What do you think?
Rate this book
Harvest
An evil Empire. A boy that nobody remembers.
And a girl who must remember him, or die.
Growing up, the farm is all that seventeen-year-old Trysk has ever known. Crops, livestock and the ever-present Kleps have been her entire world in one small, unchanging corner of an Empire that spans a thousand worlds and has lasted ten thousand years.
Every year like clockwork, the Harvest ship comes to collect the Emperor’s share of grains, livestock, and your eldest child.
What happens to those who are taken?
Nobody knows, because none of them come back. Not a single person. Not ever.
Her farm is supposed to be fallow this year, where Trysk is to raise a family.
However, the Universe seems to have other plans when a strange boy arrives on her farm just before Harvest. He’s the oddest person she’s ever met.
Then why is it so hard for her to remember him?
But remember him she must, as her life—and the fate of the galaxy—depends on it.
~
Reader There are horror aspects and gore in limited scenes. Suggested reading age 17+.
And a girl who must remember him, or die.
Growing up, the farm is all that seventeen-year-old Trysk has ever known. Crops, livestock and the ever-present Kleps have been her entire world in one small, unchanging corner of an Empire that spans a thousand worlds and has lasted ten thousand years.
Every year like clockwork, the Harvest ship comes to collect the Emperor’s share of grains, livestock, and your eldest child.
What happens to those who are taken?
Nobody knows, because none of them come back. Not a single person. Not ever.
Her farm is supposed to be fallow this year, where Trysk is to raise a family.
However, the Universe seems to have other plans when a strange boy arrives on her farm just before Harvest. He’s the oddest person she’s ever met.
Then why is it so hard for her to remember him?
But remember him she must, as her life—and the fate of the galaxy—depends on it.
~
Reader There are horror aspects and gore in limited scenes. Suggested reading age 17+.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2024
About the author
J.J. Mathews
15 books11 followersJames Jacob (J J) Mathews grew up with his nose stuck in books. A voracious reader in his youth, he devoured all of the science fiction and fantasy books he could find at the local library. J.R.R. Tolkien, Isaac Asimov, Ben Bova, Frank Herbert, Larry Niven, Voltaire, H. G. Wells and Greg Bear were some of his early influences, with many other authors added to his bookshelf as time went on. Broadening out to read more genres as an adult, he has always held a special place for fantasy and sci-fi.
Originally from Canada, he currently lives in Hamilton, New Zealand with his wife and three boys, and writes in his spare time.
Originally from Canada, he currently lives in Hamilton, New Zealand with his wife and three boys, and writes in his spare time.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 16, 2024
Trysk is a seventeen years old young woman just shy of turning eighteen. She has a twin, Bren who is more socially inclined than her but just by a little. They. Along with their parents, live on a farm where they are subject to Imperial counters presence every year to make certain that their quota has been obtained.
The farmers must produce offsprings on a fairly regular basis and it is common to meet up with families with multiple siblings.
Bren and their closest neighbor's daughter love each other and promise each one to the other under the strict supervision of the women and men of the family.
This being the tenth year, Bren should be exempt with the harvest and so should Mabel, the love of his life because she is presumed to be in the tenth year also. They marry under their tradition and law and the next day. The counters wagon arrives to take Mabel away because a clerical error was made and she is only in her ninth year.
With this starts the adventure where several new factors are brought into the equation. A) Trisk meets a strange boy named Tristan who talks in riddles, has other repeat them and is about as clear as tar. B) Bren cannot live without Mabel and touches her while in chains. That earns him an automatic place at her side. And C) Trisk decides to touch the harvest ( That is what the food, people and livestock destined to the will of the Emperor are referred to once fitted with the collar and caged).
The author has created a horror novel of the highest proportions where, at certain events, livestock is treated better than humans and even feeds on them, where the law of the fittest and strongest prevails, where captives are decapitated and all sorts of horrific situations that their friends and acquaintances are made to watch and participate in.
The part that annoyed the most for me, is the parts, and there are many, where Tristan speaks in riddles. It goes on and on and on and, in my judgement, it is too much. Then, there is the situation where the same Tristan steals kisses from Trisk and then, wants them back just like what you see in kindergarten.
Usually, I love J.J.'s work but, for the reasons above, the most I can award this book is 3 Stars.
The farmers must produce offsprings on a fairly regular basis and it is common to meet up with families with multiple siblings.
Bren and their closest neighbor's daughter love each other and promise each one to the other under the strict supervision of the women and men of the family.
This being the tenth year, Bren should be exempt with the harvest and so should Mabel, the love of his life because she is presumed to be in the tenth year also. They marry under their tradition and law and the next day. The counters wagon arrives to take Mabel away because a clerical error was made and she is only in her ninth year.
With this starts the adventure where several new factors are brought into the equation. A) Trisk meets a strange boy named Tristan who talks in riddles, has other repeat them and is about as clear as tar. B) Bren cannot live without Mabel and touches her while in chains. That earns him an automatic place at her side. And C) Trisk decides to touch the harvest ( That is what the food, people and livestock destined to the will of the Emperor are referred to once fitted with the collar and caged).
The author has created a horror novel of the highest proportions where, at certain events, livestock is treated better than humans and even feeds on them, where the law of the fittest and strongest prevails, where captives are decapitated and all sorts of horrific situations that their friends and acquaintances are made to watch and participate in.
The part that annoyed the most for me, is the parts, and there are many, where Tristan speaks in riddles. It goes on and on and on and, in my judgement, it is too much. Then, there is the situation where the same Tristan steals kisses from Trisk and then, wants them back just like what you see in kindergarten.
Usually, I love J.J.'s work but, for the reasons above, the most I can award this book is 3 Stars.
December 1, 2024
The author includes this warning:
Reader guidance: There is no foul language. However, as this is a YA series with 18-year-old protagonists, there are sexual themes in places (fade to black) and some nudity (not described). There are horror aspects and gore/violence in limited scenes. Suggested reading age 17+.
Believe him! I found the book too dystopian to finish. It was well written, but some of the content had very negative appeal.
Reader guidance: There is no foul language. However, as this is a YA series with 18-year-old protagonists, there are sexual themes in places (fade to black) and some nudity (not described). There are horror aspects and gore/violence in limited scenes. Suggested reading age 17+.
Believe him! I found the book too dystopian to finish. It was well written, but some of the content had very negative appeal.
December 10, 2024
Wow, this is one wild ride! From a simple producer planet to a gladiator ring and a spaceship in between, this book gets going fast and doesn't stop until the very last page.
I love these characters and their growth is very believable. The world building is astoundingly complete and gorgeous, even on multiple (vastly different) worlds. With an ending you won't see coming - even though you think you know - this is not to be missed!
I love these characters and their growth is very believable. The world building is astoundingly complete and gorgeous, even on multiple (vastly different) worlds. With an ending you won't see coming - even though you think you know - this is not to be missed!
December 2, 2024
interesting
This is a Great story and extremely interesting world building and characters. Very intriguing ending has me wanting to read more.
This is a Great story and extremely interesting world building and characters. Very intriguing ending has me wanting to read more.
March 4, 2026
It was an interesting concept, it would be good to see what happens. But there was a lot of the plot that moved very slowly. It sped up towards the end, but mostly to set it up for the next book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews