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Elysian
Anna Marie doesn’t know her age, who her parents are, or what day of the week it is. But none of that matters. Good citizens don’t ask questions, and Anna Marie is nothing if not a good citizen.
And why shouldn’t she be? Prohedria is the greatest nation to ever exist—at least, according to the only news channel and the few government-approved books she’s allowed to consume. It’s a country defended by superpowered heroes who fight the villains for the safety and entertainment of the people. Anna Marie watches their adventures day after day as she clings to the hope that one of these heroes will save her from her life as a forced healer who feels every pain she mends.
But when her wish finally comes true, and she’s pulled into the glistening world of heroes, she discovers Prohedria isn’t the utopia she once thought it was. Faced with the truth, Anna Marie must decide whether to continue living out her blind fantasy or confront the brutal truth of the nation she once swore her loyalty to.
And why shouldn’t she be? Prohedria is the greatest nation to ever exist—at least, according to the only news channel and the few government-approved books she’s allowed to consume. It’s a country defended by superpowered heroes who fight the villains for the safety and entertainment of the people. Anna Marie watches their adventures day after day as she clings to the hope that one of these heroes will save her from her life as a forced healer who feels every pain she mends.
But when her wish finally comes true, and she’s pulled into the glistening world of heroes, she discovers Prohedria isn’t the utopia she once thought it was. Faced with the truth, Anna Marie must decide whether to continue living out her blind fantasy or confront the brutal truth of the nation she once swore her loyalty to.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2025
4 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 23, 2025
Blew my mind.
I went into this book expecting almost nothing, and left it having received an invigorating story with incredibly complex characters and moral dilemmas that rendered me incapable of tearing my eyes off the screen of the school issued computer I was reading it off of.
Anna Marie, a sheltered orphan girl, is suddenly thrown into an exhilarating life in which she must mingle with the high class, superhero-esque celebrities of her society—whom she idolized growing up. She initially believes both them and the government to be perfect, but as she learns more and more about the way the world works, she begins to question what she once easily accepted as truth, and becomes entangled in a web of lies. Everyone's lies.
I had so much fun reading this one. I was gasping, yelling, giggling, and sighing just about every single chapter. I am exactly the target demographic—a teenage girl who loves dystopian novels and romance.
Reading it was a huge rollercoaster of emotions, and I found myself incredibly attached to Anna Marie, Percy, and Robert. The first two, specifically, grew on me with every page. They are so well written—their traumas so real—that I could analyze just about any of their decisions for hours. Ugh. I loved this book. 10/10. I cannot WAIT to read the next one.
I went into this book expecting almost nothing, and left it having received an invigorating story with incredibly complex characters and moral dilemmas that rendered me incapable of tearing my eyes off the screen of the school issued computer I was reading it off of.
Anna Marie, a sheltered orphan girl, is suddenly thrown into an exhilarating life in which she must mingle with the high class, superhero-esque celebrities of her society—whom she idolized growing up. She initially believes both them and the government to be perfect, but as she learns more and more about the way the world works, she begins to question what she once easily accepted as truth, and becomes entangled in a web of lies. Everyone's lies.
I had so much fun reading this one. I was gasping, yelling, giggling, and sighing just about every single chapter. I am exactly the target demographic—a teenage girl who loves dystopian novels and romance.
Reading it was a huge rollercoaster of emotions, and I found myself incredibly attached to Anna Marie, Percy, and Robert. The first two, specifically, grew on me with every page. They are so well written—their traumas so real—that I could analyze just about any of their decisions for hours. Ugh. I loved this book. 10/10. I cannot WAIT to read the next one.
January 8, 2026
This book is a SUPER cool concept. If you like futuristic/dystopian societies and/or super heros, you'll love it. I am not a superhero fan (like at all) but this book re-imagined them for me and made them SO interesting. I loved the way this book made me think about society and who the good guys vs the bad guys are. The main character, Anna Marie, is relatable and endearing. Sometimes I really didn't know which way was up, but loved that it kept me on my toes. Can't wait for the next book!!! I highly recommend this!
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
March 25, 2025
This book was quite engaging! Having grown up reading and loving books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, The Selection, etc.. I am a sucker for a good dystopian novel.
The character development for Anna Marie was excellent—I felt like I understood her thought process, and watching her learn and develop her own opinions was compelling. The relationships were also well depicted, especially the dynamic between Percy and Anna Marie. Their progression from contempt and judgment to understanding and appreciation (with a touch of romance) felt natural, making the twist at the end all the more shocking to me.
The side characters were also intriguing, with Vibe standing out as both surprising and, in hindsight, somewhat predictable. The world-building was fantastic, capturing a dystopian future in a way that felt immersive and was very thought-provoking. I loved the subtle connections between this world and my reality, as well as the intriguing references to time, age (or the lack thereof), government, and religion. The oracles, in particular, were a fascinating touch. There were twists woven throughout and it definitely kept me on my toes.
I’ll just say that I was so invested that my brain kept the story going in a dream after I finished reading. Future fanfic perhaps? Really, my only complaint is that it ends on a cliffhanger, and there isn’t a sequel yet… I’m told one is coming, though. Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
The character development for Anna Marie was excellent—I felt like I understood her thought process, and watching her learn and develop her own opinions was compelling. The relationships were also well depicted, especially the dynamic between Percy and Anna Marie. Their progression from contempt and judgment to understanding and appreciation (with a touch of romance) felt natural, making the twist at the end all the more shocking to me.
The side characters were also intriguing, with Vibe standing out as both surprising and, in hindsight, somewhat predictable. The world-building was fantastic, capturing a dystopian future in a way that felt immersive and was very thought-provoking. I loved the subtle connections between this world and my reality, as well as the intriguing references to time, age (or the lack thereof), government, and religion. The oracles, in particular, were a fascinating touch. There were twists woven throughout and it definitely kept me on my toes.
I’ll just say that I was so invested that my brain kept the story going in a dream after I finished reading. Future fanfic perhaps? Really, my only complaint is that it ends on a cliffhanger, and there isn’t a sequel yet… I’m told one is coming, though. Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2025
4.5 stars rounding up to 5 because here's the thing. If I can willingly read 4 different drafts of this story AND continue to enjoy the plot/characters/relationships/etc. AND be delightedly surprised by the updates made to each iteration, it's worth at least 4 stars. Adding another half star because of the front/back matter in the final product (seriously, read it all), and really the only reason I'm not adding another half star on top of it is that I need to continue to be a thorn in the author's side ;)
But seriously, the final product is subversive and superhero-filled while still feeling grounded in reality. From the main character's POV, the story opens as a cliche DC comic; from the audience's, it starts as an obvious dystopia (well, it's really evident a few chapters in, but if you don't catch onto it before Anna Marie does, I don't know what to tell you. Go read 1984 or something). The progression of the story reveals that there's more to both initial perspectives than meets the eye, and Anna Marie's stages of grief for the nation she thought she knew unfold beautifully. The characters are driven, conflicted, and yes, even angsty and tragic, but not to the point of falling into grimdark. And the fight scenes are pretty cool too.
Excited for the next book, and congrats to Evelyn for an amazing debut novel!
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
But seriously, the final product is subversive and superhero-filled while still feeling grounded in reality. From the main character's POV, the story opens as a cliche DC comic; from the audience's, it starts as an obvious dystopia (well, it's really evident a few chapters in, but if you don't catch onto it before Anna Marie does, I don't know what to tell you. Go read 1984 or something). The progression of the story reveals that there's more to both initial perspectives than meets the eye, and Anna Marie's stages of grief for the nation she thought she knew unfold beautifully. The characters are driven, conflicted, and yes, even angsty and tragic, but not to the point of falling into grimdark. And the fight scenes are pretty cool too.
Excited for the next book, and congrats to Evelyn for an amazing debut novel!
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
March 28, 2025
SPOILER-ISH ALERT
One of the most remarkable characteristics of this book was its ability to defy tropes. When I first started reading it, I thought I knew exactly what I was in for - a dark dystopia following the traditional censorship patterns, blended with superhero stories. I'd read those kinds of books before, and thought I could see where every trope would lead.
I was wrong.
The book contains layers of deception and discovery. It leads you to believe that you know what's going on, enough that when you suddenly realize you don't, it comes as a sharp shock. There were some parts of the plot and writing style that seemed cheesy and predictable, but other stunning turns that defied my expectations (though I'm not very well versed in the dystopian and superhero genres, so take that with a grain of salt).
The author did an excellent job of writing in a voice that embodied her main character's personality and inner thoughts. Initially, some of the characters seemed one-dimensional/lacking diversity of personality, but as the story went on I became deeply attached to them and felt that I came to know them well.
I was absorbed in the story to the point that I took every excuse I could to read it. I also missed the memo that it was the first in a two-book series, so I was furious when it ended. I can't wait for the next book to come out!
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
One of the most remarkable characteristics of this book was its ability to defy tropes. When I first started reading it, I thought I knew exactly what I was in for - a dark dystopia following the traditional censorship patterns, blended with superhero stories. I'd read those kinds of books before, and thought I could see where every trope would lead.
I was wrong.
The book contains layers of deception and discovery. It leads you to believe that you know what's going on, enough that when you suddenly realize you don't, it comes as a sharp shock. There were some parts of the plot and writing style that seemed cheesy and predictable, but other stunning turns that defied my expectations (though I'm not very well versed in the dystopian and superhero genres, so take that with a grain of salt).
The author did an excellent job of writing in a voice that embodied her main character's personality and inner thoughts. Initially, some of the characters seemed one-dimensional/lacking diversity of personality, but as the story went on I became deeply attached to them and felt that I came to know them well.
I was absorbed in the story to the point that I took every excuse I could to read it. I also missed the memo that it was the first in a two-book series, so I was furious when it ended. I can't wait for the next book to come out!
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
March 20, 2025
This is a difficult book to rate. It's like trying a crazy meal at a fusion restaurant only to be shocked, in a positive way, that such different items blend so well together. I'm not a huge fan of YA books. Never read a super-hero book in my life. I typically have a hard time putting myself in the shoes of a teenage girl in the center of the story. This shouldn't have worked for me, but it did. I really, really loved this book.
Elysian tells the story of a young girl abandoned and left alone. Without friends, facing abuse, she escapes one nightmare only to fall into another. She experiences tremendous personal growth while unwinding one mystery after another in this slightly askew world. Why aren't there any books? Why is time not tracked? Why does crime appear to be committed on a schedule? Do super-heroes really exist? So many twists and turns that continue through to the very end.
For a first time author, this is one heck of a freshman effort. Hoping that we'll see the story continue soon.
As a parent ... the only thing in the book that might not be appropriate for younger readers is violence. There is violence and some of it is pretty intense. Nothing gratuitous, but I don't know that this is a book that I would recommend for the 10 or under crowd. There is some light romance and some very light swearing (like maybe 2 mild curse words in the entire book). Overall, it is similar (in terms of appropriateness) to other big YA books like the Maze Runner, Hunger Games, Divergent, etc.
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
Elysian tells the story of a young girl abandoned and left alone. Without friends, facing abuse, she escapes one nightmare only to fall into another. She experiences tremendous personal growth while unwinding one mystery after another in this slightly askew world. Why aren't there any books? Why is time not tracked? Why does crime appear to be committed on a schedule? Do super-heroes really exist? So many twists and turns that continue through to the very end.
For a first time author, this is one heck of a freshman effort. Hoping that we'll see the story continue soon.
As a parent ... the only thing in the book that might not be appropriate for younger readers is violence. There is violence and some of it is pretty intense. Nothing gratuitous, but I don't know that this is a book that I would recommend for the 10 or under crowd. There is some light romance and some very light swearing (like maybe 2 mild curse words in the entire book). Overall, it is similar (in terms of appropriateness) to other big YA books like the Maze Runner, Hunger Games, Divergent, etc.
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
July 15, 2025
WOW! This book is amazing, I got sucked in right from the get go! And then with each twist I got more and more intrigued. This book sure was a rollercoaster of emotions (In a good way of course) I cannot recommend this book enough! The Characters were all written so well and you could tell the author really cared for each character and how they’re portrayed. Not only did you find yourself intrigued by the MCs story. You also want to know everything about the side characters!
The plot is amazing! What a great story with lots of jaw dropping moments. This book wasn’t predictable at all, I really was just in for the ride, didn’t try to figure what would happen next, even if I tried I wouldn’t succeed, it was one of those books you just need to keep reading to get your answers!
If you’re looking for a dystopian futuristic book about superheroes I recommend! Hell, even if thats not what you’re looking for give it a go anyways 😂 its seriously such a great book
The plot is amazing! What a great story with lots of jaw dropping moments. This book wasn’t predictable at all, I really was just in for the ride, didn’t try to figure what would happen next, even if I tried I wouldn’t succeed, it was one of those books you just need to keep reading to get your answers!
If you’re looking for a dystopian futuristic book about superheroes I recommend! Hell, even if thats not what you’re looking for give it a go anyways 😂 its seriously such a great book
March 13, 2025
I do not give 5 star reviews lightly. This is not a book I normally gravitate towards, but I am SO glad I read it. Especially with this being the author’s debut novel, I think the writing was so seamless and well done. I was hooked from the first chapter and kept feeling compelled to read it until I finished. I need the next book like now lol. Definitely recommend if you’re into the superhero and dystopian genres. Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
March 22, 2025
Loved this story!! I was so engaging and well written. I highly enjoyed the adventure. I hope to see more from the author in the future!
April 1, 2025
This was a great read with themes I enjoy and relate to. Disillusion with the establishment, fun powers, training montages, the list goes on! The world-building was easy to understand but still detailed and very unique and interesting. I already can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
Thank you to Evelyn Gould for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews