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Above The Clouds
In a ruined, distant future of our world, filled with rain, gloom, and danger, Squirt and her sister Dara fight to survive as part of the underground clan, hunting meat to survive and clinging to the edges of existence. When Squirt encounters a mysterious figure above ground, her life is upended. Taken to a gleaming paradise above the clouds, she finds herself trapped in an idyllic prison, where everything seems perfect—but is danger hiding in plain sight? Does Charlotte, her enigmatic and gentle companion, hide secrets behind her perfect smile? Does Mrs Wallis, the tower's cold matriarch, watch Squirt with a predator’s patience?
Below, Dara hunts alone, trying to find meaning in her life and haunted by her sister’s disappearance while whispers of betrayal within the clan force her to choose between being a victim or fighting for her survival.
As the sisters’ paths converge, truths are exposed: immortality comes at a terrible price, and the ones they’ve trusted most may be their greatest enemies. Above the Clouds is a haunting tale of the fight for survival and identity, asking the question: What does it truly mean to be human?
What people are saying about Above The Clouds:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A must-read for dystopian fans—dark, immersive, and unforgettable." — Robin's Reviews on Goodreads
⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The world Tim Vee has created is bleak and dangerous... I was suitably creeped out and that is always a good thing." — Sherry on Fundinmental Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I've never read a story quite like Above The Clouds... It is one of the most captivating books I have ever read." — Avid Reader on Magick of Books
Below, Dara hunts alone, trying to find meaning in her life and haunted by her sister’s disappearance while whispers of betrayal within the clan force her to choose between being a victim or fighting for her survival.
As the sisters’ paths converge, truths are exposed: immortality comes at a terrible price, and the ones they’ve trusted most may be their greatest enemies. Above the Clouds is a haunting tale of the fight for survival and identity, asking the question: What does it truly mean to be human?
What people are saying about Above The Clouds:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A must-read for dystopian fans—dark, immersive, and unforgettable." — Robin's Reviews on Goodreads
⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The world Tim Vee has created is bleak and dangerous... I was suitably creeped out and that is always a good thing." — Sherry on Fundinmental Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I've never read a story quite like Above The Clouds... It is one of the most captivating books I have ever read." — Avid Reader on Magick of Books
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2025
31 people want to read
About the author
Tim Vee
19 books64 followersMy books are always free over at Smash Words. Download and have a read - and don't forget to leave a review!
Tim works in digital marketing in Toronto and is well-traveled, having visited over 80 countries. When he is not working or writing he likes to spend time with his family and German Shepherd - and to go cycling.
Comments and feedback are always welcome.
Tim works in digital marketing in Toronto and is well-traveled, having visited over 80 countries. When he is not working or writing he likes to spend time with his family and German Shepherd - and to go cycling.
Comments and feedback are always welcome.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 23, 2025
Tim Vee writes some interesting stories, and Above The Clouds had me intrigued. This unique apocalyptic/dystopian novel takes place deep underground, in long unused subway tunnels and sewers. No one knows what came before .
Everyone has their duties to perform, whether it’s raising the young, hunt or work to provide necessities. When their usefulness comes to and end, whether through injury or old age, they are sent to the surface to fend for themselves.
Dara and her sister, Squirt, are the main characters in Above The Clouds. Squirt is still young enough that she helps where she can and not much is expected of her. Dara is a hunter. She is expected to bring back from the hunt a dozen rats or three cats or a dog.
The world Tim Vee has created is bleak and dangerous. It is a world I haven’t visited before and I have read many apocalyptic and dystopian fiction novels. We go from the depths of the earth to the clouds in the sky, where Squirt will find a life she could never have envisioned. I like the twist from dark to light, from despair to hope. I was suitably creeped out and that is always a good thing. LOL
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
Everyone has their duties to perform, whether it’s raising the young, hunt or work to provide necessities. When their usefulness comes to and end, whether through injury or old age, they are sent to the surface to fend for themselves.
Dara and her sister, Squirt, are the main characters in Above The Clouds. Squirt is still young enough that she helps where she can and not much is expected of her. Dara is a hunter. She is expected to bring back from the hunt a dozen rats or three cats or a dog.
The world Tim Vee has created is bleak and dangerous. It is a world I haven’t visited before and I have read many apocalyptic and dystopian fiction novels. We go from the depths of the earth to the clouds in the sky, where Squirt will find a life she could never have envisioned. I like the twist from dark to light, from despair to hope. I was suitably creeped out and that is always a good thing. LOL
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
October 4, 2025
For centuries, the Clan has clung to life in the subway tunnels of a long-ruined city, sheltering from the incessant rain and the toxic residues of a nuclear apocalypse. Only rigid adherence to strict social rules has kept the community alive. Scarce food is shared and rationed. Unpleasant but necessary jobs are assigned based on skill, not preference. Infractions are punished by mutilation or death. And every member of the Clan, even the Chief, is subject to the “hard goodbye” when they turn fifty years old, forced to leave the tunnels to survive or perish on the surface, so as not to burden the Clan as they age and are no longer useful.
Squirt and her younger sister Dara are trained Hunters, responsible for trapping and killing whatever animals they can find to supply the Clan with desperately-needed meat. Exposed to the dangers outside the tunnels, they must be quick, clever, observant, courageous—and ruthless when threatened. But the world becomes more perilous daily, as vicious bandits grow in strength and plot against the tunnel-dwellers.
Then Squirt discovers that not everyone in the world is struggling, when she’s spirited away to a seeming paradise atop tall towers that pierce the perpetual layer of cloud. Who are the people that inhabit these privileged realms? What is their history? And why have they rescued Squirt?
Above the Clouds is an engaging and powerful story that kept me riveted through most of its length. The vivid depiction of life in the Clan felt eminently plausible. Human beings are incredibly adaptable; I could see how the Clan society might evolve, a harsh but mostly fair adjustment to the devastating realities of a shattered world.
Squirt and Dara are both admirable despite the violence they so easily can inflict. I am a cat lover, so it was difficult to read about them hunting strays, but they clearly are forced to do so. The interesting thing is that despite the indoctrination and social pressures exercised by the Clan, they prove that they can make independent choices. Again, I find this a valid observation about human nature. We balance social good against individual needs, trying to find a path that can satisfy both.
One aspect of the story that particularly rang true was the home-grown religion of the Clan. I won’t spoil things by going into detail, but the author shows how superstition and hope intertwine—as well as how unscrupulous individuals can manipulate spiritual beliefs for their own benefit.
Squirt’s experiences above the clouds, and the revelations about her hosts, did not impress me as much as the sections about the Clan. I was left with many questions about how the parallel society managed to evolve, although it’s clear, looking at the world today, that apocalypse would not have nearly as devastating an effect on the wealthy and powerful as on ordinary people.
Above the Clouds is generally well-written, but there was one aspect that bothered me. As she becomes involved with the tower people, Squirt encounters objects and phenomena that are completely unfamiliar. The author had a tendency at these points to slip out of the character’s point of view; he explains too much, rather than allowing us to experience the incomprehensibility of the new world through Squirt’s eyes. As a result, this section of the book felt less compelling than the earlier parts involving the Clan. It seemed to me that given her background, Squirt adapted too quickly and easily to her new world.
Given the youth of its heroines, I wonder if the author intended Above the Clouds for a young adult audience. In any case, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it for its gritty, detailed picture of life after nuclear devastation, as well as for its insights about society and civilization.
Squirt and her younger sister Dara are trained Hunters, responsible for trapping and killing whatever animals they can find to supply the Clan with desperately-needed meat. Exposed to the dangers outside the tunnels, they must be quick, clever, observant, courageous—and ruthless when threatened. But the world becomes more perilous daily, as vicious bandits grow in strength and plot against the tunnel-dwellers.
Then Squirt discovers that not everyone in the world is struggling, when she’s spirited away to a seeming paradise atop tall towers that pierce the perpetual layer of cloud. Who are the people that inhabit these privileged realms? What is their history? And why have they rescued Squirt?
Above the Clouds is an engaging and powerful story that kept me riveted through most of its length. The vivid depiction of life in the Clan felt eminently plausible. Human beings are incredibly adaptable; I could see how the Clan society might evolve, a harsh but mostly fair adjustment to the devastating realities of a shattered world.
Squirt and Dara are both admirable despite the violence they so easily can inflict. I am a cat lover, so it was difficult to read about them hunting strays, but they clearly are forced to do so. The interesting thing is that despite the indoctrination and social pressures exercised by the Clan, they prove that they can make independent choices. Again, I find this a valid observation about human nature. We balance social good against individual needs, trying to find a path that can satisfy both.
One aspect of the story that particularly rang true was the home-grown religion of the Clan. I won’t spoil things by going into detail, but the author shows how superstition and hope intertwine—as well as how unscrupulous individuals can manipulate spiritual beliefs for their own benefit.
Squirt’s experiences above the clouds, and the revelations about her hosts, did not impress me as much as the sections about the Clan. I was left with many questions about how the parallel society managed to evolve, although it’s clear, looking at the world today, that apocalypse would not have nearly as devastating an effect on the wealthy and powerful as on ordinary people.
Above the Clouds is generally well-written, but there was one aspect that bothered me. As she becomes involved with the tower people, Squirt encounters objects and phenomena that are completely unfamiliar. The author had a tendency at these points to slip out of the character’s point of view; he explains too much, rather than allowing us to experience the incomprehensibility of the new world through Squirt’s eyes. As a result, this section of the book felt less compelling than the earlier parts involving the Clan. It seemed to me that given her background, Squirt adapted too quickly and easily to her new world.
Given the youth of its heroines, I wonder if the author intended Above the Clouds for a young adult audience. In any case, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it for its gritty, detailed picture of life after nuclear devastation, as well as for its insights about society and civilization.
November 9, 2025
I’d like to start by personally thanking Tim Vee for letting me read this, I don’t read many self published books and yours was a great pick.
Post apocalyptic sci-fi is a genre I can’t help but enjoy and that is a trend that continued with this book. Despite its relatively length I felt that the plot very strong and was able to hit all of its points without rushing which I really appreciated. Although there was one plotline which unfortunately never got resolved, probably could have been removed entirely to be honest.
What I do think unfortunately limited my enjoyment was the prose itself, which I felt often told what was going on rather than showing me. Although it is sometimes hard to avoid doing, especially with a third person omniscient perspective, I was often almost too certain what was going on, when a bit of uncertainty to mirror Squirt’s situation would have been beneficial. That’s not to say there was no subtlety at all, I appreciated the subtle way we were introduced to the possibility of there being robots currently in the world when Squirt, our protagonist, talks to a broken down one as a friend, a very human and believable thing to happen in a post apocalyptic world.
Alongside that, and this is perhaps a more personal nitpick was the usage of different words for something that already exists in the world, here being ‘notches’ instead of ‘years’, a little bit of a trope in media now to have a different word for birthdays. The one that really took me out of it during the novel was ‘the hard goodbye’ as the term for when someone was exiled, it’s a term that gets used a lot throughout the story and I could never get used to it. Also he loves PVC, he mentions things being made of PVC so much in the start and then I was like oh good he’s stopped and then he does it one last time at the end.
Lastly back to praise, the character work was very strong and I appreciated that Squirt didn’t inexplicably become stupid at any point and truly acted like someone who has lived in a wasteland since birth and fights to survive. I could really relate to her character and think the story ended off at a perfect point in her story.
Post apocalyptic sci-fi is a genre I can’t help but enjoy and that is a trend that continued with this book. Despite its relatively length I felt that the plot very strong and was able to hit all of its points without rushing which I really appreciated. Although there was one plotline which unfortunately never got resolved, probably could have been removed entirely to be honest.
What I do think unfortunately limited my enjoyment was the prose itself, which I felt often told what was going on rather than showing me. Although it is sometimes hard to avoid doing, especially with a third person omniscient perspective, I was often almost too certain what was going on, when a bit of uncertainty to mirror Squirt’s situation would have been beneficial. That’s not to say there was no subtlety at all, I appreciated the subtle way we were introduced to the possibility of there being robots currently in the world when Squirt, our protagonist, talks to a broken down one as a friend, a very human and believable thing to happen in a post apocalyptic world.
Alongside that, and this is perhaps a more personal nitpick was the usage of different words for something that already exists in the world, here being ‘notches’ instead of ‘years’, a little bit of a trope in media now to have a different word for birthdays. The one that really took me out of it during the novel was ‘the hard goodbye’ as the term for when someone was exiled, it’s a term that gets used a lot throughout the story and I could never get used to it. Also he loves PVC, he mentions things being made of PVC so much in the start and then I was like oh good he’s stopped and then he does it one last time at the end.
Lastly back to praise, the character work was very strong and I appreciated that Squirt didn’t inexplicably become stupid at any point and truly acted like someone who has lived in a wasteland since birth and fights to survive. I could really relate to her character and think the story ended off at a perfect point in her story.
October 8, 2025
Tim Vee’s Above the Clouds delivers a gripping post-apocalyptic vision that’s as unsettling as it is beautiful. The novel unfolds across three sharply distinct settings: the dark underground tunnels, where Squirt and her sister Dara fight to stay alive; the cloud-top paradise, a dazzling world of luxury and secrets; and the bleak middle ground, a desolate zone where the old and infirm are left to die.
This stark geography isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living metaphor for power, privilege, and the uncomfortable choices we make when survival is at stake.
What I loved most was how Vee uses these settings to explore the bond between sisters. Squirt’s sudden removal to an immaculate high-rise “heaven” and Dara’s lonely hunt below create a dual narrative filled with tension. Their devotion to one another is the heartbeat of the story, and every decision they make—whether to trust, to betray, to fight—feels charged with love and sacrifice.
The writing is dark and immersive, pulling me into a world of dripping concrete and whispering betrayals one moment, and the sterile gleam of the tower the next. I could almost smell the damp underground air and feel the dizzying openness above the clouds. The pacing never lets up; every chapter raises the stakes until the final revelations about immortality and humanity hit with gut-punch force.
Above the Clouds isn’t just about survival. It asks a bigger question: what does it truly mean to be human when comfort comes at the cost of freedom? I found myself thinking about it long after I’d finished, and that, to me, is the mark of a powerful read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review at a Glance
Rating: 5 of 5
Tone: Dark, atmospheric, and riveting
Key Themes: Survival • Sisters • Sacrifice • The price of immortality
World-Building: Vivid contrasts—underground despair, cloud-top illusion, and a chilling no-man’s-land between—create a setting that lingers in your mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read more reviews like this on https://ginaraemitchell.com
This stark geography isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living metaphor for power, privilege, and the uncomfortable choices we make when survival is at stake.
What I loved most was how Vee uses these settings to explore the bond between sisters. Squirt’s sudden removal to an immaculate high-rise “heaven” and Dara’s lonely hunt below create a dual narrative filled with tension. Their devotion to one another is the heartbeat of the story, and every decision they make—whether to trust, to betray, to fight—feels charged with love and sacrifice.
The writing is dark and immersive, pulling me into a world of dripping concrete and whispering betrayals one moment, and the sterile gleam of the tower the next. I could almost smell the damp underground air and feel the dizzying openness above the clouds. The pacing never lets up; every chapter raises the stakes until the final revelations about immortality and humanity hit with gut-punch force.
Above the Clouds isn’t just about survival. It asks a bigger question: what does it truly mean to be human when comfort comes at the cost of freedom? I found myself thinking about it long after I’d finished, and that, to me, is the mark of a powerful read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review at a Glance
Rating: 5 of 5
Tone: Dark, atmospheric, and riveting
Key Themes: Survival • Sisters • Sacrifice • The price of immortality
World-Building: Vivid contrasts—underground despair, cloud-top illusion, and a chilling no-man’s-land between—create a setting that lingers in your mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read more reviews like this on https://ginaraemitchell.com
October 20, 2025
An excellent tale of life in a post-apocalyptic world.
Above the Clouds by Tim Vee is a captivating tale of life in a future, post-apocalyptic world of crumbling ruins and a simple, desperate, day-to-day existence. Three sisters, Zell, Squirt, and Dara, are part of the Clan, an organized community of survivors of some civilization-ending event, who live in a world of darkness, damp, and scrabbling insects in underground tunnels left from BEFORE. Their way of life is brutal and primitive, yet each member of the Clan works to pull their own weight to sustain the community. The sisters do their part by hunting for meat on the surface above, and one by one, they unexpectedly come to find their future outside the Clan, leaving the others behind to grieve.
This story was so addictive that I didn’t want to put it down, and I absolutely wasn’t ready for it to end when it did. The plot’s tension starts high and continues to build as the sisters encounter heart-pounding challenges to their way of life. Each girl is unique but shares a drive to do their job as a hunter the best they can, and their persistence serves them well when they end up outside of the Clan’s protected tunnels.The author’s descriptions of the settings and action are cinematic in quality, and I could easily see this story serving as the launching point for a film or television series. I got vibes of Jean M. Auel’s world in CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR and that of the city dwellers in Suzanne Collins’s THE HUNGER GAMES but used in a completely different manner. As there are questions left available to further exploration, I would love to see this story continued in additional books.
With its compelling plot and engaging characters, I recommend ABOVE THE CLOUDS to fans of post-apocalyptic fiction.
September 22, 2025
Having explored numerous dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories, I thought I understood what to expect when I read the summary for Above The Clouds. However, I was completely wrong. What I found was entirely different from anything I had previously experienced.
I've never read a story quite like Above The Clouds. I enjoyed every moment of the journey and wished it would never end. It is one of the most captivating books I have ever read. I can't praise this story enough. If I could, I would rate it even higher than five stars.
The world-building is among the best I have seen. I couldn’t stop reading, fully immersed in the story. Nothing from my own life could distract me during this experience. This was one of those rare times I wished I could flip through the pages at lightning speed. Naturally, Above The Clouds captured my interest from the very first page and kept it throughout. It’s a story I will cherish for many years.
I loved the narrative and the universe created in Above The Clouds. I would love to see it turned into a TV series. I would eagerly watch it over and over.
Above The Clouds switches between different characters' points of view. I enjoy stories that show perspectives from various characters because it helps me connect with them and understand their lives better.
This story follows a group of people living underground in the tubes. Above The Clouds explores every part of a tuber's life and the challenges they face at different stages. I’d love to see more stories set in the world of Above The Clouds and its inhabitants.
I highly recommend that all fans of dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories pick up a copy of Above The Clouds today for an exciting adventure in a new world!
I've never read a story quite like Above The Clouds. I enjoyed every moment of the journey and wished it would never end. It is one of the most captivating books I have ever read. I can't praise this story enough. If I could, I would rate it even higher than five stars.
The world-building is among the best I have seen. I couldn’t stop reading, fully immersed in the story. Nothing from my own life could distract me during this experience. This was one of those rare times I wished I could flip through the pages at lightning speed. Naturally, Above The Clouds captured my interest from the very first page and kept it throughout. It’s a story I will cherish for many years.
I loved the narrative and the universe created in Above The Clouds. I would love to see it turned into a TV series. I would eagerly watch it over and over.
Above The Clouds switches between different characters' points of view. I enjoy stories that show perspectives from various characters because it helps me connect with them and understand their lives better.
This story follows a group of people living underground in the tubes. Above The Clouds explores every part of a tuber's life and the challenges they face at different stages. I’d love to see more stories set in the world of Above The Clouds and its inhabitants.
I highly recommend that all fans of dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories pick up a copy of Above The Clouds today for an exciting adventure in a new world!
January 5, 2026
Above the Clouds tells the story of three sisters, Zell, Squirt, and Dara, growing up in a harsh underground world where survival is a daily struggle. They live within a tightly controlled clan and are trained from a young age to become hunters, scavenging amongst the rubbish left from what remains of a world that no longer exists. Their community is held together by a shared belief system based on an old advertisement, which over time has become almost religious in nature. This unusual idea gives the story a fresh and original foundation.
Life below ground is difficult and often unforgiving, and each sister responds to it in her own way. Squirt stands out as the most curious and questioning of the three. When she discovers the world above the clouds, the contrast is striking. Above ground appears comfortable, luxurious, and almost unreal compared to the bleak life of the clan. This contrast between the two worlds is one of the strongest parts of the book and keeps the story engaging.
The first half of the novel is particularly enjoyable. The author does a good job of building the world and helping the reader understand how the clan survives and why its people continue to follow its rules. The relationships between the sisters feel believable, and the sense of danger and uncertainty adds tension to the story.
However, the second half of the book is less consistent or believable. The storyline for Squirt felt incongruous against her wish to protect her younger sister. There is a sudden jump forward in time where we learn that several years have passed for the sisters, now separated. This shift feels abrupt and makes it harder to stay emotionally connected to the characters. When the story picks up again, some of that earlier sense of closeness and momentum has been lost.
Even with these issues, Above the Clouds is still an interesting and original dystopian novel. It offers a different take on familiar themes such as survival, belief, and freedom, and will appeal to readers who enjoy dystopian stories with unusual ideas and strong contrasts between worlds.
many thanks to Reedsy Discovery and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Life below ground is difficult and often unforgiving, and each sister responds to it in her own way. Squirt stands out as the most curious and questioning of the three. When she discovers the world above the clouds, the contrast is striking. Above ground appears comfortable, luxurious, and almost unreal compared to the bleak life of the clan. This contrast between the two worlds is one of the strongest parts of the book and keeps the story engaging.
The first half of the novel is particularly enjoyable. The author does a good job of building the world and helping the reader understand how the clan survives and why its people continue to follow its rules. The relationships between the sisters feel believable, and the sense of danger and uncertainty adds tension to the story.
However, the second half of the book is less consistent or believable. The storyline for Squirt felt incongruous against her wish to protect her younger sister. There is a sudden jump forward in time where we learn that several years have passed for the sisters, now separated. This shift feels abrupt and makes it harder to stay emotionally connected to the characters. When the story picks up again, some of that earlier sense of closeness and momentum has been lost.
Even with these issues, Above the Clouds is still an interesting and original dystopian novel. It offers a different take on familiar themes such as survival, belief, and freedom, and will appeal to readers who enjoy dystopian stories with unusual ideas and strong contrasts between worlds.
many thanks to Reedsy Discovery and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 13, 2025
Above the Clouds
By: Tim Vee
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Length: 169 pages
Triggers: Violence, dystopian themes, survival struggles
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Gripping Dystopian Tale
Tim Vee’s Above the Clouds is a haunting, atmospheric journey through a rain-drenched, ruined future. Sisters Squirt and Dara struggle to survive underground until Squirt is taken to a gleaming paradise above the clouds. But beneath its perfection lurks a chilling truth. As Squirt uncovers the dark secrets of her new world, Dara battles betrayal below.
Mr. Vee masterfully contrasts the sterile utopia with the brutal underground existence, weaving themes of survival, sacrifice, and identity. The sisters' paths collide in a heart-pounding climax that questions the cost of immortality and what it truly means to be human.
Verdict: A must-read for dystopian fans—dark, immersive, and unforgettable.
By: Tim Vee
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Length: 169 pages
Triggers: Violence, dystopian themes, survival struggles
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Gripping Dystopian Tale
Tim Vee’s Above the Clouds is a haunting, atmospheric journey through a rain-drenched, ruined future. Sisters Squirt and Dara struggle to survive underground until Squirt is taken to a gleaming paradise above the clouds. But beneath its perfection lurks a chilling truth. As Squirt uncovers the dark secrets of her new world, Dara battles betrayal below.
Mr. Vee masterfully contrasts the sterile utopia with the brutal underground existence, weaving themes of survival, sacrifice, and identity. The sisters' paths collide in a heart-pounding climax that questions the cost of immortality and what it truly means to be human.
Verdict: A must-read for dystopian fans—dark, immersive, and unforgettable.
October 13, 2025
Above the Clouds presents the reader with an interesting juxtaposition, and keeps tensions high by putting sister against sister, in a world that will send chills down your spine. I loved the intense descriptions, and how atmospheric everything was. You really felt like you were experiencing everything. My biggest complaint was it didn't flow as smoothly as I would've liked, which at times made it hard to stay fully immersed in the story. Other than that, I loved how real the characters felt, and you could feel how hard the lives of those below were versus those above. The tension once the sisters are separated, and the things they're experiencing, provide a brilliant contrast that really highlights just how much worse the divide has become in this world. Cannot recommend enough if you enjoy post-apocalyptic and dystopian books!
January 11, 2026
The story was an enjoyable and interesting dystopian science fiction if a bit predictable in parts and the characters were all likeable and resilient given their harrowing and bleak situation.
Thankyou to Net galley and Books Go Social for an arc of this book.
Thankyou to Net galley and Books Go Social for an arc of this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews