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Climate of Chaos
An exhilarating dystopian YA recalling The Last of Us and Divergent—Climate Of Chaos is a hard-hitting survival story featuring a disabled protagonist that explores the chilling effects of climate change and medical debt.
In dystopic Seattle, storms have devastated Earth’s population, a new virus is spreading, and the privileged live inside domes controlled by Aegis Corp. Healthcare is earned by hours accrued working in Aegis’s pharmaceutical factories. If you run short on hours, you’re sent to the Harvest House for debt collection—a place few return from in one piece.
After a storm killed seventeen-year old Fox LaRosa’s parents and left her disabled, Fox and her younger sister Rabbit join their fugitive aunt’s mercenary group Still-Alive. Their mission is to restore the imbalance of medical access for post-storm survivors.
But when a med supply heist goes south, Rabbit is taken captive, and Still-Alive refuses to rescue her. Fox must choose between duty and family, and leaves home to infiltrate Aegis’ interior domes where Rabbit is being held hostage. The more Fox learns about life in the domes, though, the more she realizes Still-Alive isn’t as altruistic as they claim. In a world where everyone is out for themselves, Fox must rely on those she trusts least in order to reunite with her sister and expose both Aegis and Still-Alive for who they really are.
This “Hunger Games for the next generation” read stars a disabled protagonist and explores the devastating potential of climate change left un-checked and the all-too-real consequences of outrageously expensive health insurance affecting millions today.
In dystopic Seattle, storms have devastated Earth’s population, a new virus is spreading, and the privileged live inside domes controlled by Aegis Corp. Healthcare is earned by hours accrued working in Aegis’s pharmaceutical factories. If you run short on hours, you’re sent to the Harvest House for debt collection—a place few return from in one piece.
After a storm killed seventeen-year old Fox LaRosa’s parents and left her disabled, Fox and her younger sister Rabbit join their fugitive aunt’s mercenary group Still-Alive. Their mission is to restore the imbalance of medical access for post-storm survivors.
But when a med supply heist goes south, Rabbit is taken captive, and Still-Alive refuses to rescue her. Fox must choose between duty and family, and leaves home to infiltrate Aegis’ interior domes where Rabbit is being held hostage. The more Fox learns about life in the domes, though, the more she realizes Still-Alive isn’t as altruistic as they claim. In a world where everyone is out for themselves, Fox must rely on those she trusts least in order to reunite with her sister and expose both Aegis and Still-Alive for who they really are.
This “Hunger Games for the next generation” read stars a disabled protagonist and explores the devastating potential of climate change left un-checked and the all-too-real consequences of outrageously expensive health insurance affecting millions today.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published July 15, 2025
31 people are currently reading
5390 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 4, 2025
*** just a quick heads up that if you download the Climate Of Chaos ARC from Netgalley, it has loads of formatting mistakes. I do not know if that is also true for the NG reader, but I know for sure if you download and try to read on your kindle or the like there are missing words, misspelled words, and wonky formatting. My publisher says it's on NG, not on them and that there are other books that are dealing with the same thing.
I promise, this is not the case for the printed ARCs, nor the final copies. I hope you understand this is out of my control and that you're up for giving Climate Of Chaos the chance it deserves outside of these unfortunate circumstances. Thanks!
I may be biased, all things considered. 😁 but I really really really love this book!
I promise, this is not the case for the printed ARCs, nor the final copies. I hope you understand this is out of my control and that you're up for giving Climate Of Chaos the chance it deserves outside of these unfortunate circumstances. Thanks!
I may be biased, all things considered. 😁 but I really really really love this book!
February 21, 2025
Always excited to read another Peachtree Teen book!!
I love when plots are centered around family dynamics, especially siblings in YA, and I loved how central the sisters were to this book. While there are other complicated family relationships at play (like Fox with her aunt, or her cousin Eamon with his mom) the heart of the book is definitely Fox and her sister Rabbit, who Fox will stop at nothing to get back from the grasp of the powers that be in Dome One. While we don't see much of the sisters together (on account of the whole getting taken thing), Rabbit is always on her sister's mind, and is haunting the narrative in a broader sense than that as she's used for her unique genetic makeup. No spoilers, but it was really interesting to see the more typical 'main character' archetype be a secondary character and the story actually be from her sister's POV.
Overall an interesting, twisty dystopia with family (and found family) at its center! Both climate and healthcare inequality are big topics in the present, and Climate of Chaos draws them out into a darker potential future that still hinges on the reminder that there will still always be good people trying to do good things, even in impossible circumstances.
I love when plots are centered around family dynamics, especially siblings in YA, and I loved how central the sisters were to this book. While there are other complicated family relationships at play (like Fox with her aunt, or her cousin Eamon with his mom) the heart of the book is definitely Fox and her sister Rabbit, who Fox will stop at nothing to get back from the grasp of the powers that be in Dome One. While we don't see much of the sisters together (on account of the whole getting taken thing), Rabbit is always on her sister's mind, and is haunting the narrative in a broader sense than that as she's used for her unique genetic makeup. No spoilers, but it was really interesting to see the more typical 'main character' archetype be a secondary character and the story actually be from her sister's POV.
Overall an interesting, twisty dystopia with family (and found family) at its center! Both climate and healthcare inequality are big topics in the present, and Climate of Chaos draws them out into a darker potential future that still hinges on the reminder that there will still always be good people trying to do good things, even in impossible circumstances.
July 2, 2025
Got an arc from the publisher
This is very much a love letter to the dystopias of the 2010s. Dystopia is a hard sell for me with some exceptions so I’m not the Ideal Reader for this one, but I know people who eat those kinds of books up will enjoy this, and even if it isn’t my favorite genre, I’m so glad it exists. It’s got important things to say about ableism, medical debt, and corporate greed and in today’s climate those are conversations that need to be had!
This does end on kind of a huge cliffhanger though which I can see being very divisive, I just hope there’ll be a sequel
This is very much a love letter to the dystopias of the 2010s. Dystopia is a hard sell for me with some exceptions so I’m not the Ideal Reader for this one, but I know people who eat those kinds of books up will enjoy this, and even if it isn’t my favorite genre, I’m so glad it exists. It’s got important things to say about ableism, medical debt, and corporate greed and in today’s climate those are conversations that need to be had!
This does end on kind of a huge cliffhanger though which I can see being very divisive, I just hope there’ll be a sequel
September 1, 2025
loveddd seeing a dystopian book with a disabled main character
July 19, 2025
"hunger games for a new generation!!!"
wrong!!
hunger games is a brilliant take down of regimes, dystopia futures, what we can become numbified too if it's normalized or even glamorize enough, two wrongs not making a right, the horrors of war, ptsd and how poverty forces people to grow up.
this was a lecture on climate change and Healthcare cost disguised as hunger games
wrong!!
hunger games is a brilliant take down of regimes, dystopia futures, what we can become numbified too if it's normalized or even glamorize enough, two wrongs not making a right, the horrors of war, ptsd and how poverty forces people to grow up.
this was a lecture on climate change and Healthcare cost disguised as hunger games
July 29, 2025
Anyone who knows me knows I love a dystopian book. I couldn't get enough YA dystopian back in the day, and now that we find ourselves living in one (albeit a poorly written one with really unlikable characters), that hasn't changed. I do find myself wondering about the plausibility of them, and wow, this one feels absolutely realistic. Terrifyingly so, really. The rich just want to get richer while keeping the poor as oppressed as possible, offering them scraps just so they keep working for them. Literally and figuratively using the poor and oppressed to keep themselves afloat. It's horrible, and it's honest, and it will make you mad. It's supposed to, after all.
Fox is trying to rescue her sister after a heist gone wrong, and to do so, she finds herself infiltrating the government's competition to find new recruits for their military. Two of her friends join her, for their own reasons (and to support Fox, but not just to support Fox) and they find themselves in a brutal competition where the losers don't just get to go back home and live happily ever after. This book is definitely brutal, and this government (much like our current one) has absolutely no qualms about using anyone and everyone for their own gain. Fox just wants her sister back, but the lengths she'll have to go to even survive are wild.
Add to it, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes situations that Fox has no idea about, and it will all come into play. The story is an absolutely wild ride, and I adored the characters and the world-building (I also hated said world, but again, that is supposed to happen). There really, really needs to be a sequel happening, or I think we have to overthrow Peachtree? Is that how this works? Idk but I neeeed more, okay? Thanks!
Bottom Line: Relevant and maddening while being entertaining and emotive, this was a win all around!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Fox is trying to rescue her sister after a heist gone wrong, and to do so, she finds herself infiltrating the government's competition to find new recruits for their military. Two of her friends join her, for their own reasons (and to support Fox, but not just to support Fox) and they find themselves in a brutal competition where the losers don't just get to go back home and live happily ever after. This book is definitely brutal, and this government (much like our current one) has absolutely no qualms about using anyone and everyone for their own gain. Fox just wants her sister back, but the lengths she'll have to go to even survive are wild.
Add to it, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes situations that Fox has no idea about, and it will all come into play. The story is an absolutely wild ride, and I adored the characters and the world-building (I also hated said world, but again, that is supposed to happen). There really, really needs to be a sequel happening, or I think we have to overthrow Peachtree? Is that how this works? Idk but I neeeed more, okay? Thanks!
Bottom Line: Relevant and maddening while being entertaining and emotive, this was a win all around!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
August 19, 2025
Climate of Chaos takes place in a world ravaged by extreme weather and highly contagious virus. Living outside the domes is dangerous. But living inside them comes at the cost of your freedom. CoC follows two sisters, Rabbit and Fox, as they attempt to infiltrate the domes to steal medication for their community outside in the beyond lands. Things escalate.
This was an entertaining young adult novel that kept me engaged throughout. You get found family, intrigue, mystery, a fast-pace, and of course a small teen romance. If you like a dystopian novel featuring totalitarian regimes, environmental decay, and class division, this one might be for you!
Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next one!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
And a big thank you to @penguinteenca for sending me a copy!
This was an entertaining young adult novel that kept me engaged throughout. You get found family, intrigue, mystery, a fast-pace, and of course a small teen romance. If you like a dystopian novel featuring totalitarian regimes, environmental decay, and class division, this one might be for you!
Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next one!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
And a big thank you to @penguinteenca for sending me a copy!
October 4, 2023
As the author's agent, I'm extremely biased. But I have no chill, and I can't wait for you all to read this incredible book. Add it to your want-to-read shelf RIGHT NOW!
July 3, 2025
First, I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, this book did not land for me. The premise was good, but I don't think the world building was very thought out and the plot felt very messy. The story was not bad, but...the fact that the ARC had so many letters missing and full sentences about what was on the signs was insane for a traditionally published book. It really took me out of this story and for that, I cannot review this any higher. Maybe this was just an error in how the arc was submitted, I'm not sure but I hope for the author's sake that these issues are resolved before publishing.
Some examples:
"At the bottom right corner of the sign in smaller font it says: -"
"Dicult" instead of difficult. "Eciently" instead of efficiently. "inger" instead of finger.
Unfortunately, this book did not land for me. The premise was good, but I don't think the world building was very thought out and the plot felt very messy. The story was not bad, but...the fact that the ARC had so many letters missing and full sentences about what was on the signs was insane for a traditionally published book. It really took me out of this story and for that, I cannot review this any higher. Maybe this was just an error in how the arc was submitted, I'm not sure but I hope for the author's sake that these issues are resolved before publishing.
Some examples:
"At the bottom right corner of the sign in smaller font it says: -"
"Dicult" instead of difficult. "Eciently" instead of efficiently. "inger" instead of finger.
Read
July 12, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Climate of Chaos by Cassandra Newbould is a first person-POV YA dystopia that takes place in the Pacific Northwest after America has collapsed. Fox (aka Leigh) and her younger sister Rabbit have joined their aunt’s cause in making sure everyone has access to medicine when the elite hoard it after a devastating virus spreads through the world. But on one of their missions, Rabbit is taken and Fox is forced to leave her sister behind before she can go back to save her.
Fox is disabled from the virus and we do get some insight into how it makes her life more difficult. She struggles with walking at times and during her training with Still Alive, she notices that strengthening her core does help her move but it also does cause her some pain. I did really appreciate how this nuance is showcased because exercise and stretching can absolutely help with some things and are necessary for keeping our bodies moving well (even young people should be stretching), but it is exhausting and the process can be very painful.
Rabbit is never really far from Fox’s mind. The two have a very close bond and since Fox helped raise Rabbit, they have a bit more of a complex relationship. When the two are separated, Fox even buys Rabbit a charm for her birthday (her star sign) and plans to give it to her when they are reunited. The strong thread of a sister relationship works fairly well in dystopia because it creates a very personal motivation that a lot of people can connect to and I think it worked well here.
The lack of access to healthcare might feel familiar to many young readers these days. Not too long ago, social media was full of rage because diabetics were being priced out of life-saving insulin and there is always a fear in American society that healthcare can be taken away because of how our system works. My hope is that most young readers will be familiar with the concepts but not have to worry about this in their own lives, but there is a risk that they will be deeply familiar with it. Rabbit having the potential inside of her to create a new vaccine that could save lives is both very cool and also horrifying because she’s still a child. Children shouldn’t be guinea pigs, but it’s impossible to say ‘no’ when you know you can save the world.
I would recommend this to fans of dystopia who are looking for climate fiction and readers who love a strong sister relationship in speculative fiction
Climate of Chaos by Cassandra Newbould is a first person-POV YA dystopia that takes place in the Pacific Northwest after America has collapsed. Fox (aka Leigh) and her younger sister Rabbit have joined their aunt’s cause in making sure everyone has access to medicine when the elite hoard it after a devastating virus spreads through the world. But on one of their missions, Rabbit is taken and Fox is forced to leave her sister behind before she can go back to save her.
Fox is disabled from the virus and we do get some insight into how it makes her life more difficult. She struggles with walking at times and during her training with Still Alive, she notices that strengthening her core does help her move but it also does cause her some pain. I did really appreciate how this nuance is showcased because exercise and stretching can absolutely help with some things and are necessary for keeping our bodies moving well (even young people should be stretching), but it is exhausting and the process can be very painful.
Rabbit is never really far from Fox’s mind. The two have a very close bond and since Fox helped raise Rabbit, they have a bit more of a complex relationship. When the two are separated, Fox even buys Rabbit a charm for her birthday (her star sign) and plans to give it to her when they are reunited. The strong thread of a sister relationship works fairly well in dystopia because it creates a very personal motivation that a lot of people can connect to and I think it worked well here.
The lack of access to healthcare might feel familiar to many young readers these days. Not too long ago, social media was full of rage because diabetics were being priced out of life-saving insulin and there is always a fear in American society that healthcare can be taken away because of how our system works. My hope is that most young readers will be familiar with the concepts but not have to worry about this in their own lives, but there is a risk that they will be deeply familiar with it. Rabbit having the potential inside of her to create a new vaccine that could save lives is both very cool and also horrifying because she’s still a child. Children shouldn’t be guinea pigs, but it’s impossible to say ‘no’ when you know you can save the world.
I would recommend this to fans of dystopia who are looking for climate fiction and readers who love a strong sister relationship in speculative fiction
March 25, 2025
Climate of Chaos pulled me in and refused to let go. Even though it’s not officially out yet, I had the chance to read an early copy—thanks NetGalley.
I’ll be honest—at the beginning, I had a bit of trouble getting into the story. The narration leaned more toward telling rather than showing, and I found myself wishing the narrator would let me experience the world more directly instead of just describing it. But once the story found its rhythm, it truly took off.
Set in a climate dystopia that feels all too plausible, the book explores a world unraveling under environmental collapse, corporate greed, and the aftermath of a devastating virus. In this capitalistic nightmare, healthcare is reserved only for the chipped. The tension is high, the stakes are brutal, and yet at the heart of it all is an unshakable sense of humanity.
What I really liked was the strong emotional core. The theme of family by choice was beautifully done, and the sisterhood and friendship between the main characters was a real highlight.
The plot was engaging and full of momentum—I needed to know how it would end. And wow, that ending! It completely caught me off guard, in the best way. I didn’t see it coming, and I’m still recovering.
I really hope someone picks this up for a movie adaptation—the characters, the tension, the emotional stakes would shine on screen. I’m already waiting (impatiently) for a sequel. There’s so much more I want to know about these characters and their world.
If you love fast-paced stories with fierce girls, strong found-family vibes, and a few unexpected gut punches along the way, it is a book for you.
I’ll be honest—at the beginning, I had a bit of trouble getting into the story. The narration leaned more toward telling rather than showing, and I found myself wishing the narrator would let me experience the world more directly instead of just describing it. But once the story found its rhythm, it truly took off.
Set in a climate dystopia that feels all too plausible, the book explores a world unraveling under environmental collapse, corporate greed, and the aftermath of a devastating virus. In this capitalistic nightmare, healthcare is reserved only for the chipped. The tension is high, the stakes are brutal, and yet at the heart of it all is an unshakable sense of humanity.
What I really liked was the strong emotional core. The theme of family by choice was beautifully done, and the sisterhood and friendship between the main characters was a real highlight.
The plot was engaging and full of momentum—I needed to know how it would end. And wow, that ending! It completely caught me off guard, in the best way. I didn’t see it coming, and I’m still recovering.
I really hope someone picks this up for a movie adaptation—the characters, the tension, the emotional stakes would shine on screen. I’m already waiting (impatiently) for a sequel. There’s so much more I want to know about these characters and their world.
If you love fast-paced stories with fierce girls, strong found-family vibes, and a few unexpected gut punches along the way, it is a book for you.
April 19, 2025
Climate of Chaos follows Fox LaRosa, a seventeen-year-old on her first mission to officially join her aunt’s mercenary group to restore the imbalance of medicine access. Their world is ravaged by storms and vicious virus. The only safe place is inside the Aegis Corp domes—except if you’re too injured or don’t work enough, then you’re sent to Harvest House and never heard from again. When Fox’s sister is taken on their mission, she risks everything to recuse her and infiltrates the domes only to discover there’s more danger than she thought.
Dystopian is such a good genre and it’s a shame there’s not more books getting released. They’re just so fun and interesting and gripping and Climate of Chaos was no different. I loved the exploration of medical debt and climate change. It was a very poignant read. The plot was really interesting, and I loved getting to learn more about Harvest House and the domes. The author created a really fascinating world.
Fox was a great main character and had such great disability rep. I loved how much she cared for her sister and how protective she was. Their relationship was so strong, and I think a lot of sisters could relate to it. And Fox’s relationship with her friends was so sweet. There’s such good found family in this book and I can’t wait to see where it goes in the sequel.
Overall, if you love dystopian, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try!
Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for the arc
Dystopian is such a good genre and it’s a shame there’s not more books getting released. They’re just so fun and interesting and gripping and Climate of Chaos was no different. I loved the exploration of medical debt and climate change. It was a very poignant read. The plot was really interesting, and I loved getting to learn more about Harvest House and the domes. The author created a really fascinating world.
Fox was a great main character and had such great disability rep. I loved how much she cared for her sister and how protective she was. Their relationship was so strong, and I think a lot of sisters could relate to it. And Fox’s relationship with her friends was so sweet. There’s such good found family in this book and I can’t wait to see where it goes in the sequel.
Overall, if you love dystopian, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try!
Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for the arc
April 9, 2025
[Thank you NetGalley for the ARC]
This was a gritty dystopian YA with a vivid setting. Raging storms, a crumbling healthcare system, and the weight of medical debt. I really appreciated the disability rep in Fox (a fierce FMC) and the themes of survival, sisterhood, and rebellion were strong.
But overall, this landed as a 3-star read for me.
That said, I think readers looking for something gritty and socially relevant with ‘Maze Runner’ meets ‘Divergent’ vibes will still find a lot to enjoy here!
This was a gritty dystopian YA with a vivid setting. Raging storms, a crumbling healthcare system, and the weight of medical debt. I really appreciated the disability rep in Fox (a fierce FMC) and the themes of survival, sisterhood, and rebellion were strong.
But overall, this landed as a 3-star read for me.
That said, I think readers looking for something gritty and socially relevant with ‘Maze Runner’ meets ‘Divergent’ vibes will still find a lot to enjoy here!
January 11, 2026
FUCK ME THIS WAS FANTASTIC
PEACH TREE TEEN NEVER MISSES
Fantastic dystopian young adult book.
What stood out most was how clearly & passionately the author connects environmental collapse to politics, power, & everyday life.
The writing is sharp, accessible, & often unsettling in the best way.
Main character is a badass with a cane that they wield as a weapon.
Another read for Love Y'all Book Fest in Feb & if you're attending I highly recommend checking this out.
PEACH TREE TEEN NEVER MISSES
Fantastic dystopian young adult book.
What stood out most was how clearly & passionately the author connects environmental collapse to politics, power, & everyday life.
The writing is sharp, accessible, & often unsettling in the best way.
Main character is a badass with a cane that they wield as a weapon.
Another read for Love Y'all Book Fest in Feb & if you're attending I highly recommend checking this out.
Want to read
November 6, 2024"An exhilarating dystopian YA recalling The Last of Us and Divergent—If I Survive is a hard-hitting survival story featuring a disabled protagonist that explores the chilling effects of climate change and medical debt."
a ya dystopian with the vibes of old school classics & a disabled mc? i could cry
a ya dystopian with the vibes of old school classics & a disabled mc? i could cry
May 11, 2025
Zero complaints. Only praise.
Tell the children to eat the rich.
The complex characterization of the young protagonists and their growth in this book reminds me of R.F. Kuang’s Babel, which is the highest praise I can give. And, of course, comparison to Hunger Games is nonnegotiable here. Readers of both books will froth at the mouth over this one.
I found the smattering of romantic conflict and angst remarkably believable — which I think is rare in YA. And I’m so beyond glad to see that it took a back seat to the familial relationships driving the main plot — also rare in YA.
Privileged to have gotten early access, and so excited to put the finished version on my bookshelf! :)
Also praying, hoping, and pleading a sequel is in the works.
Tell the children to eat the rich.
The complex characterization of the young protagonists and their growth in this book reminds me of R.F. Kuang’s Babel, which is the highest praise I can give. And, of course, comparison to Hunger Games is nonnegotiable here. Readers of both books will froth at the mouth over this one.
I found the smattering of romantic conflict and angst remarkably believable — which I think is rare in YA. And I’m so beyond glad to see that it took a back seat to the familial relationships driving the main plot — also rare in YA.
Privileged to have gotten early access, and so excited to put the finished version on my bookshelf! :)
Also praying, hoping, and pleading a sequel is in the works.
November 19, 2025
It was a good read until I got about 40 pages from the end and realized there was no way this book was going to have an ending. You have to read book 2 which doesn’t exist… yet.
November 4, 2025
A dystopian adventure with some solid twists. I enjoyed the read, but felt some of the parts were a bit forced. I enjoyed the world building a lot!
Currently reading
July 6, 2025I've had this for a couple weeks, I love the sound of it! I didn't even know about it until I was sent a package!!
Thank you for the ARC, Penguin Teen CA!
Thank you for the ARC, Penguin Teen CA!
November 6, 2025
DYSTOPIAN FICTION IS BACK, BABY.
Pacing dragged a little in the middle, but we picked right back up for the end. Can we announce that there's a sequel coming tho? Cliffhanger ending with no sequel on the horizon is NOT gonna work for me!
Pacing dragged a little in the middle, but we picked right back up for the end. Can we announce that there's a sequel coming tho? Cliffhanger ending with no sequel on the horizon is NOT gonna work for me!
August 23, 2025
**3.5 stars**
There is a lot to unpack with this book. It's advertised as a "next" hunger games and while I can understand the comparison once the end of the novel was reached, I don't think it's fair to compare.
The story does focus on a sister trying to save another from a controlled government but that's where it really ends.
Readers are introduced to Fox and Rabbit trying to infiltrate a healing center to steal necessary medication to take back to their home. As a wanderer living outside of the domes, they are left to fend for themselves against the storms that ravage the Earth and ravengers, who can be just as dangerous.
During their recon mission, Rabbit ends up staying behind while Fox finishes the mission. It's soon discovered that Rabbit is naturally immune to the newest virus that is spreading wildly and can be a future hope for humankind. Fox doesn't like that her sister was taken and now wants to get her back.
So the story goes. Fox and her friends join the storm runners to try and get closer to Rabbit to rescue her. The book is about their trials trying to pass challenges and become full Storm Runners. It really wasn't bad itself and I enjoyed the development of the characters and how they bonded during the trials.
However, Fox to me, wasn't the best main character. I found her exceptionally whiny and a lot of her actions didn't make sense. I did enjoy the representation of someone with a disability getting through the trials but the way the system works - it didn't make sense. Healthy people got sent to the harvest house so it's hard to see how Fox would get through. Although, I'm glad she went against the grain and did. There were just a lot of choices that were just too convenient in order to push the story.
I also wish we got more of how the world got to the way it was. Why are the storms so rampant? How did society get to the way it was?
Overall, Climate of Chaos wasn't a horrible read. I really enjoyed the trials and how everything developed. The characters overall developed in an enjoyable way and I did like reading their story. However, there was a lot to be still desired. I wasn't a huge fan of Fox and I thought the world could use more. I also didn't know this wasn't a standalone. Even though I had some issues with this book, I will mostly likely continue the series when the next book is released.
AUDIO REVIEW
Jesse Vilinsky lends her voice to this story. And I have mixed feelings, again. She does an amazing job bringing such feeling into this story. With the amount of emotion she allows during her narration, the dystopian setting is unsettlingly real. However, it also leads into why I felt Fox was such a whiny character. I also don't listen to my audiobooks on headphones always so the change of Jesse going to a softer voice where I could barely hear, really didn't work for me. I did not enjoy having to continuously change the volume of the audiobook. I would still recommend the audio though as it does add a depth to this story.
There is a lot to unpack with this book. It's advertised as a "next" hunger games and while I can understand the comparison once the end of the novel was reached, I don't think it's fair to compare.
The story does focus on a sister trying to save another from a controlled government but that's where it really ends.
Readers are introduced to Fox and Rabbit trying to infiltrate a healing center to steal necessary medication to take back to their home. As a wanderer living outside of the domes, they are left to fend for themselves against the storms that ravage the Earth and ravengers, who can be just as dangerous.
During their recon mission, Rabbit ends up staying behind while Fox finishes the mission. It's soon discovered that Rabbit is naturally immune to the newest virus that is spreading wildly and can be a future hope for humankind. Fox doesn't like that her sister was taken and now wants to get her back.
So the story goes. Fox and her friends join the storm runners to try and get closer to Rabbit to rescue her. The book is about their trials trying to pass challenges and become full Storm Runners. It really wasn't bad itself and I enjoyed the development of the characters and how they bonded during the trials.
However, Fox to me, wasn't the best main character. I found her exceptionally whiny and a lot of her actions didn't make sense. I did enjoy the representation of someone with a disability getting through the trials but the way the system works - it didn't make sense. Healthy people got sent to the harvest house so it's hard to see how Fox would get through. Although, I'm glad she went against the grain and did. There were just a lot of choices that were just too convenient in order to push the story.
I also wish we got more of how the world got to the way it was. Why are the storms so rampant? How did society get to the way it was?
Overall, Climate of Chaos wasn't a horrible read. I really enjoyed the trials and how everything developed. The characters overall developed in an enjoyable way and I did like reading their story. However, there was a lot to be still desired. I wasn't a huge fan of Fox and I thought the world could use more. I also didn't know this wasn't a standalone. Even though I had some issues with this book, I will mostly likely continue the series when the next book is released.
AUDIO REVIEW
Jesse Vilinsky lends her voice to this story. And I have mixed feelings, again. She does an amazing job bringing such feeling into this story. With the amount of emotion she allows during her narration, the dystopian setting is unsettlingly real. However, it also leads into why I felt Fox was such a whiny character. I also don't listen to my audiobooks on headphones always so the change of Jesse going to a softer voice where I could barely hear, really didn't work for me. I did not enjoy having to continuously change the volume of the audiobook. I would still recommend the audio though as it does add a depth to this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2025
As an old person, I won't even pretend to claim I can speak for what young people might or might not like; at least not with any accuracy. My review will be given in two parts, one for the young adult audience and the second for teachers of young adults who may want something new for the young adults in their lives to read.
"Stories of people persevering when the odds are undoubtedly stacked against them are the stories I crave. Anytime I'm down, my go-to for cheering myself up is reading a dystopian book or turning on a disaster/dystopian movie. The characters finding that thread of hope as the world is unraveling has a way of making my troubles seem a little easier to carry."
The Author's Own Acknowledgments from Climate of Chaos (pg 371)
Climate of Chaos is ideal for the young person who also enjoys characters finding threads of hope in a down-trending reality. It features a cast of developed characters that support the disabled protagonist who is genuinely likeable. Her character is strong, smart, and a little hot-headed. And though a major part of what she has to deal with (chronic pain and mobility issues) could have been handled by a less-skilled author as complaining and whining, our hero makes the reader aware of her issues without sounding whiny, but rather as a mere limitation she has to overcome like so many heroes in myths and stories past. She does not make excuses for her condition nor does she feel sorry for herself, nor does the fact-in-itself that she merely has a condition make her a hero. She deals. I dwell on this point only because I can anticipate comments about disability and what it even means to be disabled and how disability should be represented. I think the main character's portrayal could initiate a discussion on these points particularly for those who might not have considered them. Fox La Rosa is just one way of representing disability, and as authors show more characters with disabilities, we'll see other modes of it as well.
The tone the narrator adopts is colloquial and genuine sounding, though there are points where the reader wonders exactly what the main characters know of some of the seemingly basic elements of their world. For example, during one scene the narrator remarks that a film crew is filming B-Roll footage for Aegis' Propaganda (pg 292), which seems to show a sophisticated knowledge of media production and media usage. So it seems unlikely that some of the rumors mentioned later in the story (without giving too much away) appear new and unheard of to the main characters. They are aware of what propaganda is but also somehow blind to it. One of the major tensions in the work is between losing one's self as we adopt new behaviors and attitudes that try to make us (train/educate/indoctrinate) into different people. It seems a little uneven that a main character so aware of this attitude is also oblivious to some glaring-seeming rumors.
Without giving away the plot, a point of confusion I found was at the point of denouement, where the major secret of the book is revealed. The reader finds out the reason the villains are doing evil, but what that reason is, doesn't seem strong enough to justify the villains' actions. I'm not sure if that's a fault in my own thinking, and I'm just not understanding this point, and not looking at it correctly. It's possible that it's a fault in the author's planning and execution, which I highly doubt. More than likely it's a point that's being used to set up a more "real" motive in a sequel, that the characters' flaw in reasoning IS itself a plot device; we've been misled. With that in mind, too, the novel's ending, does not satisfactorally resolve any of the conflicts it sets up, and seems primed for at least one sequel, if not a group of them. That by itself is not a flaw, but the reader should be prepared for more related novels to come.
The book does contain many good action scenes, combined with romance, intragroup and family strife, some mystery/thriller elements, and a coming-of-age story. It's well paced throughout. The world-building, the description of how the dystopian world of future Seattle operates, starts off in an almost too deliberate way but as the novel moves along, these elements become more integral and better integrated without seeming overly declamatory. Overall I think that YA readers would like this book.
For educators, the book features many entry points for discussion and lesson planning. There are several battles for justice and fighting for what's right throughout the novel: keeping one's family together, combatting oppression, helping the less fortunate and the less able to take care of themselves, etc. The themes of climate change, rich/poor divides, authoritarian power structures, medical accessibility and disability issues, among others, lend themselves to potentially in-depth analysis and real-world relevance for our students. One small theme that could be explored in a classroom, as an example, is the various use of medicine in the novel: the naturopathic versus the industrial, and what sort of implications both have on human health and ecology.
In terms of objections, there are some coarse words but nothing that students haven't been exposed to in almost any PG-13 or R rated movie. There is a little recreational drug use about a third of the way through, and other than death and violence, I wouldn't think there's much else objectionable to an audience of high schoolers. It does have a full-length anti-establishment focus, which, I suppose, might be objectionable to some people, but that might be more of a selling point than not.
One major drawback of this book (and it's only major in terms of using it as a classroom resource) is the novel's length. It is 369 pages and it might be too long of a book to use as a whole-class text, despite the potential richness of its themes and literary elements. It would be better used as part of a formal or informal book club text, or as an independent reading project. The wealth of activities, however, for which this book provides a seed-bed, could justify using it as a whole-class text, but the teacher would have to make a multi-week (possibly multi-month) commitment, which may not be feasible. Along those same lines, some of the elements from the story might be similar enough to other elements from other YA dystopian fiction that it might alienate some student readers. It's possible that the students who don't really like this genre (non-fans and the more-or-less ambivalent) might be turned off from the genre, thinking that they are all the same. But, student-readers that like the genre would probably really enjoy Climate of Chaos.
"Stories of people persevering when the odds are undoubtedly stacked against them are the stories I crave. Anytime I'm down, my go-to for cheering myself up is reading a dystopian book or turning on a disaster/dystopian movie. The characters finding that thread of hope as the world is unraveling has a way of making my troubles seem a little easier to carry."
The Author's Own Acknowledgments from Climate of Chaos (pg 371)
Climate of Chaos is ideal for the young person who also enjoys characters finding threads of hope in a down-trending reality. It features a cast of developed characters that support the disabled protagonist who is genuinely likeable. Her character is strong, smart, and a little hot-headed. And though a major part of what she has to deal with (chronic pain and mobility issues) could have been handled by a less-skilled author as complaining and whining, our hero makes the reader aware of her issues without sounding whiny, but rather as a mere limitation she has to overcome like so many heroes in myths and stories past. She does not make excuses for her condition nor does she feel sorry for herself, nor does the fact-in-itself that she merely has a condition make her a hero. She deals. I dwell on this point only because I can anticipate comments about disability and what it even means to be disabled and how disability should be represented. I think the main character's portrayal could initiate a discussion on these points particularly for those who might not have considered them. Fox La Rosa is just one way of representing disability, and as authors show more characters with disabilities, we'll see other modes of it as well.
