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Don’t Let Chacha Die
Chacha must conform in order to avoid execution, but conforming is its own psychological hell. Chacha needs a genuine friend to survive, but how can they find one when it’s too dangerous to trust?
Chacha is a citizen of Stormland, growing into adulthood under the oppressive regime of the God-King. Five centuries ago, the God-King created the divine process – a holy method of shaping masculine teenagers into the purest gender, men. Chacha is a teenager who faces the possibility of undergoing the divine process, but Chacha knows they will never become a man. Chacha is bent, which is an illegal gender punishable by death. They’ve never been good at hiding their bent nature and they believe it will only be a matter of time before they’re caught. Chacha begins to see the God-King for what he is, but doesn’t know what a gentle person like themself can do.
Chacha feels drawn to a clever and beautiful teenager named Setha. Chacha can’t risk showing vulnerability to Setha, but what Chacha doesn’t realize is that trusting another person is resistance. Chacha will need Setha, not only to survive, but to grow strong enough to fight.
Don’t Let Chacha Die is a standalone book set in the GeneEarth universe. Don’t Let Chacha Die is Book Jupiter of the GeneEarth novels.
Don’t Let Chacha Die is rated 17+
Chacha is a citizen of Stormland, growing into adulthood under the oppressive regime of the God-King. Five centuries ago, the God-King created the divine process – a holy method of shaping masculine teenagers into the purest gender, men. Chacha is a teenager who faces the possibility of undergoing the divine process, but Chacha knows they will never become a man. Chacha is bent, which is an illegal gender punishable by death. They’ve never been good at hiding their bent nature and they believe it will only be a matter of time before they’re caught. Chacha begins to see the God-King for what he is, but doesn’t know what a gentle person like themself can do.
Chacha feels drawn to a clever and beautiful teenager named Setha. Chacha can’t risk showing vulnerability to Setha, but what Chacha doesn’t realize is that trusting another person is resistance. Chacha will need Setha, not only to survive, but to grow strong enough to fight.
Don’t Let Chacha Die is a standalone book set in the GeneEarth universe. Don’t Let Chacha Die is Book Jupiter of the GeneEarth novels.
Don’t Let Chacha Die is rated 17+
- GenresLGBTScience Fiction
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1323 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 12, 2025
4 stars
Okay, I'll admit I chose this book solely based on the name Chacha, which was what my younger brother called me when we were kids.
(Heads up, since I mostly read romance and erotica - this is not a romance!)
Dark and depressing queer dystopian SciFi debut book. I loved it even if the majority of the book put me through the wringer. Gruesome gender conformity and a wack religious totalitarian government, and my favorite: opposition resistance that isn't just full of angelic rebels.
I have dozens and dozens of highlights and notes to go through before writing a full review, but I wanted to get a rating and recommendation in right away. Longer RTC.
This is available everywhere, on Kobo+, and Smashwords (authors get more money when you buy there!)
This is an eARC from NetGalley, my opinions are my own.
Okay, I'll admit I chose this book solely based on the name Chacha, which was what my younger brother called me when we were kids.
(Heads up, since I mostly read romance and erotica - this is not a romance!)
Dark and depressing queer dystopian SciFi debut book. I loved it even if the majority of the book put me through the wringer. Gruesome gender conformity and a wack religious totalitarian government, and my favorite: opposition resistance that isn't just full of angelic rebels.
I have dozens and dozens of highlights and notes to go through before writing a full review, but I wanted to get a rating and recommendation in right away. Longer RTC.
This is available everywhere, on Kobo+, and Smashwords (authors get more money when you buy there!)
This is an eARC from NetGalley, my opinions are my own.
February 10, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rep : Non-binary MC, Achillean MC, Asexual SC, Intersex SC, PTSD, Albinism
'I've been considering ending my life for a while now and it hits me in this moment that I've never once actually wanted to die. All this time, what I've wanted was a way out.'
'But if the God-King is a fraud, that means I'm responsible for all the times I did terrible things in his name...the truth is hard'
"This is the gayest homophobic country ever"
'Romantic relationships can't work in a culture where Men have so much built up stuff they're taught to repress and hide; stuff they haven't sorted through. Their needs are too great, so they can't think clearly about how they're treating their lovers.'
'The lack of sex education and the cultural fear around sex means victims are unable to talk about what's happening to them, let alone fight for themselves.'
