Degradation

by R.O. Carol

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 30, 2026

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW. I was hooked from the very beginning! I loved that this felt like an instant continuation — it picks up just three months after the first book ended, which will be great for those who are not reading them back to back, it’s easy to fall straight back into the story. Honestly, it felt too short because I just wanted more. I’m always a fan of multiple perspectives, and I was not expecting that twist toward the end. I’ll be (impatiently) waiting for book three!

[Akina Blaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Degradation, a much anticipated sequel to Dissipation, pulls readers back into the dystopian world crafted by RO Carol, centering on Alethia and Odeza, as well as delving more into Mora's side story. The introduction of the dissenters offers an exciting addition, and their potential for character development is intriguing. I found myself wanting more exploration of their backgrounds and personalities.

This book delves further into the machinations of Ascencio, Inc., unraveling their nefarious ways and plans for expansion, making the reader ponder and highlighting parallels in our current world. The expansion of the insidious cruelty of the corporation, paints a stark picture of where society can easily sway.

As with the first book, Degradation feels much too short. The pacing left me yearning for more detail and development, especially with such a rich premise. I caught myself wishing it were ten times longer to fully explore the characters and themes presented. The storytelling is gripping, and it leaves a lingering desire. It is certainly a book you cannot put down. I finished it all in one day and am already anxious for the next book in this gripping series.

[Stephie · Rating 5 out of 5]

****ARC review****

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Degradation, and it completely lived up to my expectations after Dissipation. This sequel builds on the tension and intrigue of the first book while raising the stakes in a way that kept me completely hooked.

There’s always the feeling that something isn’t quite right beneath the surface, and watching more of the world and the system behind it slowly unravel made the suspense even more gripping. The characters are also pushed further, and seeing the choices they’re forced to make added a lot of emotional weight to the story.

One thing I really enjoyed was how much more established the world and characters felt. The foundations laid in the first book really come into their own here, and it made the story feel richer and more immersive.

And the ending… the last 20 pages were incredibly tense. I genuinely audibly gasped at the twist, which completely caught me off guard in the best way.

I finished this book immediately wanting the next one because I need to know what happens next. I’m already dying for the next installment in this story.

[❆ Ash ❆ (fable link in bio) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧

★★★★★
THANK YOU R.O. CAROL!!
I will say…I don’t know if I can forgive you after that ending, Ms. Carol🥲 I need the next book right now because WHAT was THAT. I need answers. The last 50 pages were insane. I had the time of my life reading this book. Just when you thought it was going good…no it wasn’t. If you need me, I’ll just be staring at the wall trying to recover.

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✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Quotes ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧

“ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴇᴄɪꜱɪᴏɴꜱ ɪ ʀᴇɢʀᴇᴛ. ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴍᴀɴ. ᴅᴇꜰɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴅᴇꜱᴇʀᴠᴇꜱ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ. ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ꜱᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡʜᴏ ɪꜱ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜʏ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴀʟᴇᴛʜɪᴀ.”

ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴅᴏᴡɴ, ꜱʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ʜɪꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ʙᴇʏᴏɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀᴇᴅ. ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴅᴇɴʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ꜰᴇʟᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʟᴇᴄᴛʀɪᴄɪᴛʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ɪᴛ ꜰᴇʟᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ʜɪᴍ ꜱᴀʏ ʜᴇʀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ, ᴏʀ ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇʀ ꜱᴛᴏᴍᴀᴄʜ ᴛɪɢʜᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱɪɢʜᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜɪᴍ.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Degradation by R.O Carol - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Wow I need to take a breath! The tension, the desperation, the twists: brilliant! This is dystopian fiction at its best.

Degradation is the sequel to R.O Carol’s fast paced dystopian thriller Dissipation and it did not disappoint (or slow down!). Book 2 kicks off exactly where book 1 ended: Alethia hidden away against her will within Ascencio and Odeza frantically trying to track her down while forced to comply with all of Elizabeth’s whims.

The plot unfolds through multiple POVs including a host of new characters who add an extra layer to the story. These new characters include the Dissenters - an underground organisation intent on bringing down Ascencio.

We also follow more of Mora’s story which unveils a whole host of new horrors thought up by Elizabeth and Ascencio.

The characters are believable, likeable and interesting. The plot, while filled with twists and turns, is believable and close enough to reality to make it a truly unsettling concept.

[Alex Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel to Dissipation, Degradation gets released at the end of this month. I enjoyed the first book (peep the review), but this one kept me on my toes. It tied up some loose ends from the first, and integrated the parallel storylines into one cohesive narrative. The last book left off at a cliff hanger, and I loved that this one didn’t waste time and dove right in. I feel like as I read Sci-Fi/Fantasy a lot of stories can feel similar, however, I’ve really never read anything with a similar concept. I appreciated the fast pace and twists (the end I absolutely did not see coming!!!), along with the characters and world building. I’m excited for what’s next from R.O. Carol. Pre-order your copy now! You will not be disappointed (and use the next few weeks to check out Dissipation to get up to speed)!

[Books Of Momo · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ARC Review✨️ thank you ro carol for this 💖

They way I could not put this down, I was fully and completely locked in from the get go. This one continues almost immediately after the completion of the first one and introduces the "rebel faction". I found these characters to be super interesting and they left me craving more about their back stories and how they arrived where they are.
Similar to the first it feels slightly short, the pacing is lightning fast and left me wanting more detail and back story on everyone.
This releases March 30 2026 and you can bet ill be reccomending this and also watching out for the next installment and anything else RO carol chooses to write!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

** reviewed received an advance reader copy **

Oh I just love that book two picks up right where book one ends!!! This fast pace dystopian thriller did not disappoint!! Having some full circle moments from the previous plot made the book very enjoyable. I was immediately sucked back into the plot of Odeza and Alethia. This was only my second dystopian thriller/romance novel, but it’s safe to say I’m invested. I’m pretty excited for book three to be released (hopefully?). It was an honor having R.O. Carol reach out and offer an ARC of this book to myself. I had a blast reading it! Definitely recommend!

[KatsLostInPages · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Degradation: Book Two by R.O. Carol. It was hard to put the book down once I started reading. As the story unfolds, more questions appear and new mysteries are revealed, which keeps you curious the entire time.

The tension keeps building and the story pulls you deeper into the world with every chapter. By the time you reach the end, you’re left with a cliffhanger that makes you crave the next book immediately.

Also, a big thank you to R.O. Carol for reaching out to me. If she hadn’t, I probably would have never come across this series—and that would have been a shame. I’m really glad I had the chance to discover it and I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next. 📚✨

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how this book picked up right where the second book left off—it felt seamless and made the story even more intense. The multiple points of view added so much depth, giving a fuller understanding of each character and their motivations.

The world-building continues to expand beautifully, and the heavy themes make it a powerful read. It’s not light, but that’s what makes it so impactful. I can’t wait for the next book!

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review!!

FIRST- Thank you R.O. Carol for gifting me this arc read:)

I actually liked this book more than the first one! I think it did a great job starting where the 1st one left off and it kept me on my toes! I was shocked by the twists and was pleasantly surprised by the new pov's and how they all came together in the end! I finished this book within a day and a half again because I couldn't put it down!! I can't wait to see where the next book goes!

[McKenzie Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book did a phenomenal job in picking up where it left off in book one! Once again, having the multiple POVs all coming together and having the in depth interactions with all the characters made for a well thought out story that had me binge reading it. The only complaint I have is now having to wait for book three!

[Sonya Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review - well what can I say? This book had me gripped from the very start as it continued seamlessly from book 1. Told from multiple points of view, including new characters in the book, the story winds through some suspenseful and some heart-breaking moments. My only complaint is that I need to wait now for Book 3!!!