Sanctuary

by James Cleary

“The meek shall inherit the Earth, unless the rich get there first.” That’s the reality of the post-apocalyptic world in this electrifying debut thriller.

The near future…

Climate disasters have crippled the United States. With half the country under water and the other half a dust bowl, civil unrest would soon escalate into something darker, something unstoppable. Billionaire John Brandt anticipated this and channeled his money, power, and influence into being prepared for the great unraveling.

Now Brandt, his family, and his security team must retreat to Sanctuary, their underground bunker—a vast luxury mansion beneath the parched earth of the Nebraskan Great Plains. But they are not alone. Above ground a group of raiders are desperate to survive and will use any means possible to accomplish that goal.

As tensions mount both inside and out, battle lines are drawn— between the haves and the have-nots, between decency and expediency, between life and death. In this game, everyone's a loser.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Dystopia, Mystery

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where many climate-related societal collapse stories read like tumbleweeds, their desiccated perspectives as hollow as the futures of their own doomed characters, Sanctuary stands like a monolith meant to outlast the ravages of time with its vital message.

A propulsive, captivating thriller that gives its readers time to contemplate the bigger picture, this book is perfect for fans of apocalyptic fiction like McCarthy's The Road and Stephen King's The Stand. Cleary uses restrained poetic language and a straightforward delivery with authentic Dust Bowl history to contextualize a hypothetical future that becomes all too real in relatively few pages. For a thought-provoking, entertaining take on climate disaster fiction, you won't do better than Sanctuary.

A big thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

[Amy Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This post-apocalyptic novel centers on a bunker run by a rigid, morally inflexible leader who refuses to help people on the outside. The premise sets up a powerful moral pressure cooker: who do we become when survival depends on exclusion?

The character work is where the book shines. The leader’s wife has the most compelling arc, shifting from quiet complicity to a dawning, horrified clarity about what her husband’s choices really mean. Her evolution gives the story emotional depth and suggests a reckoning is coming. I also appreciated the people outside the bunker who were simply trying to survive and connect with those inside — those moments carried real humanity. The hinted-at romance between the two women had strong potential and could have provided a meaningful counterpoint to the bunker’s emotional isolation, but it never felt fully explored.

Where the book lost me was the ending. The escalation into near-total devastation felt abrupt and, ultimately, unearned. Major character deaths — including the leader’s daughter — didn’t seem to arise organically from the story’s moral tensions. Instead of feeling like the inevitable consequence of the characters’ choices, the conclusion came across as a blunt clearing of the board. The few survivors who flee and later return to see who’s left could have offered a powerful reflective coda, but their survival didn’t feel thematically grounded enough to carry that weight.

I don’t mind bleak. I mind arbitrary. This story built rich moral tension around isolation, control, and conscience — especially through the wife’s arc — but the ending sidestepped that tension rather than resolving it. There is strong character work here and moments of genuine emotional impact, but the final act left me more frustrated than moved.

[Jennifer Rupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sanctuary, author James Cleary paints an all-too-possible, one might even say inevitable, near future. Scientists warn of an ecological disaster creeping forward. What the world is unprepared for is the tipping point, the threshold at which sustainable life collapses rapidly and completely. Only the astronomically wealthy are prepared for the catastrophic event. They have built impenetrable bunkers designed to sustain life for years underground, and only the astronomically wealthy get to decide who will be sheltered within those bunkers, while those left outside must fight to survive.

The well-researched technology Cleary uses in Sanctuary creates a believable, foreseeable, and visceral future for readers. But what sets this apocalyptic tale apart is the author’s command of language, his understanding of universal conflict, and his use of lyrical prose, all of which make for riveting storytelling. Make no mistake, the story begins at the brink of disaster and maintains a heart-pounding pace, never delving into philosophical moments, but rather tackling them head-on with relentless action. Like in life, there is no black and white, no absolutes, no fail-safes, no good guys or bad guys, just bad choices piled on top of more bad choices. One can only hope that mercy, that “twice blessed” human quality, triumphs.

It's a pleasure to read a well-told story by a skilled writer. 5 Stars for Sanctuary by James Cleary.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this dystopian novel, climate changed has wreaked havoc on the US, causing droughts, floods and stirring civil unrest. Billionaires like John Brandt have built underground bunkers to house their families with supplies to last decades, if necessary. When the country finally explodes into lawlessness, Brandt moves his family and security team into his bunker, called Sanctuary, to survive. But when a band of ordinary citizens descend upon his compound demanding entry, his long rage plans are put to the test. Sanctuary raises the basic question of what would you do to protect and provide for your loved ones, and poses the ethical and moral dilemmas that attaches to that question. The book explores those dilemmas, and how each group responds is the core of the story without preaching or judgement. Well written and fairly fast paced with interesting characters and a storyline that hooks you in quickly and keeps you there throughout. Not a unique setting, but a highly entertaining and thoughtful book. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the description about America on the brink of environmental and social collapse, and the world ending, I wasn’t going to request this book. It didn’t sound like my cup of tea at all, but then I read ‘SANCTUARY is a gripping, thought-provoking, utterly unputdownable thriller’ and I changed my mind. I’m so glad I did. It was complex but fabulous. I never repeat the story in a review (what’s the point, it’s in the description). All I need to know about a book is how did you feel while you were reading it? Well, I felt intrigued and gripped, and couldn’t wait to turn the page to find out what happened next. It was, as it said in the description, thought-provoking and utterly unputdownable and I was immersed in the story. It made me gasp at times, and I wanted to cry at times. The writing was excellent, and I felt as if I knew all the main characters. An absolutely brilliant read, and deserving of 5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this amazing arc.

[Megan Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gripping dystopian thriller that I devoured in less than 24 hours. It’s incredibly thought-provoking and constantly had me questioning where I would draw the line between helping others and protecting my own family. A couple times, I caught myself agreeing with the billionaire “villain”, which was unsettling, yet I also deeply understood the desperation of the other families and knew I’d risk everything for my child. My moral compass was all over the place in the best way.

The only thing keeping this from five stars is the limited character development. I wanted more depth so the emotional impact could hit harder. In such a high-stakes, eerily realistic future, I expected to feel more personally invested in at least one character. While the tension and ethical dilemmas were strong, I never fully connected on a deeper emotional level.

Overall, this is a fast-paced, morally complex read that will leave you thinking long after you turn the final page.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC edition in exchange for an honest review.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

People don't inherit the earth - the earth inherits their dust.

This is reminiscent of the dread I felt reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." The lifeless plains destroyed by human disregard for the earth, resulting in a primitive struggle for survival in a civil war where factions are largely nameless and death is common and brutal.

It is also the story of when money corrupts and power destroys, here in the age of billionaires attempting to manipulate the masses to their whims. Kind of like that dream of being able to escape earth and start over on another planet, except the spaceship blows up along the way.

Feeling a little worried and overwhelmed? Read this and let that anxiety go for a walk. With the author's love for both the written and spoken word, imagine what the movie will be like.

Cheers!

[Mya Joan Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sanctuary by James Cleary delivers an intriguing premise and a tense, atmospheric setting that immediately draws readers in. The story’s survival-driven stakes and sense of looming danger create a steady undercurrent of suspense, especially as the characters navigate a harsh and uncertain world.

While the concept is compelling, the pacing can feel uneven at times, with slower sections that interrupt the momentum. Some characters are interesting but could benefit from deeper development, making it harder to fully connect with their struggles and choices.

Overall, Sanctuary offers a solid, suspenseful read with moments of real tension and intrigue. Readers who enjoy survival-themed fiction and stark, moody settings will find plenty to appreciate, even if the story doesn’t fully reach its potential.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Sanctuary by James Cleary.

Sanctuary is one of those rare thrillers that grips you from the opening pages and never lets go. I will admit to having leaky eyes during this heart wrenching story. The author blends atmosphere, character and tension with real skill, creating a story that really engages the reader and utterly compulsive.

I loved how the tension builds chapter by chapter through small, unsettling details that slowly grow around the characters.

For me this was completely absorbing and very hard to put down. Be prepared to care a lot about the characters and be a little heart broken.

A standout read and an easy five stars.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel about radical change in the climate that leaves two groups: the haves (the very rich) that have access to resources to last years and the have nots (everyone else) who have limited resources that will not last very long. The main storyline is about the struggle between the two groups with misunderstandings and mistrust taking place throughout the novel. Man’s inhumanity to man.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, and my fiction book review blog.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanctuary by James Cleary is complex, gripping, chilling and thought provoking. Expertly written with vivid descriptions, emotional and heartbreaking moments, and realistic character development. An exceptional read.

Thank you to James Cleary, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

[Jason E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged enough to receive an ARC of this novel. Right from the start, I was captivated and drawn into the plot. Such a good read!

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a climate-ravaged society, billionaire John Brandt brings his family and employees to an underground bunker.
However, a group from above are threatening their survival as they want in.
Great premise! I really liked the writing. It was emotional and at times very sad.
I’m thankful that I won a copy of this book from Goodreads. It’s not my usual genre and I’m not sure I would have read it otherwise. I’m glad I did!

[Big Bertha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen the sun. The real sun, that is. The recorded one still rises and sets every day in my “window,” a digital screen embedded high on the wall of my room that’s designed to look like a window."

A blazing page turner and a thought provoking read, Sanctuary deserves every one of the five stars I've rated it.

Climate catastrophe, a breakdown in services and civil unrest at an all time high. The mobs are taking to the streets in a series of co-ordinated attacks and cities are on fire. The authors paints a devastating picture of the violence and the weather anomalies, great dust clouds tainting the air killing off crops and wildlife and coating the lungs of those that breathe it.

Billionaire John Brandt has been planning for this and nestled amongst the plains of northwest Nebraska is a gated compound with a bunker hidden away from the world, its sanctuary.

A place where along with an elite security team and essential staff they can wait out the destruction, breathe filtered air and survive. But Sanctuary isn't the safe haven he planned, those involved in the construction know its there, they know about its infrastructure and they deserve to survive too.

From the opening pages this novel had me in its clutches, I cared about the characters, both inside and out the bunker, I wanted them to survive and I lived and breathed every heart stopping moment the picture perfect narrative produced. Its a novel everyone should read.

My thanks to HQ for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Deranged]

Won and received a copy through a Goodreads Giveaway!