⏱️Multiple perspectives over many years
🔥Queer dystopia where people are assigned genders
🌎Climate has a storm season where no one can go outside
🛐Discussions of religion
🚫Censorship being used for control
🏰Resist oppression
What I Loved
1) The quote about suicidal ideation made me feel so seen and I think especially with everything going on in America at the moment that quote could make a lot of queer youth be seen. I can't even express how much I related to that quote.
2) The opening has me hooked with the intricate world building - I needed to find out more I was so invested!
3) I liked the topic of intersex people being brought up in this dystopian world obsessed with assigning genders. It showed the author had clearly thought about how it would affect everyone in society.
4) The discussions of any form of intimacy being illegal felt very timely to the book bans happening across America and new laws being implemented that I can totally see leading to something this extreme.
5) The nuance discussed about the people who have done harm in the name of the 'God-King', realised he is a fraud and then had to deal with the responsibility of their actions also feels like a parallel to what a lot of Trump supporters are expressing on social media now when they realise he wasn't trying to make things cheaper for the everyday person but instead was trying to gain power and control for himself (which was very obvious)
6) There was a lot of nuanced discussion of sex work and places that consider themselves ethical sex work. '"There are people out there looking to exploit someone like you." "So this isn't exploitation? In Stormland we don't have buildings where the employees have to be Carts all the time".
7) The discussion about processing schools using the strategy of making each boy enemies rather than friends is so true. If all the boys were friends they would have more power. Again, this feels very topical.
8) The ending truly made me think and I can't wait to continue the series. This wasn't initally a 5 star, but the more I thought about the themes and the quote about suicide especially brought the rating up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Carrie Herthwell for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
Rep : Non-binary MC, Achillean MC, Asexual SC, Intersex SC, PTSD, Albinism
'I've been considering ending my life for a while now and it hits me in this moment that I've never once actually wanted to die. All this time, what I've wanted was a way out.'
'But if the God-King is a fraud, that means I'm responsible for all the times I did terrible things in his name...the truth is hard'
"This is the gayest homophobic country ever"
'Romantic relationships can't work in a culture where Men have so much built up stuff they're taught to repress and hide; stuff they haven't sorted through. Their needs are too great, so they can't think clearly about how they're treating their lovers.'
'The lack of sex education and the cultural fear around sex means victims are unable to talk about what's happening to them, let alone fight for themselves.'
⏱️Multiple perspectives over many years
🔥Queer dystopia where people are assigned genders
🌎Climate has a storm season where no one can go outside
🛐Discussions of religion
🚫Censorship being used for control
🏰Resist oppression
What I Loved
1) The quote about suicidal ideation made me feel so seen and I think especially with everything going on in America at the moment that quote could make a lot of queer youth be seen. I can't even express how much I related to that quote.
2) The opening has me hooked with the intricate world building - I needed to find out more I was so invested!
3) I liked the topic of intersex people being brought up in this dystopian world obsessed with assigning genders. It showed the author had clearly thought about how it would affect everyone in society.
4) The discussions of any form of intimacy being illegal felt very timely to the book bans happening across America and new laws being implemented that I can totally see leading to something this extreme.
5) The nuance discussed about the people who have done harm in the name of the 'God-King', realised he is a fraud and then had to deal with the responsibility of their actions also feels like a parallel to what a lot of Trump supporters are expressing on social media now when they realise he wasn't trying to make things cheaper for the everyday person but instead was trying to gain power and control for himself (which was very obvious)
6) There was a lot of nuanced discussion of sex work and places that consider themselves ethical sex work. '"There are people out there looking to exploit someone like you." "So this isn't exploitation? In Stormland we don't have buildings where the employees have to be Carts all the time".
7) The discussion about processing schools using the strategy of making each boy enemies rather than friends is so true. If all the boys were friends they would have more power. Again, this feels very topical.
8) The ending truly made me think and I can't wait to continue the series. This wasn't initally a 5 star, but the more I thought about the themes and the quote about suicide especially brought the rating up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Carrie Herthwell for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
May 5, 2025
“Don’t Let Chacha Die” was a rewarding and captivating read. We follow Chacha from childhood until adulthood, as they navigate a society that considers them illegal and wrong. As a Bent, Chacha knows that they will never become a Man - they know it is a matter of time before they are caught, but life proves to have something else in store for Chacha.
The story unfolds over several years, and the story is told from the narrative of multiple different characters. At the start, this took me off guard, but as the book went on, I quickly fell into the rhythm of the multiple points of view, which is clearly labelled, so you are never unsure who we are following. Each narrative helps further the plot of the story, making it rewarding to understand the stories of other characters.
One thing that absolutely captivated me about this book was the exceptional world-building. The details that were put into the way the society, its religion, and the contrasts with the societies outside of Stormland were incredible. While some places in the book were heavy on details of the society, explaining the process of what was going on or would be going on, religion, or societies of the outside world, it never became boring. Every detail that was unravelled felt incredibly well thought out, and it fit into the narrative that the book was building.
One of the important themes of the book is gender identity. I found it fascinating the way the society handled gender identity, especially comparing it to the other societies: a lot of the happenings in the books could be boiled down to gender identity being the reasoning for it, and it was interesting to see how the book worked with characters that wished to express themselves in their own way, and characters with more traditional views. I enjoyed how some of the main characters expressed their gender identities, and how it showed clearly through the story — it expresses well how gender identity can be fluid, ever changing, and sometimes set in stone, but that when someone is able to express themselves as they truly wish and see themselves, that is when they are the most happy.
In my eyes, the book was fast-paced, which is not surprising when so many years have to be put into pages. I think I would have enjoyed the narrative more if the story had been stretched over more pages. Due to the pace, the second half of the book end up feeling more rushed, as the characters grow up and starts to have their own stories — I can only imagine how difficult it can be to boil everything down to what is most important for the story to move forward, but I would have wished for some longer glimpses into their narrative, and especially our main characters growth. Sometimes it felt like I did not understand where the characters and their affection came from, because parts of the story had seemed rushed.
“Don’t Let Chacha Die” is an exceptional story of unfolding your gender identity in a society where such is wrong and illegal, coming to accept yourself and praising what you have become. It is absolutely the book for someone who wishes to dive into a society so screwed from reality, yet resembling what many fear ours may become. I am incredibly glad that I decided to read it, and would recommend others to do the same, but do keep an eye out for trigger warnings, as the book does deal with a lot of heavy subjects.
The story unfolds over several years, and the story is told from the narrative of multiple different characters. At the start, this took me off guard, but as the book went on, I quickly fell into the rhythm of the multiple points of view, which is clearly labelled, so you are never unsure who we are following. Each narrative helps further the plot of the story, making it rewarding to understand the stories of other characters.
One thing that absolutely captivated me about this book was the exceptional world-building. The details that were put into the way the society, its religion, and the contrasts with the societies outside of Stormland were incredible. While some places in the book were heavy on details of the society, explaining the process of what was going on or would be going on, religion, or societies of the outside world, it never became boring. Every detail that was unravelled felt incredibly well thought out, and it fit into the narrative that the book was building.
One of the important themes of the book is gender identity. I found it fascinating the way the society handled gender identity, especially comparing it to the other societies: a lot of the happenings in the books could be boiled down to gender identity being the reasoning for it, and it was interesting to see how the book worked with characters that wished to express themselves in their own way, and characters with more traditional views. I enjoyed how some of the main characters expressed their gender identities, and how it showed clearly through the story — it expresses well how gender identity can be fluid, ever changing, and sometimes set in stone, but that when someone is able to express themselves as they truly wish and see themselves, that is when they are the most happy.
In my eyes, the book was fast-paced, which is not surprising when so many years have to be put into pages. I think I would have enjoyed the narrative more if the story had been stretched over more pages. Due to the pace, the second half of the book end up feeling more rushed, as the characters grow up and starts to have their own stories — I can only imagine how difficult it can be to boil everything down to what is most important for the story to move forward, but I would have wished for some longer glimpses into their narrative, and especially our main characters growth. Sometimes it felt like I did not understand where the characters and their affection came from, because parts of the story had seemed rushed.
“Don’t Let Chacha Die” is an exceptional story of unfolding your gender identity in a society where such is wrong and illegal, coming to accept yourself and praising what you have become. It is absolutely the book for someone who wishes to dive into a society so screwed from reality, yet resembling what many fear ours may become. I am incredibly glad that I decided to read it, and would recommend others to do the same, but do keep an eye out for trigger warnings, as the book does deal with a lot of heavy subjects.
