother. I found this theme within the book so relatable. As women we are encouraged in our current society that we can do anything. However, no one can do everything and sacrifices and choices need to be made. William is also a great character, who on the surface can be seen as a ‘dream’ hero. However, he is also complicated. There were times when I felt he should have supported and protected Elise more. He also didn’t satisfactorily answer Elise justifiable questions towards the end of the book. I am trying not to give away spoilers, so that you can enjoy ‘The Day of the Dice’ for yourself. I read this as an arc reader.

[Mysticbookgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘈𝘳𝘤 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘖𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘚𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘺

💭 ℳ𝓎 𝓉𝒽ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 💭 3.5

I was given the opportunity to read and review all three books of this series, and I am so glad Sophie gave me the opportunity to do so.

I’d like to start by saying how easy I found this book to get into. I finished it in a day, an uncommon occurrence for me. The world was easy to understand and the characters very relatable, my only struggle being to remember all the names and how they are all related to each other. You get there in the end, but when everyone is a cousin of someone you do find yourself flicking back quite often to figure out who they are and their place in society.

A great introduction to a very cool series, and I very much enjoyed the romance and friendships found in this book. I look forward to the next installment!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @sophie_toovey for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

🌹 Dystopian Pride & Prejudice
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
😍 He Falls First
😱 Post-Apocalyptic (Reads Historical)
🌊 One Boat

Unfortunately life happened when I received this ARC and I’ve been playing catch up with my ARCs since. But I must say, I’m so glad I was finally about to set aside time to read this one as I devoured it in just a few days.

Though different from what I’ve been reading lately, this story was so well-written and I fell in love with the characters immediately. The self-determinedness of Elise and the way that William never gave up was beautiful.

The character development in this story was done so so well. I was engrossed in the story throughout and already can’t wait to grab the second novel to see what is happening next!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

The Day of the Dice by Sophie Toovey. You guys, what an incredible story! So much intrigue and excitement in this dystopian YA novel. Elise and William painted two very different pictures of life living amongst the last ten families on earth.

William, rooted in tradition and the care of his family, and Elise trapped by that same tradition begging for change. Their fiery romance was so colorful and had you wanting to know what would happen next! I really and truly loved how patient and loving William was.

His constancy with Elise really endeared him to me and I think to Elise as the book continued. The author did an amazing job of painting this picture of a dystopian society. With little hints of what used to be mixed in, this story had me gripped!

This is a kisses only, enemies to lovers, closed-door YA novel. I can’t tell you guys enough how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be adding it to my bookshelf!

**All opinions are my own.**

[Abigail Orr · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC reader review

This was a great read. Total page turner!
The world building is really strong and detailed - if you love a good dystopian book (like me) then this won’t disappoint.
I loved the believable characters - they’re reactions, interactions and how they were driven. Sophie Toovey has written characters that are diverse and interesting, the characters relationship development is on point.
I loved reading Elise (main character), I found her a great protagonist.
There is constant intrigue and mystery unfolding throughout the story. Toovey keeps the reader guessing to the very end.

I found this an easy and delightful book to devour! I would encourage any lover of romance and dystopian to give this a read!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story but lacked in a lot of areas for me.

The pace of the story was fast, but the actual plot was slow, I kept getting bored. External characters had no depth at all, William was completely besotted by Elise despite how she treat him.

The woe is me act was really frustrating, Elise had no character development at all. I didn't like her by the end of the book.

By page 299, are we not done with people giving Elise tiny nuggets of information about her mother without explaining a SINGLE thing further. 

Also, the General apparently knew about the plan to escape (from who?) And did nothing about it? I thought he wanted to keep everyone in line. Surely he would've done something about that??

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Dystopian
- Grumpy FMC
- Societal norms

Wow, this book was so good! I got all of The Village vibes from this and I loved it. Elise is feeling the pressure from her village because she is the daughter of an unmarried woman who never named a father. Her mother perished during childbirth and no one really accepts Elise...other than her grandfather. Elise is questioning the rules of society in regards to being "picked" to be a bride rather than have organic love matches. Her general discontent has her pushing away William, who seems to have an interest in her.

This story is so well written and descriptive. I felt as if I was in the village with them all.

[Karen Balint · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars ⭐️

i’m not sure how this is a dystopian Pride and Prejudice retelling. i kept trying to figure it out and honestly couldn’t. i would probably say this is like the Hunger Games. but instead of going into the games and being killed, your destiny is decided by dice and who you are going to be married too. with that being said, it was an interesting story and i enjoyed reading it. it was a bit rough to get into but once it got going it was just fine.

[M Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully different

And yet very familiar. I read the first 1/4 and then skipped to the last 1/4. No regrets. All my questions were answered. Lizzie and Mr Darcy have new names here and I am happy to report there are no Zombies in sight. Otherwise it is business as usual. Secrets abound.Lots of Secrets. Really the title sums it all up nicely. Alice’s story is next and I hope she finds her HEA too.

[Kelly Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book so much! The story is engaging, and on so many occasions I did not want to put it down. I loved how it felt you were reading something set in the past, but then had something question everything. I am really excited for the sequel to be released to find out what happens next. Sophie really is an extraordinary storyteller and has one of the most beautiful writing styles.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed this book. I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic books, especially romances. Great plot that kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. I don't want to spoil it, but there are so many twists and turns it's a fun ride.

I can't wait to read more books in this fun post-apocalyptic Pride and Prejudicesque world!

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for this dystopian romance that felt like a mashup of Pride and Prejudice, The Giver, Fahrenheit 451 and the Hunger Games. I LOVED it. Hands down, a new favorite read from this year’s new releases.

Toovey does a fantastic job creating characters who are relatable, with flaws, fears and heart. Elise and William brought the chemistry, the swoon and the tension. That tension carried me through the story as I could not put it down. I was hooked from the start and loved every minute of the story. Even the tense ones that had my heart breaking for Elise. So good.

If you enjoy all the books I mentioned above, then definitely give this dystopian romance a go. I don’t think it will disappoint you either.

*I received an advanced ecopy from the publisher/author and all opinions are my own.

[Kathryn Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only giving it a three because of the writing. There was a lot of telling not showing which is a surprise since the author is an English teacher. I loved the idea of the story which is what kept me so engaged but the execution could have been so much better. Overall it was a really easy read and I love supporting smaller authors. Cant wait to read the other books

[E.B. Bridenstine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Interesting dystopian concept of what it would be like starting a new colony. The FMC (Elise) was all right. I wish I liked her more but she got on my nerves sometimes. The MMC (Will) was cute but I also wish I got to know him more.

I knew right away who Elise's father was but all in all a good read and was fast paced so I wanted to keep going.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though dystopian books are not usually my jam, I love a good P&P retelling and this book was a wonderful surprise! I enjoyed every single page. It had some of my favorite elements from The Giver and P&P, but without copying either storyline.

I found the characters and plot engaging and I was invested in the outcomes of the various stories. I can't wait to share it with my daughters!

[Lindsay Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dystopian 'Pride and Prejudice' inspired love story pulled me in with its strong heroine and compelling plot. A perfect story for fans of Mr Darcy. The ending will leave you eager for the story to continue!