The tone the narrator adopts is colloquial and genuine sounding, though there are points where the reader wonders exactly what the main characters know of some of the seemingly basic elements of their world. For example, during one scene the narrator remarks that a film crew is filming B-Roll footage for Aegis' Propaganda (pg 292), which seems to show a sophisticated knowledge of media production and media usage. So it seems unlikely that some of the rumors mentioned later in the story (without giving too much away) appear new and unheard of to the main characters. They are aware of what propaganda is but also somehow blind to it. One of the major tensions in the work is between losing one's self as we adopt new behaviors and attitudes that try to make us (train/educate/indoctrinate) into different people. It seems a little uneven that a main character so aware of this attitude is also oblivious to some glaring-seeming rumors.
Without giving away the plot, a point of confusion I found was at the point of denouement, where the major secret of the book is revealed. The reader finds out the reason the villains are doing evil, but what that reason is, doesn't seem strong enough to justify the villains' actions. I'm not sure if that's a fault in my own thinking, and I'm just not understanding this point, and not looking at it correctly. It's possible that it's a fault in the author's planning and execution, which I highly doubt. More than likely it's a point that's being used to set up a more "real" motive in a sequel, that the characters' flaw in reasoning IS itself a plot device; we've been misled. With that in mind, too, the novel's ending, does not satisfactorally resolve any of the conflicts it sets up, and seems primed for at least one sequel, if not a group of them. That by itself is not a flaw, but the reader should be prepared for more related novels to come.
The book does contain many good action scenes, combined with romance, intragroup and family strife, some mystery/thriller elements, and a coming-of-age story. It's well paced throughout. The world-building, the description of how the dystopian world of future Seattle operates, starts off in an almost too deliberate way but as the novel moves along, these elements become more integral and better integrated without seeming overly declamatory. Overall I think that YA readers would like this book.
For educators, the book features many entry points for discussion and lesson planning. There are several battles for justice and fighting for what's right throughout the novel: keeping one's family together, combatting oppression, helping the less fortunate and the less able to take care of themselves, etc. The themes of climate change, rich/poor divides, authoritarian power structures, medical accessibility and disability issues, among others, lend themselves to potentially in-depth analysis and real-world relevance for our students. One small theme that could be explored in a classroom, as an example, is the various use of medicine in the novel: the naturopathic versus the industrial, and what sort of implications both have on human health and ecology.
In terms of objections, there are some coarse words but nothing that students haven't been exposed to in almost any PG-13 or R rated movie. There is a little recreational drug use about a third of the way through, and other than death and violence, I wouldn't think there's much else objectionable to an audience of high schoolers. It does have a full-length anti-establishment focus, which, I suppose, might be objectionable to some people, but that might be more of a selling point than not.
One major drawback of this book (and it's only major in terms of using it as a classroom resource) is the novel's length. It is 369 pages and it might be too long of a book to use as a whole-class text, despite the potential richness of its themes and literary elements. It would be better used as part of a formal or informal book club text, or as an independent reading project. The wealth of activities, however, for which this book provides a seed-bed, could justify using it as a whole-class text, but the teacher would have to make a multi-week (possibly multi-month) commitment, which may not be feasible. Along those same lines, some of the elements from the story might be similar enough to other elements from other YA dystopian fiction that it might alienate some student readers. It's possible that the students who don't really like this genre (non-fans and the more-or-less ambivalent) might be turned off from the genre, thinking that they are all the same. But, student-readers that like the genre would probably really enjoy Climate of Chaos.
March 20, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!! So, first off I hate giving a low review. I pick books I really like and generally like them. However, this book has some continuity errors (or maybe they read that way) and I encountered quite a few spelling errors. I know this book doesn't come out for a few months and my advanced copy might not be the final copy. The premise is really cool. Capitalism, climate crisis, apocalypse, health care. All the good things of apocalyptic books rolled into one, but lacking some structure. So, I want to give this a higher review, but it needs something to push it higher.
January 13, 2026
Disclaimer: I borrowed this book from the library. Support your libraries! All opinions are my own.
Book: Climate of Chaos
Author: Cassandra Newbould
Book Series: Book 2 when?!
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Disabled FMC (uses a cane, hip/leg injury and chronic pain), Queer characters
Recommended For...: Young Adult readers, Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Climate Change, Pandemic, Post Apocalyptic
Publication Date: July 15, 2025
Genre: YA Dystopian Sci-Fi
Age Relevance: 16+ (death, gun violence, blood gore, sickness, language, parental death, violence, animal violence, alcohol consumption, drugs, human sacrifice)
Explanation of CWs: There is death, violence, gun violence, and blood gore shown throughout the book. There is an illness that is shown throughout the book. There is some slight cursing. There are mentions of parental death. There is one scene where a dog is kicked into a tree and is slightly hurt. There are mentions of alcohol consumption and drugs. There is a moral dilemma of human sacrifice to the “greater good” of the population.
If This Was a Taylor Swift Song: Cassandra
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Pages: 384
Synopsis: In dystopic Seattle, storms have devastated Earth’s population, a new virus is spreading, and the privileged live inside domes controlled by Aegis Corp. Healthcare is earned by hours accrued working in Aegis’s pharmaceutical factories. If you run short on hours, you’re sent to the Harvest House for debt collection—a place few return from in one piece. After a storm killed seventeen-year old Fox LaRosa’s parents and left her disabled, Fox and her younger sister Rabbit join their fugitive aunt’s mercenary group Still-Alive. Their mission is to restore the imbalance of medical access for post-storm survivors. But when a med supply heist goes south, Rabbit is taken captive, and Still-Alive refuses to rescue her. Fox must choose between duty and family, and leaves home to infiltrate Aegis’ interior domes where Rabbit is being held hostage. The more Fox learns about life in the domes, though, the more she realizes Still-Alive isn’t as altruistic as they claim. In a world where everyone is out for themselves, Fox must rely on those she trusts least in order to reunite with her sister and expose both Aegis and Still-Alive for who they really are.
Review: I absolutely loved this dystopian romance book and already want more. I loved the world building and how we don't completely know what caused this world but that we're in it. I like the medical dystopian aspect and all the nods to the unfair medical system of the US. I thought the characters were very well fleshed out and the book evenly paced. I just can't wait for more from this author!
The only critique I do have is that sometimes time skips and you're unaware of it until a few sentences or a paragraph into the chapter.
Verdict: I loved this book so much! Highly recommend!
Book: Climate of Chaos
Author: Cassandra Newbould
Book Series: Book 2 when?!
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Disabled FMC (uses a cane, hip/leg injury and chronic pain), Queer characters
Recommended For...: Young Adult readers, Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Climate Change, Pandemic, Post Apocalyptic
Publication Date: July 15, 2025
Genre: YA Dystopian Sci-Fi
Age Relevance: 16+ (death, gun violence, blood gore, sickness, language, parental death, violence, animal violence, alcohol consumption, drugs, human sacrifice)
Explanation of CWs: There is death, violence, gun violence, and blood gore shown throughout the book. There is an illness that is shown throughout the book. There is some slight cursing. There are mentions of parental death. There is one scene where a dog is kicked into a tree and is slightly hurt. There are mentions of alcohol consumption and drugs. There is a moral dilemma of human sacrifice to the “greater good” of the population.
If This Was a Taylor Swift Song: Cassandra
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Pages: 384
Synopsis: In dystopic Seattle, storms have devastated Earth’s population, a new virus is spreading, and the privileged live inside domes controlled by Aegis Corp. Healthcare is earned by hours accrued working in Aegis’s pharmaceutical factories. If you run short on hours, you’re sent to the Harvest House for debt collection—a place few return from in one piece. After a storm killed seventeen-year old Fox LaRosa’s parents and left her disabled, Fox and her younger sister Rabbit join their fugitive aunt’s mercenary group Still-Alive. Their mission is to restore the imbalance of medical access for post-storm survivors. But when a med supply heist goes south, Rabbit is taken captive, and Still-Alive refuses to rescue her. Fox must choose between duty and family, and leaves home to infiltrate Aegis’ interior domes where Rabbit is being held hostage. The more Fox learns about life in the domes, though, the more she realizes Still-Alive isn’t as altruistic as they claim. In a world where everyone is out for themselves, Fox must rely on those she trusts least in order to reunite with her sister and expose both Aegis and Still-Alive for who they really are.
Review: I absolutely loved this dystopian romance book and already want more. I loved the world building and how we don't completely know what caused this world but that we're in it. I like the medical dystopian aspect and all the nods to the unfair medical system of the US. I thought the characters were very well fleshed out and the book evenly paced. I just can't wait for more from this author!
The only critique I do have is that sometimes time skips and you're unaware of it until a few sentences or a paragraph into the chapter.
Verdict: I loved this book so much! Highly recommend!
January 18, 2026
This book has been described as “the Hunger Games for the new generation.” I agree, although I felt this description did not go far enough. This story follows Fox, a teen who has grown up in a dystopian world with strict class divisions. The haves live in very carefully controlled domes run by the mysteriously sinister Aegis Corporation, while the have-nots live in the Beyond Lands.When the book opens Fox and her sister Rabbit are on a mission to sneak into the hospital in Dome Four in order to secure medicine for her people, a tight band of Wanderers. A dangerous virus, the Vi, has appeared in the Pacific Northwest and is ravaging the countryside. The people living in the Domes are free from infection and have access to sustaining food, comfort, and medical care. For those in the Beyond Lands, life is the opposite. Groups of Wanderers scrabble for subsistence. Meanwhile, Aegis controls everything and tracks the comings and goings of all the area’s citizens.
Fox’s sister is suddenly seized and taken away – held up as a savior who is miraculously immune to the Vi. Fox’s new mission becomes clear. She must risk everything to rescue Rabbit! I loved the complex and believable world-building, the social commentary, and the fast-paced plot. Fox’s character, who has just started scouting and raiding missions as a member of the Mercs, grows in confidence and skill at the same pace as the intrigue builds. Starting the book as a nervous, newly independent young woman, Fox is disabled from a previous injury. Her hip often bothers her and she walks with a limp. But, she pushes through her pain with blistering anger toward the inequality in her life. She brandishes a wicked cane with a hidden blade and uses it to even the score. She joins the Aegis run soldier corps, infiltrating the ranks of Aegis in order to get access to a captive Rabbit.
The book had a lot to say about how resources are distributed in society, the necessity of medical care for all, the manipulations of media messaging, and the politics of pandemic. I appreciated the representation of Fox’s disability and I loved that the book taught lessons by showing, not saying. The machinations of Aegis are complicated and the nuances of each organization and person are explored in depth through their actions and their fallout as the plot unfolds.
I loved the ongoing action, quick twists, and the evolution of the relationships between the characters. Fox becomes close to her fellow soldiers and to finding her sister. But, will she get close enough to save Rabbit? Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Fox’s sister is suddenly seized and taken away – held up as a savior who is miraculously immune to the Vi. Fox’s new mission becomes clear. She must risk everything to rescue Rabbit! I loved the complex and believable world-building, the social commentary, and the fast-paced plot. Fox’s character, who has just started scouting and raiding missions as a member of the Mercs, grows in confidence and skill at the same pace as the intrigue builds. Starting the book as a nervous, newly independent young woman, Fox is disabled from a previous injury. Her hip often bothers her and she walks with a limp. But, she pushes through her pain with blistering anger toward the inequality in her life. She brandishes a wicked cane with a hidden blade and uses it to even the score. She joins the Aegis run soldier corps, infiltrating the ranks of Aegis in order to get access to a captive Rabbit.
The book had a lot to say about how resources are distributed in society, the necessity of medical care for all, the manipulations of media messaging, and the politics of pandemic. I appreciated the representation of Fox’s disability and I loved that the book taught lessons by showing, not saying. The machinations of Aegis are complicated and the nuances of each organization and person are explored in depth through their actions and their fallout as the plot unfolds.
I loved the ongoing action, quick twists, and the evolution of the relationships between the characters. Fox becomes close to her fellow soldiers and to finding her sister. But, will she get close enough to save Rabbit? Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
December 7, 2025
“Chronic pain, it’s like a tide. Goes in and out, in and out. Never know when it’s going to flare up again—just that it will. Exhausting. Absolutely exhausting.”
As a Seattleite myself, I was so excited to get an ARC of this book, and it did not disappoint. All of the local references really brought the story to life.
Climate of Chaos follows seventeen-year old Fox, who lives in a future dystopian Seattle, wracked by the effects of climate change and controlled by the medical company Aegis Corp. Only the privileged can afford to live inside their safe domes. When Fox’s sister is taken captive by Aegis, Fox has to go into the belly of the beast, enlisting in Aegis’s army of Storm Runners, to save her sister.
This is precisely the kind of story I would have eaten up as a teen. Badass female MC trying to survive in a fucked up world? Check. Brooding mysterious love interest? Check. Colorful cast of side characters providing heart and comedic relief? Check. Combat training? Check. Complicated family dynamics? Double check.
Climate of Chaos was a ton of fun while also being a depressing and all-too believable look into the future. It truly felt like a climate change Divergent.
The writing could get a bit repetitive at times, and the pacing was sometimes a little slow for such an action-packed premise. It seemed like Newbould was trying to do a little too much for a first book - there were a few too many subplots and side characters to keep track of, but I really enjoyed their unique dynamics so I didn’t mind too much.
Hopefully future books continue to develop the world and our FMC - both had promise but ultimately fell a bit flat.
As a Seattleite myself, I was so excited to get an ARC of this book, and it did not disappoint. All of the local references really brought the story to life.
Climate of Chaos follows seventeen-year old Fox, who lives in a future dystopian Seattle, wracked by the effects of climate change and controlled by the medical company Aegis Corp. Only the privileged can afford to live inside their safe domes. When Fox’s sister is taken captive by Aegis, Fox has to go into the belly of the beast, enlisting in Aegis’s army of Storm Runners, to save her sister.
This is precisely the kind of story I would have eaten up as a teen. Badass female MC trying to survive in a fucked up world? Check. Brooding mysterious love interest? Check. Colorful cast of side characters providing heart and comedic relief? Check. Combat training? Check. Complicated family dynamics? Double check.
Climate of Chaos was a ton of fun while also being a depressing and all-too believable look into the future. It truly felt like a climate change Divergent.
The writing could get a bit repetitive at times, and the pacing was sometimes a little slow for such an action-packed premise. It seemed like Newbould was trying to do a little too much for a first book - there were a few too many subplots and side characters to keep track of, but I really enjoyed their unique dynamics so I didn’t mind too much.
Hopefully future books continue to develop the world and our FMC - both had promise but ultimately fell a bit flat.
November 10, 2025
I received a physical ARC copy sent to me from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I had so much hope for this one based on the description alone: a dystopian novel that tackles a future where medical debt and climate change dooms humanity. I enjoyed the slight discussions on that that peppered the novel, especially when it came to the horrors of a (very real) possible society where things called "harvest houses" and unplayable debt for medicine run rampant and the comments on a "Canadian haven" up in the north. I wish Newbould did more with that. We spent a lot more time in this novel on the trials of Fox entering the guild she needs to infiltrate more than the actual plot itself (or what I deemed the plot I guess). It made the ending feel extremely rushed and almost like an afterthought to the author. It made the world feel sort of empty because we weren't able to really understand the motivations behind the government and particularly, made the novel's ultimate villain's motivations feel extremely weak. Like, I get that the betrayal was supposed to inflict something in me but how could I care when it came out of nowhere? Ultimately, I think this is a fine dystopian YA but nothing to write home about unfortunately.
I had so much hope for this one based on the description alone: a dystopian novel that tackles a future where medical debt and climate change dooms humanity. I enjoyed the slight discussions on that that peppered the novel, especially when it came to the horrors of a (very real) possible society where things called "harvest houses" and unplayable debt for medicine run rampant and the comments on a "Canadian haven" up in the north. I wish Newbould did more with that. We spent a lot more time in this novel on the trials of Fox entering the guild she needs to infiltrate more than the actual plot itself (or what I deemed the plot I guess). It made the ending feel extremely rushed and almost like an afterthought to the author. It made the world feel sort of empty because we weren't able to really understand the motivations behind the government and particularly, made the novel's ultimate villain's motivations feel extremely weak. Like, I get that the betrayal was supposed to inflict something in me but how could I care when it came out of nowhere? Ultimately, I think this is a fine dystopian YA but nothing to write home about unfortunately.
December 10, 2025
3.5/5
Climate of Chaos follows a fairly predictable pattern of YA dystopian writing: introduction of the dystopic world and rules, romantic tension, surprising plot twist involving an otherwise trusted character. For all of these reasons, I think young readers who are new to the genre would likely enjoy this. For me, there was just something lacking. I needed to care about the protagonist more. I needed to feel more tension in the relationships. I needed the stakes of the twist to feel more significant. Any of the above, I think, would have likely made this a stronger read for me. I did appreciate Newbould's inclusion of chronic pain and disability; this was an aspect that was written well and added depth to the novel. And despite my own small issues with the book, I will still be adding this one to my classroom library (for those new-to-dystopian readers), and I'm looking forward to seeing what Cassandra Newbould does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing for my advanced copy.
Climate of Chaos follows a fairly predictable pattern of YA dystopian writing: introduction of the dystopic world and rules, romantic tension, surprising plot twist involving an otherwise trusted character. For all of these reasons, I think young readers who are new to the genre would likely enjoy this. For me, there was just something lacking. I needed to care about the protagonist more. I needed to feel more tension in the relationships. I needed the stakes of the twist to feel more significant. Any of the above, I think, would have likely made this a stronger read for me. I did appreciate Newbould's inclusion of chronic pain and disability; this was an aspect that was written well and added depth to the novel. And despite my own small issues with the book, I will still be adding this one to my classroom library (for those new-to-dystopian readers), and I'm looking forward to seeing what Cassandra Newbould does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing for my advanced copy.
April 7, 2025
Thank you Peachtree Teen for this ARC! I love having the opportunity to review free books in exchange for my honest review!
This book initially caught my eye because as a native Seattle-ite, seeing the space-needle on the cover combined with the depiction of a "climate of chaos" (haha see what I did there?) it was immediately intriguing to me. I am a huge fan of Sci-fi/Dystopian. Speaking to the dystopian end of that duo, it is a hard genre to nail in my opinion. While I won't say that this book nailed-it, it was still very well-done. As a notice to those who prefer more advanced/mature writing, and tend to steer away from "younger" novels, this book may not be for you. In the most positive light, it is 100% a Teen/YA novel so it would be perfect for the Sci-Fi/Dystopian loving high schooler or junior-higher in your life! With the nuance of this book being geared towards a somewhat younger audience, I would definitely give this book a solid 4/5.
Holly Collins
This book initially caught my eye because as a native Seattle-ite, seeing the space-needle on the cover combined with the depiction of a "climate of chaos" (haha see what I did there?) it was immediately intriguing to me. I am a huge fan of Sci-fi/Dystopian. Speaking to the dystopian end of that duo, it is a hard genre to nail in my opinion. While I won't say that this book nailed-it, it was still very well-done. As a notice to those who prefer more advanced/mature writing, and tend to steer away from "younger" novels, this book may not be for you. In the most positive light, it is 100% a Teen/YA novel so it would be perfect for the Sci-Fi/Dystopian loving high schooler or junior-higher in your life! With the nuance of this book being geared towards a somewhat younger audience, I would definitely give this book a solid 4/5.
Holly Collins
August 1, 2025
I let out a sigh of relief when I finished this book. I know that sounds harsh, but I had such high hopes for it. Even though I have a shaky relationship with YA, there are still many books I enjoy. However, these characters felt very young and naive for someone who has had a hard life. There were multiple times when the FMC just couldn’t believe that she was this new person or that they had to do certain things. Repeating this thought multiple times, and I just was not into it. I loved the premise of having to survive in a new environment while being manipulated by others. But it was focusing on things that I just did not care about, since I did read the arc, it was very raw. To the point where multiple words were missing, and I got annoyed that I might be missing something important. This book was just not for me, but I could see people who really love young adult books being satisfied.
Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen Publishing, I received an ARC for an honest review!
Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen Publishing, I received an ARC for an honest review!
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