July 9, 2025
Chacha must conform in order to avoid execution, but conforming is its own psychological hell. Chacha needs a genuine friend to survive, but how can they find one when it's too dangerous to trust? This s dystopian novel that explores themes of identity, conformity, and resistance. Set in the oppressive regime of the God-King, the story follows Chacha, a teenager grappling with their illegal ‘bent’ gender identity in a society where deviation is punishable by death. The author masterfully portrays Chacha’s internal struggle and the psychological torment of forced conformity, while highlighting the transformative power of genuine human connection through Chacha’s relationship with Setha.
The author writes a rich world-building and characters immerse readers in a narrative that is thought-provoking. This is a Quran new adult dystopia with edge of your seat exciting action & lovable characters. It is a terrific book to read. It kept me involved to the end. I liked reading a different dystopian novel. It was quite different and in a sense refreshing to read.
Disclaimer: I receive an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The author writes a rich world-building and characters immerse readers in a narrative that is thought-provoking. This is a Quran new adult dystopia with edge of your seat exciting action & lovable characters. It is a terrific book to read. It kept me involved to the end. I liked reading a different dystopian novel. It was quite different and in a sense refreshing to read.
Disclaimer: I receive an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
April 9, 2025
Thank you to Herthwell and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We follow ChaCha and a couple of other characters who live in a country ruled by a dictatorship. People here are genderless until they reach adulthood, when they can then be potentially assigned as a man, which is the highest achievement. Alternatively they remain genderless and fulfil other caring and maintenance roles within the society.
I thought this was a very interesting way of exploring gender and oppressive regimes and systems. I also loved the representation we get in this book.
However, I found after a promising start the book lost me. There was so much going on, that when events happened that I felt should have weight, it didn't affect me emotionally as it was skipped over very quickly and then straight onto the next thing.
The dialogue also seemed quite clunky.
I did like the ideas in this book, so I would be interested in reading more of this author's work.
We follow ChaCha and a couple of other characters who live in a country ruled by a dictatorship. People here are genderless until they reach adulthood, when they can then be potentially assigned as a man, which is the highest achievement. Alternatively they remain genderless and fulfil other caring and maintenance roles within the society.
I thought this was a very interesting way of exploring gender and oppressive regimes and systems. I also loved the representation we get in this book.
However, I found after a promising start the book lost me. There was so much going on, that when events happened that I felt should have weight, it didn't affect me emotionally as it was skipped over very quickly and then straight onto the next thing.
The dialogue also seemed quite clunky.
I did like the ideas in this book, so I would be interested in reading more of this author's work.
June 18, 2025
I'm torn between 3.5 and 4 stars, if I'm being honest, but I skewed higher because of the overall premise. Although Chacha gets top billing on the cover, there are other characters (LB and Lin, in particular) that are equally as compelling. There were times I found the narration shifts distracting, but it's easier to follow them once the characters are more fully formed. Chacha/JP still ends up being the most nuanced character, in my opinion, but there's enough depth and complexity in the others to keep their chapters interesting. Ultimately, in a dystopian world where women are a thing of myth and proximity to masculinity confers power, Herthwell asks us to think about gender as a construct along with power, faith/religion, family, and community. I loved this as a vacation read and highly recommend it if you're someone who prefers reading to watching TV on flights. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
April 19, 2025
As a transgender man, this story was so hard hitting and heartbreaking. The topics about gender and what’s acceptable and what’s not definitely hit home and brought me to tears a time or two. I absolutely loved this story, including all the twists and turns. The only thing that stopped it from being a 5 star read was how abrupt the ending seemed. I definitely recommend this story and will be reading more from this author.
February 20, 2025
A powerful read about the journey of him as the leaders try to make him conform to the nothing. This will make you think about conforming to the norm when you just want to be yourself. I was soon caught up in his tale of just being themselves
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and it really made me think deeply about I see as the norm
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and it really made me think deeply about I see as the norm
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July 25, 2025This book was a different read for me, a little out of my comfort zone, but I am so glad I read it! The author has a really unique writing style, and the story-telling and world-building were great! Seeing Chacha's character development, and the way all the characters were brought together in school, then their different journeys, it was a really great book!
March 19, 2025
Ebook received for free through NetGalley
Not many books find the right divide between social commentary, science fiction, and realism. This book did so while also making you root for the main characters. It was tough to put this book down and I'm so glad I came across it. Thanks
Not many books find the right divide between social commentary, science fiction, and realism. This book did so while also making you root for the main characters. It was tough to put this book down and I'm so glad I came across it. Thanks
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews