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The Taj and Song Trilogy (After Climate Disruption) #1
Elements: Origins of Power and Ruin
After climate disruption, two energies divide the world: natural Ability, which demands cultivation, and Crystal energy, which is addictive and painful.
Life is brutal for the poor, and Taj knows it better than anyone. He is desired by too many, but seen by almost no one. When Taj crosses paths with Song, the Sect’s Commander haunted by long-held revenge, their connection grows intense. As their bond deepens, Riley, a privileged heir with an obsessive streak, begins to spiral.
Then, there's Rowan, Taj's best friend, who craves a normal life but inherits blood that will change not only her future but the world around her.
And at the center of it all waits Amber, a master manipulator and architect of more ruin than anyone realizes. When he discovers that the best way to hurt his former student Song is to target his love, the world begins to collapse.
Elements is Book One of After Climate Disruption: A Romantasy Across Time. A slow-burning love story about two men bound by a connection that endures in a world built on ruin.
Life is brutal for the poor, and Taj knows it better than anyone. He is desired by too many, but seen by almost no one. When Taj crosses paths with Song, the Sect’s Commander haunted by long-held revenge, their connection grows intense. As their bond deepens, Riley, a privileged heir with an obsessive streak, begins to spiral.
Then, there's Rowan, Taj's best friend, who craves a normal life but inherits blood that will change not only her future but the world around her.
And at the center of it all waits Amber, a master manipulator and architect of more ruin than anyone realizes. When he discovers that the best way to hurt his former student Song is to target his love, the world begins to collapse.
Elements is Book One of After Climate Disruption: A Romantasy Across Time. A slow-burning love story about two men bound by a connection that endures in a world built on ruin.
736 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2025
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
svl yisanliu
3 books3 followersSVL YISANLIU is a Rotterdam-based writer and illustrator creating queer science fantasy that spans centuries. Best known for the Taj and Song Trilogy, her work explores love, power, and survival in a post-climate world where competing energy systems have divided humanity. She draws every illustration herself, creating a fully immersive visual and narrative experience.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 7, 2025
The world building is superb! I'm still in the middle of reading the first one, and will update my review to much more detail once I finish it. So far, the world the author created has captured my imagination fully, I can tell they crafted it with a lot of love and passion for their characters. Talking about characters, the diverse cast is another aspect I'm really enjoying.
September 5, 2025
It is a breathtakingly raw and emotionally intense soft sci-fi drama that takes readers on a deeply personal journey through a devastated world rebuilt on desperation, addiction & fractured power structures. In a future shaped by climate collapse and a failed AI, society survives on two energies—natural Ability, which is rare & pure, and artificial Crystals, which are painful, addictive, and easier to access. These energies don’t just shape survival; they define identity, control & hierarchy.
The story revolves around Taj—a mesmerizingly complex character who is equal parts fighter, scientist, and broken soul. Taj’s struggle to reclaim his agency from a world that sees him as a commodity is both heart-wrenching and courageous. His connection with Rowan, his light and anchor, and the slowly building, emotionally tangled relationship with the stoic Sect Commander, Song, creates a rich and layered narrative that is as much about survival as it is about love and healing.
The world the author has built is intricately detailed—where cities are ruled by corrupt elites, deserts are haunted by man-made monsters & the Sect guards its secrets with cold precision.
What truly sets this book apart is its unapologetically queer, emotionally resonant storytelling that isn’t afraid to linger in trauma, obsession, longing & redemption. The prose is poetic, the dialogue sharp, and the pacing meticulously crafted. Taj’s battles—both external in the arenas & internal in his heart—pull you in and make you care deeply.
To say more would be a disservice, because this is a book you need to experience yourself to truly grasp its weight and wonder. By the time you turn the last page, you'll be thinking not just about the fate of the characters, but about what survival, connection, and resistance really mean.
The author has crafted a stunning, haunting start to a series that promises emotional depth, philosophical richness, and unforgettable characters. Don’t miss this.
The story revolves around Taj—a mesmerizingly complex character who is equal parts fighter, scientist, and broken soul. Taj’s struggle to reclaim his agency from a world that sees him as a commodity is both heart-wrenching and courageous. His connection with Rowan, his light and anchor, and the slowly building, emotionally tangled relationship with the stoic Sect Commander, Song, creates a rich and layered narrative that is as much about survival as it is about love and healing.
The world the author has built is intricately detailed—where cities are ruled by corrupt elites, deserts are haunted by man-made monsters & the Sect guards its secrets with cold precision.
What truly sets this book apart is its unapologetically queer, emotionally resonant storytelling that isn’t afraid to linger in trauma, obsession, longing & redemption. The prose is poetic, the dialogue sharp, and the pacing meticulously crafted. Taj’s battles—both external in the arenas & internal in his heart—pull you in and make you care deeply.
To say more would be a disservice, because this is a book you need to experience yourself to truly grasp its weight and wonder. By the time you turn the last page, you'll be thinking not just about the fate of the characters, but about what survival, connection, and resistance really mean.
The author has crafted a stunning, haunting start to a series that promises emotional depth, philosophical richness, and unforgettable characters. Don’t miss this.
June 7, 2025
Elements: Book One doesn’t just drop you into a post-climate-collapse dystopia—it hurls you into it, breathless and bleeding. In a world where survival means choosing between the slow mastery of natural Ability or the gut-wrenching addiction of Crystals, every choice is laced with corruption, every connection burns with risk. This isn’t a story that coddles you. It dares you to look away—and then punishes you if you do.
What gives the novel its devastating power isn’t just the world’s brutality—it’s the staggering, intimate emotional bond at its core. At the center are two men: one broken beyond recognition, the other holding the shattered pieces together with raw, unwavering devotion. Taj, our dangerously damaged protagonist, is a force of chaos and pain. A fighter with the soul of a ghost, he’s haunted by every choice he makes—and makes them anyway. His redemption arc doesn’t glide; it claws, it bleeds. You don’t watch Taj fall—you feel every hit.
Rowan’s presence introduces a powerful emotional axis early on, her warmth and hidden lineage acting as a spark that threatens to ignite far more than she knows. And then there’s Song—the Sect’s commander whose carefully constructed calm begins to shatter under Taj’s influence. His unraveling is hypnotic. Meanwhile, Riley slinks through the narrative like a curse in silk—obsessive, spoiled, and just self-aware enough to be dangerous.
The dystopian landscape—The City, The Sect, the Deserts—crackles with tension. Each reflects not just political power, but psychological warfare. Crystals tempt like a drug. Ability demands sacrifice. Both ask: what kind of person are you willing to become?
Elements: Book One is a slow-burn inferno—painful, beautiful, and unforgettable. And somehow, you sense this is only the ignition. Book Two isn’t just coming—it’s going to detonate.
What gives the novel its devastating power isn’t just the world’s brutality—it’s the staggering, intimate emotional bond at its core. At the center are two men: one broken beyond recognition, the other holding the shattered pieces together with raw, unwavering devotion. Taj, our dangerously damaged protagonist, is a force of chaos and pain. A fighter with the soul of a ghost, he’s haunted by every choice he makes—and makes them anyway. His redemption arc doesn’t glide; it claws, it bleeds. You don’t watch Taj fall—you feel every hit.
Rowan’s presence introduces a powerful emotional axis early on, her warmth and hidden lineage acting as a spark that threatens to ignite far more than she knows. And then there’s Song—the Sect’s commander whose carefully constructed calm begins to shatter under Taj’s influence. His unraveling is hypnotic. Meanwhile, Riley slinks through the narrative like a curse in silk—obsessive, spoiled, and just self-aware enough to be dangerous.
The dystopian landscape—The City, The Sect, the Deserts—crackles with tension. Each reflects not just political power, but psychological warfare. Crystals tempt like a drug. Ability demands sacrifice. Both ask: what kind of person are you willing to become?
Elements: Book One is a slow-burn inferno—painful, beautiful, and unforgettable. And somehow, you sense this is only the ignition. Book Two isn’t just coming—it’s going to detonate.
November 3, 2025
3.6 stars
It’s an interesting read. I tried to really like it, but something is missing. I’ve read a lot of cultivation novels, as well as some with a modern take on cultivation. The world-building is interesting but still not enough, and at the same time, it felt like things just happened and we had to go with it.
I loved the characters, it was very interesting to see the point of view of a person obsessed to the point of madness. I hope there’s more development and background story in the next books.
Normally, I devour this type of book, but I’m not excited for the next volume.
It’s an interesting read. I tried to really like it, but something is missing. I’ve read a lot of cultivation novels, as well as some with a modern take on cultivation. The world-building is interesting but still not enough, and at the same time, it felt like things just happened and we had to go with it.
I loved the characters, it was very interesting to see the point of view of a person obsessed to the point of madness. I hope there’s more development and background story in the next books.
Normally, I devour this type of book, but I’m not excited for the next volume.
June 12, 2025
This book completely shattered me—in the best way possible. The futuristic world, devastated by AI failure and climate collapse, feels frighteningly plausible, and the depth of the characters is incredible. Taj and Song’s relationship is painfully raw, beautifully written, and unlike anything I’ve read in sci-fi. It’s a slow burn with emotional payoffs that hit like thunder. If you love character-driven drama wrapped in gritty sci-fi, After Climate Disruption is unmissable.
June 12, 2025
At first, I thought this would be your typical post-apocalyptic setting, but I was wrong. The world-building is exceptional, layered with sociopolitical tension and addictive power dynamics. Taj’s internal war and his connection with Song are complex and compelling—full of chemistry, conflict, and heartbreak. The addition of characters like Rowan and Riley adds depth to this tangled narrative. Gritty, tender, and disturbingly human.
June 12, 2025
I was blown away by the prose—lyrical, sharp, and haunting. The writing is emotionally immersive, and the author doesn’t shy away from pain, obsession, or redemption. I loved how the story doesn't spoon-feed answers but instead lets you sit in the discomfort with the characters. Taj's trauma, Song’s stoicism, and their unlikely emotional collision had me in tears. This book isn’t afraid to break your heart and stitch it back with hope.
June 12, 2025
This is not a light read, and I mean that as a compliment. The narrative dives deep into trauma, power structures, emotional entanglements, and the cost of survival. The crystal energy addiction metaphor was powerful and original. I appreciated how it explored both love and power from different angles—especially how control and surrender show up in Taj and Song’s relationship. Raw, fierce, and unforgettable.
August 8, 2025
This is a very slow burn (MM). Perhaps not, given how Riley has been acting out since chapter four, but Taj and Song's relationship takes time to grow. I appreciate it. In addition, I value Taj and Rowan's friendship; side characters are generally likable. But this book is only four stars in comparison to the others.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews