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The Swarm: the gripping sequel to The Hive, for fans of Sunrise on the Reaping
Dystopia meets murder mystery in this thrillingly original
series, perfect for after you've finished Sunrise on the
Reaping.
PRAISE FOR THE HIVE:
'An intriguing, satisfying page-turner' Irish
Times
'Quite easily could have finished in one sitting, it was that
good' @bookish_clara
'I absolutely adored this book' @paperbackbooth
'I NEED a book 2' @pagesofthemoon
Royal maverick Niko and bodyguard Feldspar have been tasked by
their queens to lead a swarm – an exploration – in search
of a new world outside their twisted monarchy.
What they find beyond the Hive is a paradise – but is it
too perfect to trust?
When two brutal murders happen on the same night, the royal visitors
are the prime suspects. With danger closing in and their
feelings for each other growing, Niko and Feldspar must fight
to clear their names before paradise becomes a prison ...
The heart-stopping sequel to THE HIVE
A thrillingly original YA murder mystery, set in a dystopian
colony with fantasy elements
Features a dangerous future monarchy, a richly imagined
world based on the society of bees, and a hint of romance
For fans of Neal Shusterman, Holly Jackson and Suzanne
Collins
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2026
1 person is currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 8, 2026
Thank you to Times Prize and the publisher Chicken House for the finished copy, it hasn’t affected my honest review.
TW: death, injury, violence, references to abuse, famine and climate change
Following on from the murderous events of ‘The Hive’, an exploratory force known as a ‘swarm’ has been sent into the world to search for a new home for their devastated colony. Leading it are Niko, one of the royal princes, and bodyguard Feldspar, united since they solved the murders of the monarchy weeks ago. What they find outside of the Hive- a great dome humanity took to in order to survive climate change- is a paradise, but it soon becomes clear that it’s too perfect to be trusted in the colony of Siguria. When two brutal murders happen on the same night, Niko and Feldspar are the prime suspects. Working together to find the truth, and fighting feelings sparked by their experiences in the Hive, Niko and Feldspar must clear their names before the outside world becomes a prison.
Niko was my favourite character in the first book and I was delighted that this one is from his POV. Here we really get to see him properly, outside of Feldspar's perspective, and I adore him so much. He's always used his intelligence as a protection and a weapon but when they reach the new colony Siguria, it's painfully clear just how much the people of the Hive don't know. I loved how he is taken in by the people in the new colony and even imagines a life for himself there- it's very much the opposite of the role he played in book 1 for Feldspar, and that she now plays for him. I really liked her character a lot in this one, she's learned a lot from her experiences in the Hive and Niko absolutely adores her at all times. They have some great romantic moments but really my favourite scenes with them are the ones where they bounce ideas off each other. The setting of this one is much more utopian than the Hive (where people are trapped by class) but somehow so much more sinister because it all feels a little false. I loved the murder mystery and spent so much of this book thinking I knew who was responsible only to have it twist. I've loved following Niko and Feldspar on their adventures in this series and the beautiful themes of identity, relationships, class and climate change throughout the books (I'd love more!).
TW: death, injury, violence, references to abuse, famine and climate change
Following on from the murderous events of ‘The Hive’, an exploratory force known as a ‘swarm’ has been sent into the world to search for a new home for their devastated colony. Leading it are Niko, one of the royal princes, and bodyguard Feldspar, united since they solved the murders of the monarchy weeks ago. What they find outside of the Hive- a great dome humanity took to in order to survive climate change- is a paradise, but it soon becomes clear that it’s too perfect to be trusted in the colony of Siguria. When two brutal murders happen on the same night, Niko and Feldspar are the prime suspects. Working together to find the truth, and fighting feelings sparked by their experiences in the Hive, Niko and Feldspar must clear their names before the outside world becomes a prison.
Niko was my favourite character in the first book and I was delighted that this one is from his POV. Here we really get to see him properly, outside of Feldspar's perspective, and I adore him so much. He's always used his intelligence as a protection and a weapon but when they reach the new colony Siguria, it's painfully clear just how much the people of the Hive don't know. I loved how he is taken in by the people in the new colony and even imagines a life for himself there- it's very much the opposite of the role he played in book 1 for Feldspar, and that she now plays for him. I really liked her character a lot in this one, she's learned a lot from her experiences in the Hive and Niko absolutely adores her at all times. They have some great romantic moments but really my favourite scenes with them are the ones where they bounce ideas off each other. The setting of this one is much more utopian than the Hive (where people are trapped by class) but somehow so much more sinister because it all feels a little false. I loved the murder mystery and spent so much of this book thinking I knew who was responsible only to have it twist. I've loved following Niko and Feldspar on their adventures in this series and the beautiful themes of identity, relationships, class and climate change throughout the books (I'd love more!).
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a review copy from the publisher in preparation for a UKYASpotlight interview. It has not affected my opinions.
THE SWARM is a great sequel in this dystopian series.
In this book we see a new colony, but one that is far more utopian. It's very unusual to see utopian societies in fiction - it reduces some of the plot options for a start - but I quite liked it. There is hope in seeing a society function well, a sense that maybe our society could be better, and hope feels very valuable at the moment.
It isn't a truly utopian society, there are "off" notes that you pick up on quite early on. This does give the book a bit more realism, but I appreciated that the dystopian aspects were not from something all pervasive but concentrated in one area that could be tackled. It helped keep that sense of hope alive. Plus it meant that the blame for what happens is spread over various people as there are mutliple threats - within and without.
Instead of Feldspar, Niko narrates this book. It was nice to get a glimpse into his head, humanise him a bit more after spending the last book in the role of the mysterious prince. He has all his own insecurities and fears. It was also interesting to see the fledgling relationship through other eyes (and nice to see it end on a tentative note of "let's see how this goes" rather than a more definitive HEA/HFN. They are teenagers after all; they don't have to have their lives in order by the end of the book.
When I first read THE HIVE I thought it was a standalone so I was delighted to find that there was a second book in the works. Maybe that will happen again with a third book? Like with THE HIVE, THE SWARM wraps up the story - however there does feel like space for another book. Perhaps a dual POV this time? We shall see if another book materialises.
THE SWARM is a great sequel in this dystopian series.
In this book we see a new colony, but one that is far more utopian. It's very unusual to see utopian societies in fiction - it reduces some of the plot options for a start - but I quite liked it. There is hope in seeing a society function well, a sense that maybe our society could be better, and hope feels very valuable at the moment.
It isn't a truly utopian society, there are "off" notes that you pick up on quite early on. This does give the book a bit more realism, but I appreciated that the dystopian aspects were not from something all pervasive but concentrated in one area that could be tackled. It helped keep that sense of hope alive. Plus it meant that the blame for what happens is spread over various people as there are mutliple threats - within and without.
Instead of Feldspar, Niko narrates this book. It was nice to get a glimpse into his head, humanise him a bit more after spending the last book in the role of the mysterious prince. He has all his own insecurities and fears. It was also interesting to see the fledgling relationship through other eyes (and nice to see it end on a tentative note of "let's see how this goes" rather than a more definitive HEA/HFN. They are teenagers after all; they don't have to have their lives in order by the end of the book.
When I first read THE HIVE I thought it was a standalone so I was delighted to find that there was a second book in the works. Maybe that will happen again with a third book? Like with THE HIVE, THE SWARM wraps up the story - however there does feel like space for another book. Perhaps a dual POV this time? We shall see if another book materialises.
Review of advance copy
This is such a strong sequel to The Hive. There's a brand new colony, brand new murders and possibly even more twists than the original. We get to see another possible path forward for the world after climate change, which I appreciated as a far less depressing future than the Hive itself, though of course it still has issues or there wouldn't be a story. There's an interesting theme around science, its importance but also its limitations. The importance of friendship and found family. And more romance than the first book.
Speaking of romance, it's written from Niko's point of view this time, which I suspect may be controversial to some readers (there's definitely a contingent who come into the library who want their male characters to be swoony ciphers rather than real people). But I found him delightful, and I also think it's good for YA readers of all genders to see a male protagonist who has hopes and fears and flaws (and who is unashamedly in love with the female protagonist). I sometimes worry, particularly in YA fantasy, that the industry focuses so hard on ensuring that the girls are allowed to be fully rounded people (which is undeniably vital in a genre whose adult version historically gave women very little in the way of character development) that it forgets to do the same for the boys. Young men: you don't have to be some unattainable 'book boyfriend'. You just have to be a genuine, caring human being.
I'll get off my soapbox now. But I'd wholeheartedly recommend these books, and I hope there are more to come.
Speaking of romance, it's written from Niko's point of view this time, which I suspect may be controversial to some readers (there's definitely a contingent who come into the library who want their male characters to be swoony ciphers rather than real people). But I found him delightful, and I also think it's good for YA readers of all genders to see a male protagonist who has hopes and fears and flaws (and who is unashamedly in love with the female protagonist). I sometimes worry, particularly in YA fantasy, that the industry focuses so hard on ensuring that the girls are allowed to be fully rounded people (which is undeniably vital in a genre whose adult version historically gave women very little in the way of character development) that it forgets to do the same for the boys. Young men: you don't have to be some unattainable 'book boyfriend'. You just have to be a genuine, caring human being.
I'll get off my soapbox now. But I'd wholeheartedly recommend these books, and I hope there are more to come.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A worthy successor to The Hive! I tore through this in just a few days.
The Swarm sees Niko and Feldspar head off in a mission to a nearby colony - but that mission soon goes very wrong...
This book switched to Niko's point of view, which took me a little while to get used to. I liked him as a mysterious figure and to access his inner monologue stripped him of some of the intrigue but it also gave us a chance to see the first book's protagonist, Feldspar, from a new angle.
I found the twists easier to predict than the first book, but both books are very intelligently written and thoughtful without ever feeling preachy. In their own way, they wryly comment on today's political and social landscape.
I only hope there will be a third 👀
Thank you to the publishers for giving me an ARC.
A worthy successor to The Hive! I tore through this in just a few days.
The Swarm sees Niko and Feldspar head off in a mission to a nearby colony - but that mission soon goes very wrong...
This book switched to Niko's point of view, which took me a little while to get used to. I liked him as a mysterious figure and to access his inner monologue stripped him of some of the intrigue but it also gave us a chance to see the first book's protagonist, Feldspar, from a new angle.
I found the twists easier to predict than the first book, but both books are very intelligently written and thoughtful without ever feeling preachy. In their own way, they wryly comment on today's political and social landscape.
I only hope there will be a third 👀
Thank you to the publishers for giving me an ARC.
April 18, 2026
The Swarm is the sequel to The Hive, which i read about this time last year, so i had an idea of what to expect, and let me tell you, it certainly did not disappoint.
It's quite a unique, original, young adult dystopian murder mystery, with dashings of fantasy and a drop or two of romance.
The story is centered around a future world based around the society of bees. A strict, dangerous monarchy rules with an iron fist, and all must toe the line on pain of death.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, what a great read with a brilliant, fresh premise.
The world building is rich and detailed, the characters, believable and feel real, and the storyline flows along nicely at a great, steady, fast pace.
I read this in two sittings.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It's quite a unique, original, young adult dystopian murder mystery, with dashings of fantasy and a drop or two of romance.
The story is centered around a future world based around the society of bees. A strict, dangerous monarchy rules with an iron fist, and all must toe the line on pain of death.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
So all in all, what a great read with a brilliant, fresh premise.
The world building is rich and detailed, the characters, believable and feel real, and the storyline flows along nicely at a great, steady, fast pace.
I read this in two sittings.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
April 16, 2026
What a great follow-up to The Hive, one of the most unique dystopian novels that I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
The Swarm gave me exactly what I wanted, expanding further on the world building that began in book one and also giving me a deeper understanding of our main characters by using a different POV.
Anna did a great job at working on our FMC and MMC’s characters individually as well as creating a beautiful blossoming romance that I adored reading about.
I was hooked from the beginning of this book, and every twist had me on the edge of my seat. This author really does know how to create a whole host of characters that you can’t really tell if you should trust or not… 👀
Thank you to Chicken House Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Swarm gave me exactly what I wanted, expanding further on the world building that began in book one and also giving me a deeper understanding of our main characters by using a different POV.
Anna did a great job at working on our FMC and MMC’s characters individually as well as creating a beautiful blossoming romance that I adored reading about.
I was hooked from the beginning of this book, and every twist had me on the edge of my seat. This author really does know how to create a whole host of characters that you can’t really tell if you should trust or not… 👀
Thank you to Chicken House Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2026
I believe that The Swarm has some extremely strong messages especially for (but not limited to) young readers. I felt like the book took my hand and said "Let's explore some fundamental principles of society and community". If I knew any teenagers, I'd definitely want them to read Anna February's books. They're very age-appropriate, thought-provoking and entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews