The New World

by Asher D. Payne

578 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Asher D. Payne has been writing since she can remember, desiring nothing more than putting her imagination on paper for others to enjoy. She has a passion for storytelling that compels readers and makes them feel seen, heard, and understood while implementing every twist and turn along the way. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, she strives to bring relationships into her books that stray from the stereotypes displayed in other forms of media. Her step toward her writing career has been a big challenge in overcoming her neurodivergence and other traumas experienced through online bullying. She is determined to make her community safe, inclusive, and accepting of all, as she feels everyone deserves to have a voice in this world. When she isn't engrossed in writing, she enjoys reading from her endless TBR list, playing with her pitbull, hitting the gym, refining her self-defense skills, snowboarding, or healing others through the art of massage.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew going in that this was going to be a banger just like the rest of the series. And of course, it was! The last four books have been building up to this finale, and I am so lucky to have been a part of the street team for this series. I am going to be as spoiler free as I can in this review because everyone needs to go pick up this series and experience it for themselves.

Asher 1000% turned up the heat in this book, that goes for the relationships between characters and the violence we see. I stand by the fact that Onyx and Jaspar will go down as one of my favorite couples in a book series. They revere eachother so much, and stand by the other without a second thought.

There were so many good one-liners throughout this book that I absolutely love and had to share. You may notice I am a sucker for the love these characters share for each other and how gracefully they threaten one another.

"You deserve to be happy, Onyx. Never forget that."

"Helpless looks good on you, [redacted], but I f***ing know death will look even better."

"He was mine and would be so long as I continued to breathe, and anyone-anything-who got in the way of ensuring his heart remained in my hands would be mercilessly slaughtered without a second thought."

"So, [redacted], these rings aren't a mere symbol of our love, but of the hardships we've faced together."

I look forward to reading more of Asher's upcoming works and seeing her literary career grow!

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished The New World and just sat there for a while. Not because I was confused, but because I felt emotionally drained in the best, most devastating way.

From the very first pages, there was this constant feeling of knowing things are about to break, and once they do, nothing gets put back the same way.

At surface level The New World series is a dystopian series, but underneath are layers of themes meant to make the reader look at the bigger picture. This wasn’t a story asking what’s right, but rather:

🥀 Who are we behind the masks we wear?
🥀 To what lengths would we go for the ones we love?
🥀 Can we outrun our past?
🥀 What are you willing to live with once the truth is out?

The characters I have come to love so deeply are broken down physically and mentally. Watching them carry the consequences of decisions they made books ago hurt in lingering way that stays with you long after you turn the last page of their story. I didn’t just root for them - I ached for them.

By the end, I just sat there processing. I felt proud of these characters, mourned what was lost, and felt grateful for what survived. This finale didn’t rush the emotions or play it safe. In true Asher fashion it let the story hurt, and that’s why it worked for me.

I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to join Asher on her journey - this story, these characters, and Asher's unwavering kindness have been a gift.

[Grace mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This finale didn’t feel like an ending, it felt like impact. I have loved this series from the very first page, and I was wildly unprepared for what this book would do to me.

Asher’s writing is a force. Every book pulls tighter, sharper, deeper, and this one lands with the full weight of everything that came before it. The rebellion is fractured, the stakes are crushing, and the emotional fallout is relentless.
Jasper and Onyx absolutely ruined me. Their love is dangerous, raw, and devastating. Watching them face rage, loss, and impossible choices while still choosing each other I cannot I just love them so much.

And that ending? Violence. Pure violence. This was the perfect ending to a flawless series and I will never, ever recover from it.

Asher. ASHER. You are wildly talented. This series is a masterpiece and a gift. I am endlessly proud of you, grateful to have witnessed this journey, and honored to love these characters the way I do. Your stories matter. Your voice matters. You wrote a DAMN series and I will scream about it forever.

If you haven't started this series your missing out.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars ⭐️

Full review coming soon!!

[Netty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to @author.asherdpayne & @rattlethestarspr for the eARC

The New World by Asher D Payne - Book 5 of The New World Series

Wow! Asher has hit it out the park yet again! She's managed to wrap up the series perfectly 😊 All the twists, turns & betrayals come to an epic conclusion in this final to the 5 book series.

This is such a fantastic book & I love the characters so much, especially Onyx & Jasper 😍 As always be prepared for heartbreak & emotional damage, I wouldn't expect anything less from Asher! The ending is just perfect 🤌

It's one of those series that makes you want to go straight back to the beginning & read them all again to see what you missed the first time. I can't wait for my special edition shelf trophies to arrive 😊

Trust No One 🫣😂

Books 1–5 of The New World series — The Illumination, The Abyss, The Backlight, The Unveiled & The New World— are now available on Kindle Unlimited, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more

Stay tuned for upcoming news regarding a Novella!

#AsherDPayne #TheNewWorld #Dystopian #RattleTheStarsPR #nettyslibrary

[Laura McCloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for your next series that will hold you in its grips and never let go, this one is it! The New World is the 5th and final installment of The New World Series and it utterly destroyed me in all the best and worst ways possible.

The character development is unmatched and will have your heart and soul in a chokehold for the entire series. When you need to keep track of have many times a book/series makes you cry, and I mean outright sobbing mess, you know that you’ve got a vice grip on the reader’s emotions.

The New World continues to keep your mind on a swivel as the turning of events has you unable to predict what’s coming and leaves you continuously guessing if you’ve had it all wrong the entire time.

By far, this is one of the best series I have gotten to experience and I cannot recommend enough!

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

You guys are NOT ready. I just finished an arc read of The New World and I am obsessed!! This book is everything I wanted and more. While I hate that it wraps up the series, it does so incredibly - and that EPILOGUE!!!!! I have never needed something more, it was absolutely beautiful. An easy 5⭐️ read, thank you so much for this wonderful world and characters you’ve created Asher.

[Charmed Chapters~ Gem · Rating 5 out of 5]

The New World by Asher D Payne deserves a solid five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️from me!

What an emotional rollercoaster it has been! I’ve experienced laughter, tears, and intense frustration throughout the journey. From the very beginning, the writing captivated me—I was eager to discover the fates of the main characters. The deaths were truly impactful, leaving me with emotional scars. Asher’s storytelling allowed me to deeply connect with the characters, making their struggles feel incredibly real.

This series has been remarkable, filled with unexpected twists and heart-wrenching moments. One key takeaway from the book is the duality of love; it can uplift us as heroes or lead us down a dark path as villains. Ultimately, love is both our downfall and our salvation. Thank you, Asher, for crafting such incredible stories. I can't wait to see what you create next!

[Everlie Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book consumed my heart and my soul. It feels bittersweet to know the series is over, but the deep ache that has settled inside me feels like it will never be replaced. I cried with these characters, laughed with them, and grew with them. They healed me and also shattered me at the same time, and I don’t think I will ever recover.

If you are considering reading this series. Do it. If you aren’t, then you should. This was easily a top read of 2025 for me, and that ranking easily merged into this year as well.

I cannot wait to read whatever Asher pushes out. She is so extremely underrated and I will simply be waiting around for her to take off.

[Rose Dinsmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author has woven the most tangled of webs. I’ve never felt so confused and intrigued at the same time! This series boasts of unreliable narrators, but that is truly an understatement for what we have here. This last book gives us answers and wraps up everything so we have closure. And that epilogue… trust me, you want to get to the epilogue.

4 💜’s.

[chaptersbynina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I`m rating this book 4.5 stars.
I’m not gonna lie, I read this one slowly for two reasons. First, I didn’t want it to end. Second, I wanted to enjoy every bit of it. And I did. It was an intense and emotional finale. It pulled together everything the series has been building toward: heartbreak, hope, and powerful character growth.
It’s the kind of ending that stays with you long after you turn the last page. A strong and unforgettable conclusion to The New World series. 💛

[J.C. Bourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful ending to a binge worthy series, had me in tears from start to end.

[Ellie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t believe it’s over! This series seriously was such a fun ride!!!!

[Jennifer*Scorpio*Cats*Coffee*Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot properly articulate all of my emotions for this book, and this series. The emotional and mental journey I took with this series has been full of joy, anger, devastation, elation, confusion, betrayal, devotion... and hope. And I think the parallels within this series to our current government and world disorder are so, so on point. This may be a dystopian fantasy romance, but it truly is so much more. It's not just a literary mirror for our current world and the injustices of its corruption. This is a raw dare to make you really look inward and be honest- what would you do for the ones you love most? Throughout the series we have seen how strong the human soul can be, how devoted and tenacious these characters are when faced with insurmountable obstacles. We have seen how beautiful love and life can be when we find the right people to surround ourselves with. And we have seen how sometimes, we may need to become the villain in other's stories in order to protect those we love the most.

The ending gutted me. I never would have expected how this series would end when I started it last year, and I think that is just one of the amazing aspects of this series- you just never knew what to believe until the curtain was pulled back. The character art Asher has commissioned for that scene on the roof (Ok, BOTH roof scenes bc iykyk) is heart wrenching. When we ended The Unveiled, and what Astrid said and did- I was like wth??!! And then to see how everything unfolded here... Astrid, Mother Astrid. You will never be forgotten. You are one freaking BA FMC, and probably one of my absolute favorite FMCs ever (and I've been reading for 3 decades).

And Rayne... oh my heart, Rayne... you are so precious, so pure, so devoted and strong. I'd pick you over the bear every since time.
Jasper... You are my favorite ginger EVERRRRRR. I broke along with you, and my heart was rebuilt with the love you and Onyx exchanged. You are so strong, your heart is so genuine. You give of yourself 200%, and I wish I could have half of your courage. The love you and Onyx have for each other has been raw, vulnerable, and real.
Zaide, sweet Zaide, I know your heart hurts, but you deserve all the happiness in the world.
Lena, Aiden, Xanden, Everett, Mykel, Owen... these characters aren't just 'side characters.' They are truly the people you would want by your side at the end of the world, because they would do absolutely anything to keep you safe.


******************************



Generalized series spoilers ahead, so don't read more unless you have read up to this book. Also, reading is political, and this review delves into my opinion on how on-point this series is in regards to our current political and societal climate. *************************

We start the series with two opposing factions- The Rebels and The Venturers, as well as the corrupt government lead by President McKinley. As corrupt governments go, they disseminate false information to keep naive citizens within their control. Which is what the President has done in order to separate the Rebels and Venturers, pitting them against each other and fanning the flames of mistrust and hatred.

The President and his officials have created a virus that has infected everyone, giving some citizens superhuman powers while lying to other citizens that they have not been infected. Spoiler alert- everyone is infected, but by keeping that truth hidden, the President controls the narrative that the Rebels are the enemy and cannot be trusted.

The Rebels ARE the enemy- of the President, not of the citizens who desperately want freedom and safety from the chaos and creatures that now exist because of the insidious, treacherous actions of the President. Because the Rebels are led by Onyx Oakes, "The Most Wanted" man, former leader of the President's most deadly Special Operations force. Yes, Onyx wielded more power than anyone they knew, but his power also lay in his knowledge. Because as we all know, knowledge is power. And the government is willing to do Anything to keep Onyx and his companions' knowledge hidden.

As the series unfolded we discovered who was truly pulling the strings behind the scenes, and those revelations flipped the narrative on its head. Because as we watch the senseless chaos, killings, and destruction on the news each day, we just know there has to be someone else in the shadows pulling strings to keep these government officials in office. It is that dark, shadowy figure who Asher expertly crafted into Radley's character. And all of those vile characteristics which we see now within our administration are mirrored in Radley.

Not only does he represent hate and cruelty, he represents the leaders throughout history who have used deception, fear, dictatorship, anarchy, fascism, religious persecution, and military intimidation in order to control their population. The New World does not use race/skin color as a means to discriminate, but instead it uses the 'us or them' aspect in its place. Because really, that distinction is what it boils down to with humanity throughout the centuries- 'us or them.' Leaders have used that arbitrary line to incite violence towards those less powerful, those who are more vulnerable and at risk. The New World uses the Runners, humans mutated by the virus created by the President, as a means to instill fear in the citizens so they stay cowed, hiding within the fake protective wall of the remaining 'safe' districts the government has created after The Fall of their known civilization. Because really- it's just this simple- we are all human. We are all trying to survive in this world. We are trying to find meaning, a place to exist and belong, people to love and who makes us feel loved.

Beyond this societal commentary though, this series highlighted how beautiful love can be. How strong, evolutionary, and life-saving it can be to someone. The love these characters have for each other saved their lives over and over. Their love was pure, deep, gut-wrenching, and at times- SPICY AF. I MEAN HOLY HELL ASHER! The blushing and fanning that I did during some of these chapters! The openness with which they approach each other and their physical expressions of love was so refreshing. As someone who is pan/poly, I loved the representation in this series.

OK, tl;dr: Read this series. It will change your brain chemistry. Thank you Asher for welcoming me onto your ARC team, for this journey, and I am a fan for life.

[Taylor Priem · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚨Arc review 🚨

First off WHAT A CONCLUSION TO THE BEST SERIES EVER

7.5 ⭐️

40+ 😭crying sessions
Over 100+ 😭 crying sessions in total for the series

ASHER HOLY MOTHER OF PEARLS- WHAT THE FORKBALLS MY FREAKING HEART AND MY HEAD

First off I wanted to say I cried so freaking much in this book, I don’t think I ugly cried as much as I did in this one too. Around 35 cries this time beating my record in a book.
The characters in this book were so strong as ever, some I grew to love by each book and some were misunderstood a little and knowing the trust no one aspect it makes sense and now I have to read again and see all the signs I had missed when I was reading because I know everything now. I think that’s genius.

With this being the epic conclusion, it was everything and more even though it broke me and shattered my soul into a million pieces this was absolutely devastatingly GENIUS!!

And with my emotions going form being happy to sad real fast and then kicking my feet cause the smut was hot and then crying again I kept getting whiplash. ESPECIALLY WITH BRINING UP A CHARACTER.. you know who it is and I still am upset with you for doing that and you mentioning it again over and over I kept crying 😭

All the pain, all the trauma, all the tears, the grief, blood and death all these characters went though throughout the book seeing some not get to the new world made my heart hurt. And you definitely brought the gut punch.

JASPENEX my husbands, my lights, my heart, my everything I love them so dearly, and then my newly formed nickname RAYDE MY OTHER HUSBANDS I loved them omfg I can’t my Shayla’s

I am so sad to think this is the end, this series honestly saved my life, the emotions, the words, the stories, just everything about this series makes this so special to me and I will never forget the feeling I had. And joining the street team I’ve met so many new friends and basically my family like what these characters had so honestly thank you Asher d Payne for everything even if you broke my soul and stomped on it but then put it back together you saved my life; thank you for writing JASPENEX and every character and this was and will forever be my favorite book series. I will forever love this sire’s forever and always.

The ending was perfect it was the perfect conclusion on this wild ride that I enjoyed even through all my tears and crashouts. The fact this series is over hurts my soul because this was my everything the past couple months I saw myself in these characters and I know it’ll be there forever, always it just hurts to know there won’t be more. But to me the way it ended was everything I need to be okay I’m at peace and I am so grateful for that.

My key notes:

🤍🫶🏳️‍🌈 - LGBTQIA+ storyline is PHENOMENAL I love the smut and emotions the couples/character’s have

🤍🫶🏳️‍🌈 - I cried so hard in this series I got sick but I loved every second of it because this series saved my life and also put me back together.

🤍🫶🏳️‍🌈- Asher’s writing is full of deep emotions and love. You can see the love and hard work that was put into this series, the emotions are so deep and raw that the connection you will have the book series is just so well done.

🫶🏳️‍🌈🤍 - joining Asher’s street team i have met so many of my friends that are now what I consider family, I also think of Asher as family, this network that was created with the series is so heartwarming, this was everything they all helped me throughout all of this and I can’t thank everyone enough.

GO READ YOU WILL NOT REGRET I PROMISE, GET TISSUES, GET DRINKS, HOLD ONTO YOUR KINDLE CAUSE YOULL NEED EVERYTHING TO BE PREPARED..

I hope you enjoy the series just as much as I did and love it just as I do, one of the best series ever and one of the sweetest human beings ever, Asher is such a vibrant light and I can’t wait to see what more you write .

[Dark Bedroom Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favourite quote:
“It was revenge and retribution. It was sacrifice and bloodied love.”

ARC Review. No spoilers.

The last book of the series… and with it comes the one final mission. ⚔️☄️

Each book in this series is a fragment of a bigger picture (and the covers prove that). They’re all different, each holding its own vibe and emotion. But what connects them all is the same core: mission, hope, love, and the fight for a better world. For freedom.

It’s one of the most complicated and interesting series I’ve read. Emotionally heavy, packed with tension, secrets, fights, friendships and alliances. Mystical, dark, powerful. ⚡️

Since the first book, the series has changed. It has grown into a thriller with a psychological backbone. And the fantasy part - the abilities, the supernatural elements, felt as natural as breathing all the way through.

And then comes book5 and everything narrows down. The path is behind them and the end of the power games is right in front of them.
There are inner thoughts, rethinking, looking back at the roads that led here… and those moments where you either say the words that have been screaming in your heart or lose the chance forever… 🖤🖤🖤

Reading the final book gave me mixed emotions. I wanted to know how it ends, but at the same time… the end means letting go...

It ended the way I hoped. All my favorite characters made it through this hellish mission and stood in the final scene… scarred physically and emotionally, but still there. Still present. Stronger. And with the right people side by side.

For me, the most important character is Onyx. He has a permanent place in my mind. A figure of power, a fighter and a loving heart who would do anything to protect the people he loves. 🖤
And Rayne… a ray of light even in the darkest situations.

Thank you, Asher for the opportunity to dive into this world earlier since book one.

🌶 2.5/5

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok

Wow-what a whirlwind! The journey this series takes you on is absolutely wild. Asher has a gift for character development; you truly get to know them inside and out. I felt every single emotion right alongside them, moving from laughter to pure rage to total heartbreak.

Without giving anything away, the story went exactly where I hoped it would-though I wasn’t sure it was even possible given the circumstances.

The twists were truly next-level! And Astrid... wow. She is such a complex character. The way my feelings shifted from hate to questioning her motives, and finally back to love, was just brilliant.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼

“Now that I have you, now that I know who and what I want, losing you is no longer an option.”

“When there was no one, there’d always been him. My light. My purpose.”

“Where the two of them differed vastly from Shared they d bre we a the word apatt for what they felt was right. One for good. One for evil. Both for those they loved.”

“I want you to be perfectly mine for as long as we live. There is no one, and nothing, that will take that away from you. Ever.”

“You promise me?”
“No. I fucking vow.”

“You have brought radiance to my darkest days and shone a light on the shadows of my essence.”

[Kelsey Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a fever dream of love and loss. The toe curling spice juxtaposed with pure chaotic trauma had me questioning which way was up. It was as if I was drowning in all the foreshadowing and just as I thought the light was visible, another wave crashed. This was relentless with a frenzied finality that I struggled to put down. This was the end, ready or not.

Asher poured depth into every character creating a world you feel you have walked in, loved in, cried in. Poetic in a way that I can imagine Onyx’s embrace, Jasper’s pointed stare, the feel of Astrid’s hands that I would love to hold while we weep about the reality of women’s sacrifices. The pacing, the world building, all lent to a reading experience that consumes you. I’m still processing the ending a week later, and I don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon. I’ll probably let my mind drift to the characters who ripped my heart out, but then gently put the jagged pieces back together. The author who created a world of inclusion, strong women, men who defend the helpless, and although you won’t always feel this way, slivers of hope.

Please pick this up, white knuckle your way through the twists and turns. Surrender to the unknown, the fear, the loss - the love. Give this criminally under hyped story the opportunity to change your brain chemistry.

✨Thank you Asher D. Payne, you’ve changed my life. Thank you for the ARC, and for the opportunity to read your stories - until next time ✨

[Christina Halverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an epic conclusion to an amazing series.

From Onyx and Jasper, to Rayne and Zaide, to Gael and Astrid, Owen, Lena and Xanden, to the rest of the beautiful characters crafted by Asher, I’m smitten forever.

This series will forever remain my favorite. The characters are deep, personal, and I cried EASILY over 20+ times in this book alone.

Their personal growth, triumphs, and backstories melded beautifully in the epic conclusion of this series. It’s one I will never forget, and God, was the ending beautifully tragic.

Asher D. Payne knows how to write emotion that’s so deeply crafted you can’t help but feel the entirety of it. The trauma makes you feel seen in a way a book series has never done before.

And let me just say: My babies Onyx and Jasper?? God, I sobbed. SOBBED. Jasper is my favorite character ever and I love that man with my whole heart. He’s so detailed and nuanced, and I’ve never seen a character more true to my own heart.

🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 6 stars if I could rate it because it’s perfect, and I hope everyone reads this amazing series to experience this finale.

And to Asher? You’re a beautifully amazing author, and your talent is unlike anyone else’s. You’ve got a reader for life.

Just. Wow.

[Charmed Chapters - Tash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bittersweet read in every possible way. Knowing this was the final book, knowing loss was coming… I took my time with it. I didn’t want to rush. I wanted to cherish it, and I’m so glad I did.

This book broke me and healed me over and over again. I cried hard, laughed out loud, swooned shamelessly, and spent most of it on edge for a hundred different reasons. The emotional whiplash? Brutal. Perfect. Worth it.

Asher’s writing is incredible. You don’t just read these characters…you feel them. They’re friends. They’re family. Their pain, love, grief, hope… it all hits deep. Every emotion lands exactly where it’s meant to, and you feel like you’re standing right there with them through it all.

The ending was exactly what this series deserved. It wraps things up in a way that feels hopeful and earned, while still leaving that ache behind, because honestly? I wasn’t ready to let this world go.

Asher, I love this series so much. I love the heart you put into it, the pain, the healing, the growth , all of it. I’m so proud of you and forever grateful I got to experience this journey

[AshReadsAlot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really uncertain how to put into words what this series has done to me.
It broke me, built me up, broke me again, and put me back together so, sooo many times.

I was hesitant going into book 5, because I could anticipate the emotional ruin that was coming.
The finality of the story was so well done, it wraps up the series in the most profound way. The entire book had me entranced, consumed, and absolutely captivated. As much as the end of this series battered me, the glimmers of genuine hope and happiness for the characters' future left me feeling fulfilled.

Asher has this way with words and story telling that brings you right into the world in such an absolutely compelling way that it became part of me. This world, these characters, their histories, and stories will live with me always.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about the entire New World Series!

Each and every book had me hooked from page one and I didn't want to put them down.

Please...for the love of all things books...add this series to your TBR immediately.