Living in a world ravaged by a mysterious virus, one that causes gravity to lose its effect on those afflicted, Sadie Cleamont has escaped the outside world for the safety of an isolated city named Ancthia. Alongside her closest friend, Lander Holland, Sadie makes the best of her situation, helping to supplement her mother's income as a street musician. But when Lander reveals a startling discovery regarding the safety of the city, Sadie's world is turned upside down when she learns that the city isn’t the only one hiding secrets.
Isle of Ancthia follows Sadie, a young girl who lives in a world ravaged by a fever induced virus. If you catch it...you float off into the sky and disappear. So, Sadie and her mother flee to the Isle of Ancthia, a city safe from the virus...or so it seems. Sadie spends her days attending school, playing her violin and going on adventures with her best friend, Lander. That is, until the pair discover the city is keeping secrets and so are some of its residents.
Isle of Ancthia is a gripping story! Rachel Adkins is a phenomenal writer! Go check out Isle of Ancthia now! It is currently available in kindle and paperback format.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: Sadie has found safety in the isolated city of Ancthia after a mysterious virus ravages the outside world and causes its victims to lose gravity. She lives a quiet life making ends meet as a street musician and hanging out with her best friend Lander. Until Lander uncovers a disturbing truth about how safe the city really is. As secrets unravel and danger creeps closer, Sadie is forced to face the reality she’s been running from.
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: For such a tiny book I was completely hooked. The concept is incredibly unique and stands out from so many other YA dystopians I’ve read. It feels really fresh, imaginative, and new.
The world-building is super detailed without ever feeling overwhelming. Despite its short length, this book packs in a lot. It’s fast-paced, really entertaining, and never drags. The plot moves fast, but it never feels sloppy. And while the plot twist at the end was pretty predictable it still kept me hooked.
That said, the one thing that tripped me up a bit was the characters’ ages. I found myself wishing they were slightly older, as some situations and emotions felt more mature than the ages suggested. It didn’t ruin the experience by any means, but it did pull me out of the story here and there.
Overall, this is a highly entertaining and refreshingly unique YA read with a creative concept and a strong sense of world. I loved the plot, I loved the world, and I’m absolutely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next in book two.
First, I’d like to thank Rachel Adkins and bookwormbookspr for the gifted epub of Isle Of Ancthia in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts: Isle Of Ancthia was a short yet very interesting and fun read! I haven’t read a book by this author before but this book had such a fun premise. Living in a world by a fever induced virus, our FMC Sadie and her mother flee to the Isle Of Ancthia which is deemed the safest city. The concept of the virus making people float into the sky and vanish if they catch the virus, you can imagine the fear that must be running through people.
Since this is a dystopian short novel, I was really impressed with the world that Rachel created. She was able to paint a picture of what the world looked like in her book and it was pretty easy to imagine in my own mind. It gave just enough detail without being overwhelming and I found myself curious about this world and the virus that plagued the people there.
I liked that this book was in great detail yet didn’t feel like it dragged in order to explain the world. Things happened quickly and in perfect order which was perfect and things didn’t feel confusing at all. Sadie and Lander are our young characters that have been proven that they still had a lot to learn about their world..maybe even things that they shouldn’t know. There was a perfect little blend of mystery thrown in to the plot as well that had me curious to figure out.
Overall this was a pretty fun read and I will leave the majority of the story up for others to read in order to figure out the secrets that lie within The Isle Of Ancthia.
In Isle of Ancthia, Rachel Adkins delivers a refreshingly imaginative take on the YA dystopian genre, centering on a haunting premise where a fever-induced virus causes victims to literally float into the sky and vanish. The story follows Sadie as she seeks refuge in a city that promises safety but hides dark secrets beneath its polished surface. Adkins is a phenomenal writer who balances this high-concept hook with tight, disciplined storytelling, ensuring the narrative remains fast-paced and entertaining without ever feeling rushed or sloppy. It is a testament to her skill that such a compact book can feel so expansive, offering detailed world-building that is vivid and immersive without becoming overwhelming. The strength of the novel lies in its ability to maintain a gripping atmosphere that keeps the reader fully engaged from start to finish. While the plot moves at a breakneck speed, the prose remains evocative and efficient. My only minor critique involves the characterization, as the protagonists' emotions and reactions often felt more mature than their stated ages, which occasionally created a slight disconnect in the immersion. Additionally, while the final plot twist was somewhat predictable, the sheer creativity of the world and the strength of the writing more than compensated for it. Overall, Isle of Ancthia is a strong, inventive read that stands out for its originality, and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing where the story leads in the sequel.
Thank you, Rachel Adkins, for this eARC! Isle of Ancthia is a very short and quick read that does a great job of introducing us to the world and characters. I was surprised to see how much information was packed into this book, giving us a good idea of the virus and the world that our FMC Sadie has grown up in. Although this book has no spice in it, the future books will contain some heat and spice, making the rating of this series more New Adult than YA. Ancthia is a haven from a mysterious virus that brings a deadly fever; however, if you survive the fever, you will float away, disappearing into the sky. No one knows what happens to the survivors once they float away, just that they never come back. Sadie’s best friend Lander makes a startling discovery, however, that turns their world upside down. Lander reveals a secret that tests out the strength of their friendship, along with changing what Sadie’s future may look like. I was sucked into this story from the first pages. As the characters are young, there were times I was frustrated with how they were handling things, but it makes sense for the setting of the story. I am excited to see what book 2 has in store, especially after the ending this book contained.
💜 Blurb - Living in a world ravaged by a mysterious virus, one that causes gravity to lose its effect on those afflicted, Sadie Cleamont has escaped the outside world for the safety of an isolated city named Ancthia. Alongside her closest friend, Lander Holland, Sadie makes the best of her situation, helping to supplement her mother's income as a street musician. But when Lander reveals a startling discovery regarding the safety of the city, Sadie's world is turned upside down as everything she's been running from gets a little too close for comfort. Trudging through the wreckage of her life, Sadie makes a singular decision that reveals the true origins of the virus, as well as the reason for its devastating side effect. 💙 Review - This was such an interesting and entertaining read. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I liked the author's writing style and there was a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author. 💝 Thank you to Various Readers Only and the author for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as an ARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Isle of Ancthia is a YA dystopian novel set in a city trying to avoid contamination from a virus that causes people to have an intense fever they either survive from or don’t. If they survive they are pulled into the air and float away. This has instilled fear in everyone to the point they will kill anyone they suspect might have been in contact with this virus.
Sadie is our main character and while she is young, naive, impulsive, and at times annoying, she is learning there is more to the world and this virus than she was ever taught.
This story outlined how fear can be used to control people and how it can twist love and family into hatred.
It felt like more of a prequel than a full book since it was setting up the real adventure. I’m intrigued to continue on with this series and see what the clouds have to offer.
I received this book as an ARC directly from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Isle of Ancthia is a YA dystopian novel set in a city trying to avoid contamination from a virus that causes people to have an intense fever they either survive from or don’t. If they survive they are pulled into the air and float away. This has instilled fear in everyone to the point they will kill anyone they suspect might have been in contact with this virus.
Sadie is our main character and while she is young, naive, impulsive, and at times annoying, she is learning there is more to the world and this virus than she was ever taught.
This story outlined how fear can be used to control people and how it can twist love and family into hatred.
It felt like more of a prequel than a full book since it was setting up the real adventure. I’m intrigued to continue on with this series and see what the clouds have to offer.
Isle of Ancthia is based off of the lives of two middle school aged kids who are stuck in a world where fear has taken over due to a sickness that has plagued their world and could literally send them floating off into the sky. Unforeseen challenges are thrown their way and maybe everything isn’t what it may seem… what the hell is really going on here?
I really enjoyed this book! It is a great YA read, I don’t know much about the second book, yet but the first book is totally appropriate! I felt like things may have been a little slow in the beginning, perhaps I should have paid closer attention to little details that I later started to catch on to but the story really picks up and things start to shift in a totally different direction than I had imagined and I can’t wait for the next book!
This book placed me in another dystopian world, where a mysterious disease has wreaked havoc on society. It passes easily through touch and the infected are plagued by fever. Should you somehow make it past the fever, gravity ceases to exist and you float off into the universe. So, the city of Ancthia has closed itself off to the outside and anyone who gets sick disappears and those in their proximity end up in isolation. Sadie and Lander are middle school aged, best friends who end up in all kinds of trouble through this book. The city has secrets that are coming out and these kids are finding themselves in a huge mess. While Sadie's home life becoming more complicated as well. For being a short book, there is a LOT going on. Never giving it a chance to slow down. It's a great start to a series as it sets itself up perfectly for the sequel.
In this universe - a virus has plagued the civilization - multiple times - and if you survive it - the people who never caught it - banish you -
Sadie has lost a parent, and her best friend is Lander.
I don't want to give to much away - but eventually - with the adults moving on in their lives - Lander shows her what is outside of this city. (And the next part is sad).
In the end, I believe Sadie gets back together with Lander.
I would defintely give this book five stars - it is original, engaging, likeable characters, chaste kisses - dystopic.
Hopefully, the author will continue Sadie and Lander's story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Isle of Ancthia by Rachel Adkins completely blew me away! The premise of “the fever” and how the government handles it felt eerily believable; almost believable with some of the things we see in our own world today. And then, when left to run its course, the aftermath is absolutely wild. The whole idea of losing gravity was such a fascinating and creative twist!Adkins’ imagination really shines in every part of this book. from the hidden gates to the jaw-dropping reveal with Lander. I had my suspicions, but the twist still managed to shock me in the best way. This story was such a refreshing mix of originality, suspense, and wonder. I’m already counting down the days until the next installment in the series.
Thanks to Bookworm Books PR for the reviewer copy of this book. First of all, the cover of this book immediately grabbed me. The story premise is about a young woman & her best friend navigating life in their city that’s been closed off from the outside world due to a mysterious fever. It was very fast paced & easy to read. I loved that you’re thrown into the world pretty immediately & learn new things along with the characters. The relationship between Sadie & Lander is both heartwarming & heart breaking. I loved the protective, dedicated nature both characters also had towards each other & their respective mothers. The ending was incredible. I hope to see more from Rachel Adkins soon!
Isle of Anchthia by Rachel Adkins is such a captivating read! 🌊📖 I was lucky to receive an ARC (thank you!) and loved every bit of it.
The story follows Sadie, a brave teenager facing unexpected challenges during a pandemic. The Isle’s mystery and the strange disease kept me hooked, while themes of friendship, family, humanity, and survival gave it so much heart. 💙
All the characters are layered and well-written, and the ending left me on a thrilling cliffhanger—I can’t wait for Book 2! ✨ Personally, I’m rooting for Lander & Sadie. 💫
Isle of Ancthia delivers a genuinely intriguing premise—a mysterious fever that removes gravity—and that concept alone immediately sets it apart from a lot of YA fantasy.
The story does begin a little slowly as the world and characters are established, but once it finds its footing, it really takes off. The pacing improves quickly, and the plot is packed with surprises that will keep you turning pages.
Overall, this is a great YA read with a creative concept. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next in book two.
Where do I even begin? I started this book about a month ago and only got a few chapters in due to life getting in the way, but I picked it back up today and finished in a few hours. I am SO impressed! This story is such a unique premise— I truly have never read anything like it and I loved every second of it. It made me laugh. Made me cry. And the ending has me dying to figure out what happens next. I have sooooo many questions and I’m SO excited to read the next book! Rachel, I hope you are immensely proud of the world you created because you have left me absolutely stunned.
Sadie and her mother had to flee to a closed of cities due to an unknown virus. The virus was extrem high fever and if you make it through that then you become weightless and float off into the sky. Most people in the city had come to be safe and endured lose. Sadie is best friends with Lander and he and his mother came about the same time. They became best friends and help each other through. Something happens that put her and him to a test. People are questioned and lies come to light. Things you'd never know shock you.
Fourteen year old Sadie and her best friend, Lander, live in a world with a virus that causes the infected to float off into the sky. While uncovering secrets about her family, the city, their world, and her friend, Sadie learns that not everything is as it seems and betrayal is always just around the corner.
This was an excellent read and one I would highly recommend for teens and young adults!
This novel presents a striking dystopian premise that immediately sets it apart. The gravity-altering virus is both imaginative and unsettling, grounding the story’s tension in constant uncertainty. Sadie is a relatable, resilient protagonist, and her friendship with Lander adds emotional depth as secrets begin to unravel. With its blend of mystery, survival, and quiet rebellion, this is an engaging read for fans of character-driven dystopian fiction and high-concept world-building.
emotional, beautiful, and everything I didn’t know I needed
I loved this one SO MUCH! Rachel Adkins did a magnificent job crafting a multi-dimensional cast of characters with rich backstories and traits that will have you crying and feeling all the feels. I was hooked from the beginning and I love all the little details in the story (like the gift of the gloves and just little touches) and just the overall storytelling. Cannot WAIT to read the next one!
Wow! What a beautiful and unique fantasy - a true breath of fresh air amidst so many books that fit the “fantasy mold!” From the character to the creative + beautiful plot line, I loved every second of this one!
NOT TO MENTION, THE ENDING?!?! I need the second one ASAP👀🥰
Where to begin? The world-building and introduction of the characters were immaculate. It set strong foundations for the rest of the series to build upon. Then, add in the unique concepts and storyline. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Sadie next.
A fascinating introduction to this world - the concept of the virus and the cliffhanger at the end is spectacular. the characters are relatable and easy to get along with as you go, while also being imperfect in their unique ways. Super excited to see where this series goes.
I liked this book well enough. It’s cool that someone I know wrote it! The characters kept it interesting! The plot twists and turns made it that much more interesting.
First, I want to say a huge thank you to the author for reaching out to me with this book. I’m so glad I got the chance to dive into this story!
Isle of Arcthia is a gripping, emotional, and fascinating dystopian tale. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I started, but I was quickly pulled in and found myself forming a strong connection with the two main characters. The plot is well-paced and packed with everything I love—found family, hidden truths, illness, friendship, and plenty of meaningful life lessons threaded throughout.
I flew through the pages, completely invested, and that ending… it left me craving book two desperately. I honestly can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
If you love dystopian stories with heart, depth, and emotion, this is one to add to your TBR immediately.
This book hooked me in the second half. I felt a little lost in the beginning and wanted some more world-building, but I’m so glad I stuck with it. In this world people start to float after getting ill. This has completely upturned society and everyone is terrified of floating away from everyone they love. This story revolves around two kids living in this world and their relationship with each other. I found some relationships to be hard to take seriously (she has a loving mother but is immediately abandoned…. I wish the relationship was already a little strained to make that more believable). Overall I would recommend this to other people who love fantasy novels and I can’t wait to see where this story goes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.