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The Exiles #1
The Vanishing
Description: It all begins with a game. Six teenagers from around the world receive a mysterious VR headset and are dropped into RIZE: a hyper-realistic survival simulation game where the Earth still lives and breathes as it used to. But when tragedy strikes, the 17-year-olds are faced with a radical choice: to remain obedient heirs to a broken world or take their virtual civilization offline and build it for real.
In a daring heist, the six disappear. They flood the system with fake identities, hijack their supplies, and vanish into the Pacific Northwest to build The Ark: an off-grid homestead rooted in ancient wisdom, the science of permaculture, and the hope of creating a blueprint to save the world.
At first, The Ark feels like utopia. Spring brings blossoms and blurred boundaries. But love entangles. Ideologies fracture. Winter descends. A traitor is unmasked, and survival turns brutal. As the outside world hunts them, and the true creator of RIZE is revealed, cracks in their idyllic community begin to form. They had set out to save the world, but now they’re fighting to save themselves.
Forget fantasy—this is real. No superpowers. No monsters. Just ordinary teenagers daring to fight for something better as they navigate the wonder and horror of the world they’ve inherited.
"At a time when dystopia has never felt so urgent and close to home, THE EXILES is as prescient as it is a page-turner. Kelsey Crane crafts a world just a breath away from our own, where flawed, fierce teen heroes dare to reimagine their future—and in doing so, inspire her readers to believe in change. A bold, timely reinvention of the genre from a promising new voice in the YA space."
—Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and Delirium
In a daring heist, the six disappear. They flood the system with fake identities, hijack their supplies, and vanish into the Pacific Northwest to build The Ark: an off-grid homestead rooted in ancient wisdom, the science of permaculture, and the hope of creating a blueprint to save the world.
At first, The Ark feels like utopia. Spring brings blossoms and blurred boundaries. But love entangles. Ideologies fracture. Winter descends. A traitor is unmasked, and survival turns brutal. As the outside world hunts them, and the true creator of RIZE is revealed, cracks in their idyllic community begin to form. They had set out to save the world, but now they’re fighting to save themselves.
Forget fantasy—this is real. No superpowers. No monsters. Just ordinary teenagers daring to fight for something better as they navigate the wonder and horror of the world they’ve inherited.
"At a time when dystopia has never felt so urgent and close to home, THE EXILES is as prescient as it is a page-turner. Kelsey Crane crafts a world just a breath away from our own, where flawed, fierce teen heroes dare to reimagine their future—and in doing so, inspire her readers to believe in change. A bold, timely reinvention of the genre from a promising new voice in the YA space."
—Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Fall and Delirium
330 pages, Paperback
Published August 18, 2026
About the author
Kelsey Crane
3 books43 followersKELSEY CRANE is a storyteller, gardener, and apprentice of regenerative living. A certified permaculturist and ambassador for the Rodale Institute, she learns from the teachers, growers, and Indigenous leaders quietly building the future, and brings what she gathers to the page with care and curiosity. Her fiction explores the collision of ecological collapse and radical transformation, always with unshakable optimism—a hope she holds, as a mother, for every child inheriting this world. Kelsey lives in Los Angeles with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 5, 2026
HIGHLY RECOMNEND THIS READ FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES DYSTOPIAN BOOKS! THIS IS TOP TIER, MY BOOK OF THE YEAR AND CHANGED MY THINKING! I've had some time since reading this and I'm even more passionate about this book. This is an exciting start of the series that is actually worth investing in. Anyone who has contacted us about joining our Book Club, this will be book number 1, lets get reading ASAP, need to yap about this book to anyone who will listen.
Original Review below:
Just finished reading this, thank you Net galley and Kelsey for the opportunity to read this book. This is officially my favourite read of the year, I really didn't want this book to end, I savoured every chapter and now I'm sad it's over. Thank you for taking us on a JOURNEY, I am so freaking happy that I read a book with this exact plot, I used to fantasise about some of the world building and imagination involved in the bones of this story. Words can't really explain how happy I feel.
I loved the characters, the romantic moments had me giggling out loud. The world building was fantastic.
Thank you Kelsey for making me care about things that are important, that I usually try ignore because the world is depressing. This story has given me a lot to think about and I'll never forget it. I hope to start changing in ways that I feel the book has inspired me to.
I have already recommended this book to my boyfriend and my sister 🥹🩷 I won't shut up about this story. It's a 6 star and I can't wait to re-read it, I will be buying the Hardcover ASAP 😍 also that ending..... You're cooking! Patiently waiting for book 2 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Original Review below:
Just finished reading this, thank you Net galley and Kelsey for the opportunity to read this book. This is officially my favourite read of the year, I really didn't want this book to end, I savoured every chapter and now I'm sad it's over. Thank you for taking us on a JOURNEY, I am so freaking happy that I read a book with this exact plot, I used to fantasise about some of the world building and imagination involved in the bones of this story. Words can't really explain how happy I feel.
I loved the characters, the romantic moments had me giggling out loud. The world building was fantastic.
Thank you Kelsey for making me care about things that are important, that I usually try ignore because the world is depressing. This story has given me a lot to think about and I'll never forget it. I hope to start changing in ways that I feel the book has inspired me to.
I have already recommended this book to my boyfriend and my sister 🥹🩷 I won't shut up about this story. It's a 6 star and I can't wait to re-read it, I will be buying the Hardcover ASAP 😍 also that ending..... You're cooking! Patiently waiting for book 2 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
August 26, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book.
This was an interesting and immersive dystopian novel. There was many different points of view and as the reader, I got a taste of each character, their struggles and their personality. I also liked how the characters were very diverse and came from all sorts of different points of views. The world building was also very immersive and full of tension and thrills. As a whole, the story follows many different important topics such as climate change, mental health and mental illness, grief, domestic violence and much more. I feel like I got a lot out of this one book with all the themes and revelations.
This was an interesting and immersive dystopian novel. There was many different points of view and as the reader, I got a taste of each character, their struggles and their personality. I also liked how the characters were very diverse and came from all sorts of different points of views. The world building was also very immersive and full of tension and thrills. As a whole, the story follows many different important topics such as climate change, mental health and mental illness, grief, domestic violence and much more. I feel like I got a lot out of this one book with all the themes and revelations.
July 12, 2026
ARC REVIEW — book out August 18 🌟
what an impressive debut novel !!!
i had the pleasure of reading The Vanishing as an ARC, and i’m so grateful i got to discover this story before its release. for a debut novel, i was genuinely impressed. thank you so much Kelsey for trusting me with your book.
The Vanishing follows six teenagers from different corners of the world who receive a mysterious VR headset and are invited to test RIZE, an ultra-realistic survival simulation. but when the game reveals the devastating truth about the future of their world, they make the impossible choice to disappear and build a new life off the grid, hoping to create a better future together.
one of my favorite things about this book was the story itself. it felt so unique and unlike anything i’ve read before, which made the whole reading experience even more captivating.
i also really enjoyed the different points of view that added so much depth to the story and kept me invested from beginning to end. and the dynamic between the characters was definitely one of the best thing for me ! i loved watching their relationships evolve and seeing how they all brought something different to the story.
also… Kelsey Crane’s writing is engaging and easy to get lost in, and she does such a great job balancing mystery, adventure, and emotion. i can’t wait to the rest of the trilogy.
what an impressive debut novel !!!
i had the pleasure of reading The Vanishing as an ARC, and i’m so grateful i got to discover this story before its release. for a debut novel, i was genuinely impressed. thank you so much Kelsey for trusting me with your book.
The Vanishing follows six teenagers from different corners of the world who receive a mysterious VR headset and are invited to test RIZE, an ultra-realistic survival simulation. but when the game reveals the devastating truth about the future of their world, they make the impossible choice to disappear and build a new life off the grid, hoping to create a better future together.
one of my favorite things about this book was the story itself. it felt so unique and unlike anything i’ve read before, which made the whole reading experience even more captivating.
i also really enjoyed the different points of view that added so much depth to the story and kept me invested from beginning to end. and the dynamic between the characters was definitely one of the best thing for me ! i loved watching their relationships evolve and seeing how they all brought something different to the story.
also… Kelsey Crane’s writing is engaging and easy to get lost in, and she does such a great job balancing mystery, adventure, and emotion. i can’t wait to the rest of the trilogy.
Read
June 11, 2026I loved this book from start to finish. It is a compelling and timely novel that is beautifully written. The story of a group of teenagers who must grapple with the extraordinary environmental destruction and construct a world of their own first in the physical world and subsequently in the virtual world.
Their journey takes twists and turns as they create their world and then deal with deception, betrayal along with the normal journey a group of teenagers must undergo as they continue their path to maturity.
You will be both deeply touched and wildly amazed as you read this poetic book. It sets forth the prominent issues facing the world today and provides both caution and hope. Kelsey Crane is a richly talented author who you will want to both know about and follow the trajectory of what will be an extraordinary career as a novelist. Run don’t walk to get your copy when it is released this summer!!
Their journey takes twists and turns as they create their world and then deal with deception, betrayal along with the normal journey a group of teenagers must undergo as they continue their path to maturity.
You will be both deeply touched and wildly amazed as you read this poetic book. It sets forth the prominent issues facing the world today and provides both caution and hope. Kelsey Crane is a richly talented author who you will want to both know about and follow the trajectory of what will be an extraordinary career as a novelist. Run don’t walk to get your copy when it is released this summer!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨First off, I have to thank Kelsey for reaching out to me and inviting me to read her debut novel. Thank you for trusting me with your work! I am so grateful to have been able to read this story before it publishes and to have the honor of sharing it with other readers.
I will start my review by saying I’m a thriller reader through and through. I will sometimes dabble in a few other genres. So when I read what The Vanishing was about, I was intrigued albeit a little unsure. I haven’t read many YA dystopian novels. But to me, this is timely, thought-provoking fiction. This story does not read like a debut. Kelsey is a gifted writer but her talent doesn’t end there. She is also very knowledgeable about taking care of our environment and it comes across to the reader in an entertaining and suspenseful way.
The different parts of the book, RIZE and The Ark, blend seamlessly to bring the whole story together. Told through six POVs, the reader gets a glimpse into each of the teens’ lives. It shows how their life experiences have shaped them and in turn provided what they skills they each have to offer in their new world. I loved each of the six for their distinct personalities. They feel so authentic, almost as if I knew them.
There is also a police investigation running throughout the plot, which made it even more exciting! At one point, a twisty reveal stopped my reading and I just sat staring for a bit. Will the six evade detection or will all of their hard work be for naught? Now I can’t wait for book two of The Exiles.
I highly recommend that you read this book. You will be so glad you did - and you might even learn some important things in the process!
I will start my review by saying I’m a thriller reader through and through. I will sometimes dabble in a few other genres. So when I read what The Vanishing was about, I was intrigued albeit a little unsure. I haven’t read many YA dystopian novels. But to me, this is timely, thought-provoking fiction. This story does not read like a debut. Kelsey is a gifted writer but her talent doesn’t end there. She is also very knowledgeable about taking care of our environment and it comes across to the reader in an entertaining and suspenseful way.
The different parts of the book, RIZE and The Ark, blend seamlessly to bring the whole story together. Told through six POVs, the reader gets a glimpse into each of the teens’ lives. It shows how their life experiences have shaped them and in turn provided what they skills they each have to offer in their new world. I loved each of the six for their distinct personalities. They feel so authentic, almost as if I knew them.
There is also a police investigation running throughout the plot, which made it even more exciting! At one point, a twisty reveal stopped my reading and I just sat staring for a bit. Will the six evade detection or will all of their hard work be for naught? Now I can’t wait for book two of The Exiles.
I highly recommend that you read this book. You will be so glad you did - and you might even learn some important things in the process!
July 27, 2026
I don’t think I’ve ever read a modern dystopian-esque novel that captures both a coming-of-age story and found family quite like The Vanishing.
Since this is an ARC, I’ll be keeping this review completely spoiler-free.
The worldbuilding perfectly straddles the line between modern-day and post-apocalyptic. Imagine our current society—but just a few steps further down the path we’re already on. Climate change. Smog. Food shortages. Supply chain disruptions. The slow unraveling of civilization under the weight of technology, war, and depleted natural resources. It’s unsettling because it’s believable. Every piece of this world feels close enough that you can easily picture yourself living in it.
Then there are the characters.
Six teenagers from different countries, cultures, and walks of life each receive a mysterious VR headset on their doorstep. No note. No return address. Just their name.
Inside this virtual world, they’re forced to rely on skills and knowledge they’ve either inherited or learned in order to survive and build a new society. What begins as a game slowly transforms into something much bigger when the six strangers decide to bring what they’ve learned into the real world.
I absolutely adore authors who create layered, complex characters and give each one meaningful opportunities to grow, and Kelsey Crane does exactly that.
These six adolescents—each between seventeen and eighteen years old—carry their own histories of trauma, grief, and hardship. Watching them slowly become a family, complete with love, friendship, disagreements, and heartbreak, was one of my favorite parts of the novel.
What I appreciated most was that the story never treats a fresh start as a magical cure-all. Their pasts don’t disappear simply because they’ve entered a new chapter. The wounds they carry continue to influence their choices, their relationships, and the challenges they face. I loved that. Just because we leave difficult situations behind doesn’t mean we leave without scars, and those scars can still shape who we become if we don’t learn to heal from them.
And when I tell you this book delivers on emotional tension… holy cow.
These six teenagers think they know what to expect, only to be thrown into situations no one could have anticipated or controlled. I was constantly on the edge of my seat—mouth hanging open, butt cheeks clenched—talking to the characters like they could somehow hear me. The emotional highs and devastating lows hit exactly when they needed to, and I never knew what was coming next.
Kelsey Crane’s writing is incredibly immersive without ever becoming bogged down in description. She paints vivid settings and raw emotion with just the right amount of detail, and the pacing is phenomenal. Every quiet moment serves a purpose, every intense moment lands, and together they create a story that kept me completely captivated from beginning to end.
The Vanishing releases August 18, and I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re a fan of grounded dystopian fiction, found family, character-driven stories, and emotional coming-of-age journeys, this is one you’ll want to preorder.
I already need the next installment.
Since this is an ARC, I’ll be keeping this review completely spoiler-free.
The worldbuilding perfectly straddles the line between modern-day and post-apocalyptic. Imagine our current society—but just a few steps further down the path we’re already on. Climate change. Smog. Food shortages. Supply chain disruptions. The slow unraveling of civilization under the weight of technology, war, and depleted natural resources. It’s unsettling because it’s believable. Every piece of this world feels close enough that you can easily picture yourself living in it.
Then there are the characters.
Six teenagers from different countries, cultures, and walks of life each receive a mysterious VR headset on their doorstep. No note. No return address. Just their name.
Inside this virtual world, they’re forced to rely on skills and knowledge they’ve either inherited or learned in order to survive and build a new society. What begins as a game slowly transforms into something much bigger when the six strangers decide to bring what they’ve learned into the real world.
I absolutely adore authors who create layered, complex characters and give each one meaningful opportunities to grow, and Kelsey Crane does exactly that.
These six adolescents—each between seventeen and eighteen years old—carry their own histories of trauma, grief, and hardship. Watching them slowly become a family, complete with love, friendship, disagreements, and heartbreak, was one of my favorite parts of the novel.
What I appreciated most was that the story never treats a fresh start as a magical cure-all. Their pasts don’t disappear simply because they’ve entered a new chapter. The wounds they carry continue to influence their choices, their relationships, and the challenges they face. I loved that. Just because we leave difficult situations behind doesn’t mean we leave without scars, and those scars can still shape who we become if we don’t learn to heal from them.
And when I tell you this book delivers on emotional tension… holy cow.
These six teenagers think they know what to expect, only to be thrown into situations no one could have anticipated or controlled. I was constantly on the edge of my seat—mouth hanging open, butt cheeks clenched—talking to the characters like they could somehow hear me. The emotional highs and devastating lows hit exactly when they needed to, and I never knew what was coming next.
Kelsey Crane’s writing is incredibly immersive without ever becoming bogged down in description. She paints vivid settings and raw emotion with just the right amount of detail, and the pacing is phenomenal. Every quiet moment serves a purpose, every intense moment lands, and together they create a story that kept me completely captivated from beginning to end.
The Vanishing releases August 18, and I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re a fan of grounded dystopian fiction, found family, character-driven stories, and emotional coming-of-age journeys, this is one you’ll want to preorder.
I already need the next installment.
August 14, 2026
4.5 stars - Wow, this book had right away with the concept but kept me with the storytelling and writing style. I found this concept interesting, and it felt like it was something that could happen in the future. 6 teenagers meet in a VR video game and then connect in real life to try to rebuild a society, and the world is falling apart because of how adults handled everything.
Something I thought Crane did really well was developing the voices and storylines of each of the 6 main characters. Sometimes when you have so many different POVs, it can get confusing who is who and separate character traits, but I thought Crane did a great job with this. Establishing each character's role in the VR game, which then translated to the real world, also helped. I also liked how we did not switch POVs from chapter to chapter but within the chapters, so we got to see and hear more from each character.
I also thought the side plot with the FBI agent was really interesting and am excited to see more of her in the rest of the series. I know because they are off the grid, we can't see how the rest of the world is reacting to these 6 teenagers disappearing; we see a little bit of it with one of the characters when she calls her friend but I would love to see how the others' friends and families are reacting to them disappearing!
There was also a twist at the end I was not expecting and made me even more excited for the next book in the series!
Something I thought Crane did really well was developing the voices and storylines of each of the 6 main characters. Sometimes when you have so many different POVs, it can get confusing who is who and separate character traits, but I thought Crane did a great job with this. Establishing each character's role in the VR game, which then translated to the real world, also helped. I also liked how we did not switch POVs from chapter to chapter but within the chapters, so we got to see and hear more from each character.
I also thought the side plot with the FBI agent was really interesting and am excited to see more of her in the rest of the series. I know because they are off the grid, we can't see how the rest of the world is reacting to these 6 teenagers disappearing; we see a little bit of it with one of the characters when she calls her friend but I would love to see how the others' friends and families are reacting to them disappearing!
There was also a twist at the end I was not expecting and made me even more excited for the next book in the series!
Review of advance copy
I’m going to bet I’m one of the older beta readers…and I, like my younger counterparts, was unable to put this extraordinary book down!
Kelsey masterfully explores the urgent themes of our times - environmental distress, human isolation, and our shared fears for the future.
Through gorgeous prose and raw, vulnerable characters, she tackles these modern dilemmas unflinchingly.
These young characters will tear at your heartstrings. As they struggle to protect the Earth and build a communal existence, you will find yourself cheering for them - even when they make poor decisions that made me wince and ache for them.
I cannot wait to read this series with my grandchildren! These are exactly the kind of brave characters who can inspire the very generation (s) that will inherit the future. Congratulations on an amazing book; you have given this grandmother much hope!
Kelsey masterfully explores the urgent themes of our times - environmental distress, human isolation, and our shared fears for the future.
Through gorgeous prose and raw, vulnerable characters, she tackles these modern dilemmas unflinchingly.
These young characters will tear at your heartstrings. As they struggle to protect the Earth and build a communal existence, you will find yourself cheering for them - even when they make poor decisions that made me wince and ache for them.
I cannot wait to read this series with my grandchildren! These are exactly the kind of brave characters who can inspire the very generation (s) that will inherit the future. Congratulations on an amazing book; you have given this grandmother much hope!
August 28, 2026
The Vanishing by Kelsey Crane
Five out of five stakes for me.
This book has everything in it that I love.
Apocalyptic world and teens trying to make a difference if they can. Always books like this show me, us that it takes just one or more teens to try to fight back. And the results may surprise you.
Six teens get a package with a vr headset to enter into a world of gaming that shows land that is untouched and filled with hope and grass and actual clean water rivers and animals.
Astrid checks in and loses herself into this world with a group of unknown strangers. But day by day the teens become family from all over the world. And when tragedy strikes her real life she has an idea. An idea that doesn't seem so far fetched as before. With some money and hope, can she make it with these five other teens?
Teo who loves to build, is tired of the way his life is turning out. With less hope everyday, decides to take a chance on Rize a virtual world with five other teens. And when a chance opportunity comes along he takes a chance on a girl who has an idea.
Yekta is tired of her home being destroyed by the people who just don't care anymore.
Instead of giving up she keeps trying to grow her plants and her little garden. In the virtual world its made possible. But does she follow the others to a land to regrow her hopes and dreams?
Ishaan all he is ever known is to be the best at being a doctor. The youngest doctor ever. But when one failed operation goes bad he starts questioning himself. Then in the Rize he realizes he can do everything. And the guilt and doubts leave him for just a little bit. But when the others have an idea and a little bit of hope. He takes a chance on this and leaves everything behind.
Rosalina just wants to make a difference and fights against the powers that be. And really live, not have to worry about taking medication. But when things start to become to much her parents tell her she has two choices and neither does she like. But she does it. And when a close friend at school mocks her and her feelings. She logs into the Rize and decides these are her people. She can be herself and keep her feelings in check and hold that secret about her life at bay.
Jayden the techy of the group wants to be seen and with the rize he can make friends and doesnt have to hide himself. But can he let go of the tech world completely and live off land? Let himself make friends and trust?
With an outsider trying to find who the real Jayden is, can he really live? Will he be leading the one person to them for their doom?
With the harshness of the weather and wild animals and can these six teens make their dreams come true? With winter coming can they build up what they want in time?
Looking forward to book #2
I want to know will they make it? I love each and every one of these characters in some way or another. I feel bad for them, all the loss and yet they are still hopeful.
Five out of five stakes for me.
This book has everything in it that I love.
Apocalyptic world and teens trying to make a difference if they can. Always books like this show me, us that it takes just one or more teens to try to fight back. And the results may surprise you.
Six teens get a package with a vr headset to enter into a world of gaming that shows land that is untouched and filled with hope and grass and actual clean water rivers and animals.
Astrid checks in and loses herself into this world with a group of unknown strangers. But day by day the teens become family from all over the world. And when tragedy strikes her real life she has an idea. An idea that doesn't seem so far fetched as before. With some money and hope, can she make it with these five other teens?
Teo who loves to build, is tired of the way his life is turning out. With less hope everyday, decides to take a chance on Rize a virtual world with five other teens. And when a chance opportunity comes along he takes a chance on a girl who has an idea.
Yekta is tired of her home being destroyed by the people who just don't care anymore.
Instead of giving up she keeps trying to grow her plants and her little garden. In the virtual world its made possible. But does she follow the others to a land to regrow her hopes and dreams?
Ishaan all he is ever known is to be the best at being a doctor. The youngest doctor ever. But when one failed operation goes bad he starts questioning himself. Then in the Rize he realizes he can do everything. And the guilt and doubts leave him for just a little bit. But when the others have an idea and a little bit of hope. He takes a chance on this and leaves everything behind.
Rosalina just wants to make a difference and fights against the powers that be. And really live, not have to worry about taking medication. But when things start to become to much her parents tell her she has two choices and neither does she like. But she does it. And when a close friend at school mocks her and her feelings. She logs into the Rize and decides these are her people. She can be herself and keep her feelings in check and hold that secret about her life at bay.
Jayden the techy of the group wants to be seen and with the rize he can make friends and doesnt have to hide himself. But can he let go of the tech world completely and live off land? Let himself make friends and trust?
With an outsider trying to find who the real Jayden is, can he really live? Will he be leading the one person to them for their doom?
With the harshness of the weather and wild animals and can these six teens make their dreams come true? With winter coming can they build up what they want in time?
Looking forward to book #2
I want to know will they make it? I love each and every one of these characters in some way or another. I feel bad for them, all the loss and yet they are still hopeful.
August 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (rounded up to 5)
I really loved this story! 🌎🎮🌱 It follows six teenagers from around the world who each receive a mysterious VR headset and are dropped into RIZE, a hyper-realistic survival simulation. The story starts off a little slower as you get to know each teen and the bleak version of the world they're living in, but stick with it. Around the 20% mark, something shocking happens that completely changed the trajectory of the story, and from that point on, I was HOOKED! 😳
One thing I really appreciated was that this book didn't go in the direction I expected. Instead of focusing solely on the simulation, the story evolves into the teens going off the grid to build The Ark, which was a back-to-basics community centered around nature, self-sufficiency, and surviving together. 🌿🏕️ I'll admit I got a little lost during some of the day-to-day life at The Ark, but I also found it fascinating to watch these teens wrestle with what it means to live more intentionally and reconnect with the natural world. It raised some interesting questions about technology, climate change, and the kind of future we're building without ever feeling preachy.
The climax was exciting and gave me The Host meets The Village vibes, and I was here for it. 💚 The found family dynamics really shine, and I loved seeing the relationships between the characters develop as the stakes continued to rise. And that ending?! 😱 What a cliffhanger! I'll definitely be picking up the next book because I have to know where this story goes.
Overall, I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy YA dystopian fiction with found family, survival and climate crisis themes, and stories that explore humanity's relationship with nature. 🌎✨ Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Plant a Revolution LLC for the advance reader eBook in exchange for my honest review.
I really loved this story! 🌎🎮🌱 It follows six teenagers from around the world who each receive a mysterious VR headset and are dropped into RIZE, a hyper-realistic survival simulation. The story starts off a little slower as you get to know each teen and the bleak version of the world they're living in, but stick with it. Around the 20% mark, something shocking happens that completely changed the trajectory of the story, and from that point on, I was HOOKED! 😳
One thing I really appreciated was that this book didn't go in the direction I expected. Instead of focusing solely on the simulation, the story evolves into the teens going off the grid to build The Ark, which was a back-to-basics community centered around nature, self-sufficiency, and surviving together. 🌿🏕️ I'll admit I got a little lost during some of the day-to-day life at The Ark, but I also found it fascinating to watch these teens wrestle with what it means to live more intentionally and reconnect with the natural world. It raised some interesting questions about technology, climate change, and the kind of future we're building without ever feeling preachy.
The climax was exciting and gave me The Host meets The Village vibes, and I was here for it. 💚 The found family dynamics really shine, and I loved seeing the relationships between the characters develop as the stakes continued to rise. And that ending?! 😱 What a cliffhanger! I'll definitely be picking up the next book because I have to know where this story goes.
Overall, I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy YA dystopian fiction with found family, survival and climate crisis themes, and stories that explore humanity's relationship with nature. 🌎✨ Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Plant a Revolution LLC for the advance reader eBook in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
At last, a science fiction novel that offers hope for a world facing the consequences of climate change.
In her exciting debut novel, Kelsey Crane awakens readers to the environmental challenges threatening our planet while imagining a creative and inspiring path toward recovery. The story follows six teenagers from around the world, each representing a unique archetypal role, who are mysteriously invited to participate in a virtual reality game. What begins as an immersive adventure soon evolves into a real-life struggle for survival.
As the teens unite to build a new natural order, they draw upon ancient farming techniques and sustainable practices. Along the way, readers learn about regenerative agriculture as Crane skillfully blends real scientific principles with a rich fantasy narrative. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and surprising turns that keep the story engaging from beginning to end.
Romance, cinematic action, and suspense abound, making this novel both thought-provoking and entertaining. More importantly, it offers a rare vision of optimism in the face of global environmental challenges. This inspiring book encourages young people to think creatively about the future and their role in shaping it. Engaging, educational, and hopeful, it should be required reading for high school students everywhere.
In her exciting debut novel, Kelsey Crane awakens readers to the environmental challenges threatening our planet while imagining a creative and inspiring path toward recovery. The story follows six teenagers from around the world, each representing a unique archetypal role, who are mysteriously invited to participate in a virtual reality game. What begins as an immersive adventure soon evolves into a real-life struggle for survival.
As the teens unite to build a new natural order, they draw upon ancient farming techniques and sustainable practices. Along the way, readers learn about regenerative agriculture as Crane skillfully blends real scientific principles with a rich fantasy narrative. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and surprising turns that keep the story engaging from beginning to end.
Romance, cinematic action, and suspense abound, making this novel both thought-provoking and entertaining. More importantly, it offers a rare vision of optimism in the face of global environmental challenges. This inspiring book encourages young people to think creatively about the future and their role in shaping it. Engaging, educational, and hopeful, it should be required reading for high school students everywhere.
September 18, 2026
The Vanishing really surprised me. It’s YA, but it never felt juvenile — in fact, these young adults often felt wiser than most adults. I love that this is Kelsey's debut novel too. What an amazing, intriguing and individual book.
It’s unlike anything I’ve read before. The best comparison I can make is The Naturals meets The Hunger Games, with living off the land, community, climate welfare and cooperation at its heart. I loved getting to know the characters in their different countries, watching them meet through the virtual world of RIZE, and seeing their ideas about a better way of living begin to develop.
My only real issue was that it didn’t feel complete. I was left unsure where the wider story is ultimately going and what it wants to say, although that may simply be because the series is unfinished.
Original, thoughtful and genuinely enjoyable. I’ll definitely continue the series 🥰
It’s unlike anything I’ve read before. The best comparison I can make is The Naturals meets The Hunger Games, with living off the land, community, climate welfare and cooperation at its heart. I loved getting to know the characters in their different countries, watching them meet through the virtual world of RIZE, and seeing their ideas about a better way of living begin to develop.
My only real issue was that it didn’t feel complete. I was left unsure where the wider story is ultimately going and what it wants to say, although that may simply be because the series is unfinished.
Original, thoughtful and genuinely enjoyable. I’ll definitely continue the series 🥰
August 3, 2026
3,5⭐️
I got kindly sent this arc to review!
You follow 6 teenager in this dystopian world. The book starts with them jumping into a virtual survival game. You jump back into the game and into their real lives. They get to know each other through this survival game and they find out that they all want a better world and have nothing to lose. It’s a raw story about how we are destroying our world, and we should all try to save it.
I really like this idea of being in a game, I’m a gamer myself so I was super giddy about this part. Sadly this isn’t what you follow throughout the whole book. I love the different characters, they all had such different personalities. I did kinda struggle in the beginning to follow the 6 pov, but that’s a me thing. I will instantly forget the person I just read about.
All in all a really fun good YA dystopian. You could really feel the author her love for plant and nature, which I adored. I love plants. I love the secret that we discover at the end, I wasn’t even question that bit anymore. It’s super quick and easy read, I feel like this book could be a total hit with teenagers. I would’ve loved it!! (I stil really enjoyed it, but I do think a younger audience will be hooked more).
Thank you for letting me read and review this 🥰
I got kindly sent this arc to review!
You follow 6 teenager in this dystopian world. The book starts with them jumping into a virtual survival game. You jump back into the game and into their real lives. They get to know each other through this survival game and they find out that they all want a better world and have nothing to lose. It’s a raw story about how we are destroying our world, and we should all try to save it.
I really like this idea of being in a game, I’m a gamer myself so I was super giddy about this part. Sadly this isn’t what you follow throughout the whole book. I love the different characters, they all had such different personalities. I did kinda struggle in the beginning to follow the 6 pov, but that’s a me thing. I will instantly forget the person I just read about.
All in all a really fun good YA dystopian. You could really feel the author her love for plant and nature, which I adored. I love plants. I love the secret that we discover at the end, I wasn’t even question that bit anymore. It’s super quick and easy read, I feel like this book could be a total hit with teenagers. I would’ve loved it!! (I stil really enjoyed it, but I do think a younger audience will be hooked more).
Thank you for letting me read and review this 🥰
September 12, 2026
The Vanishing has a refreshing, unique plot. I loved meeting each of the characters and the diversity of their stories. It takes a minute to figure out all the characters, but once you are hooked on the story, you won't be able to stop. I spend most of my time reading thrillers, and this book reminded me why I need to read more fantasy. I loved the idea os teens being the leaders in this apocalyptic world. There is some truth in the book. The younger generation is sick of the current state of their world and wants something better and different. I can not wait to read book 2.
August 18, 2026
*ARC review* 3.75⭐️
I was sent this book as an eARC and I enjoyed it. It was a bit slow at first because you are being introduced to all the characters and their background. But it picks up as you read along. There are 6 teens who are chosen to participate in a VR game and it’s never said who sent them. Each teen has a special skill. One is good with hunting another with foraging etc. They need to work together to use their skill to build homes and survive in the VR game. It all takes a turn when they believe they can apply the same skills to build their own “Utopia” in the real world. Only they quickly find out it’s much harder to achieve than in the game. Kelsey’s writing is beautiful and descriptive. I enjoyed her character dialogue and their development. It’s my first dystopian novel and I’m glad I read it. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys gripping dystopian YA novels.
I was sent this book as an eARC and I enjoyed it. It was a bit slow at first because you are being introduced to all the characters and their background. But it picks up as you read along. There are 6 teens who are chosen to participate in a VR game and it’s never said who sent them. Each teen has a special skill. One is good with hunting another with foraging etc. They need to work together to use their skill to build homes and survive in the VR game. It all takes a turn when they believe they can apply the same skills to build their own “Utopia” in the real world. Only they quickly find out it’s much harder to achieve than in the game. Kelsey’s writing is beautiful and descriptive. I enjoyed her character dialogue and their development. It’s my first dystopian novel and I’m glad I read it. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys gripping dystopian YA novels.
July 31, 2026
4.5/5 🌟
A near future YA dystopian about a group of teens who can no longer sit around watching the world around them die while the powers that be sit back and do nothing. This rag tag group of unlikely friends sets off to rebuild the world in the backcountry of Oregon.
I love a YA dystopian and this was a whole different take on the genre that I really enjoyed! The world is crumbling, being lost to climate change and the greed of those in power. But a group of teens take back their power and find a remote location to rebuild and start to live off the land with the hopes that they can teach others to do the same and reverse some of the damage done to the earth.
The characters were engaging, each with their own set of skills to help build a new world. They’re a diverse group from all over the world with different experiences and knowledge to contribute. I loved the mental health rep and acceptance in the story as well!
If you enjoy a survival dystopian story I highly recommend checking out this debut!
A near future YA dystopian about a group of teens who can no longer sit around watching the world around them die while the powers that be sit back and do nothing. This rag tag group of unlikely friends sets off to rebuild the world in the backcountry of Oregon.
I love a YA dystopian and this was a whole different take on the genre that I really enjoyed! The world is crumbling, being lost to climate change and the greed of those in power. But a group of teens take back their power and find a remote location to rebuild and start to live off the land with the hopes that they can teach others to do the same and reverse some of the damage done to the earth.
The characters were engaging, each with their own set of skills to help build a new world. They’re a diverse group from all over the world with different experiences and knowledge to contribute. I loved the mental health rep and acceptance in the story as well!
If you enjoy a survival dystopian story I highly recommend checking out this debut!
August 24, 2026
The world is in shambles. Water rations, unbreathable air, 20 harvests before humans are in danger of become extint. Dystopian, and hit really close to home. 6 teenagers get invited into a VR game where the land is fertile and the air is breathable; they decided to leave the game AND the real world to start their own community. The fate of the earth is literally up to them.
But you can imagine the stress of attempting to save the earth. Love triangles, betrayal, close calls (one of them is a legit fugitive), all on top of trying to brave the elements long enough to build a sustainable community. This can go in so many different directions and I genuinely look forward to the next book in the series!
Kelsey, thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Your passion for humanity and the environment shines through here and it made this read that much more enjoyable!
But you can imagine the stress of attempting to save the earth. Love triangles, betrayal, close calls (one of them is a legit fugitive), all on top of trying to brave the elements long enough to build a sustainable community. This can go in so many different directions and I genuinely look forward to the next book in the series!
Kelsey, thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Your passion for humanity and the environment shines through here and it made this read that much more enjoyable!
September 3, 2026
This book is going to be a bestseller!!! What a journey. I can also see this as a movie. Great for people of all ages. Getting extras for my nieces :) Order yours now.
June 18, 2026
Kelsey Crane’s The Vanishing is a captivating and timely novel that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The story combines environmental issues, technology, friendship, and survival in a way that feels both relevant and thought-provoking. While exploring serious topics about the future of our world, the novel also delivers a powerful message of hope and reminds readers that change is possible.
One of the strongest aspects of the novel is the use of multiple points of view. Seeing events through different perspectives helps readers connect with the characters and understand their unique motivations and struggles. The characters are also incredibly well-developed and diverse, with personalities, backgrounds, and experiences that make them feel both realistic and relatable.
I particularly loved the found-family dynamic that develops throughout the story. The relationships between the characters felt genuine, with the conflicts and romantic tension adding emotional depth to the storyline. I can’t wait to see how this dynamic evolves throughout the series.
Kelsey’s writing is beautiful and immersive, making it easy to become completely absorbed in the story. Her descriptions of the natural world are vivid and poetic, creating a strong appreciation for the environment and what’s at stake if action is not taken. At the same time, the pacing keeps the story exciting, with moments of tension, unexpected twists, and emotional depth that kept me hooked.
What stood out most to me was the way the novel balances its warnings about environmental destruction with a message of hope. Rather than presenting the future as completely hopeless, The Vanishing shows how community, determination, and compassion can inspire meaningful change.
Overall, The Vanishing is an engaging and memorable read with compelling characters, strong themes, and excellent writing. It is a book that not only entertains but also encourages readers to think critically about the world around them and the future they want to be a part of creating.
One of the strongest aspects of the novel is the use of multiple points of view. Seeing events through different perspectives helps readers connect with the characters and understand their unique motivations and struggles. The characters are also incredibly well-developed and diverse, with personalities, backgrounds, and experiences that make them feel both realistic and relatable.
I particularly loved the found-family dynamic that develops throughout the story. The relationships between the characters felt genuine, with the conflicts and romantic tension adding emotional depth to the storyline. I can’t wait to see how this dynamic evolves throughout the series.
Kelsey’s writing is beautiful and immersive, making it easy to become completely absorbed in the story. Her descriptions of the natural world are vivid and poetic, creating a strong appreciation for the environment and what’s at stake if action is not taken. At the same time, the pacing keeps the story exciting, with moments of tension, unexpected twists, and emotional depth that kept me hooked.
What stood out most to me was the way the novel balances its warnings about environmental destruction with a message of hope. Rather than presenting the future as completely hopeless, The Vanishing shows how community, determination, and compassion can inspire meaningful change.
Overall, The Vanishing is an engaging and memorable read with compelling characters, strong themes, and excellent writing. It is a book that not only entertains but also encourages readers to think critically about the world around them and the future they want to be a part of creating.
August 19, 2026
This story was so good. Grabbed me in and kept me hooked. Loved the friendships and building of their new relationships. Enjoyed the storyline with all the different parts of getting to know every character. They all went through so much to help make their world better. And they were only teens going it all alone. So good. Loved the tension and suspense at the last part
Review of advance copy received from Author
Survival is the Ultimate Beta Test.
What would you do if you were given the chance to build a better world?🌎
Thank you, Kelsey Crane, for the opportunity to read and review The Vanishing. It was an absolute pleasure to step into the world you created and spend time with Astrid, Teo, Yekta, Ishaan, Rosalina, and Jayden. Each character felt unique, authentic, and impossible not to root for.
In a genre flooded with predictable dystopias, Kelsey Crane’s The Vanishing: The Exiles, Book One delivers a breath of crisp, dangerous air. The story hooks you immediately with a premise that feels terrifyingly plausible: in a fractured near-future of permanent orange skies and failing power grids, six teenagers across the globe receive an anonymous package containing a next-generation VR headset for a mysterious survivalist game called RIZE. What follows is an addictive blend of high-stakes wilderness survival and intense character drama, written in a clear, compelling human tone that flows naturally from start to finish.
Meet the Players:
Crane handles an ensemble cast beautifully, giving each character a distinct voice and a compelling, real-world trauma that drives their behavior inside the game:
Astrid (The Visionary - USA): Neurodivergent, hyper-observant, and deeply isolated in the real world, Astrid treats strategy not just as an instinct, but as the air she breathes. In life, her goal was to disappear; in RIZE, she quickly becomes the perceptive anchor the group needs to stay alive.
Teo (The Creator - Mexico): A brilliant youth mentor burdened by a sinking hometown and overwhelming grief, Teo brings practical crafting skills and a soulful depth to the team. His ability to forge weapons and sing around the campfire makes him an instant, magnetic leader.
Yekta (The Caregiver - Iran): Having lost her parents to war, Yekta finds solace in the virtual soil. Her "green-thumbed magic" and knowledge of ecosystems allow her to nurture life in a world that feels more real to her than the rubble back home.
Ishaan (The Healer - India): A seventeen-year-old prodigy surgeon reeling from a tragic, highly publicized failure in the operating room. Inside RIZE, his analytical, calculating mind allows him to engineer complex filtration systems, even as he struggles with social skills and immense guilt.
Rosalina (The Explorer - USA): A fierce, reckless protestor carrying the heavy trauma of a school shooting. Fueled by a burning inner rage, she channels her restless energy into becoming a fearless tracker and fire-starter for the group.
Jayden (The Rebel - China): A legendary, untraceable hacker who literally erased his own digital existence at age thirteen after being neglected by his parents. He masks his profound loneliness with quick wit and a desire to master the game's mechanics, though the wild quickly reminds him that nature cannot be hacked.
Tension You Can Feel.
The brilliance of The Vanishing lies in how it seamlessly bridges the gap between the virtual and the physical. When the characters put on their headsets, the simulation is shockingly absolute: the scent of damp earth, the rough texture of tree bark, the sting of cold river water, and even hunger pangs feel entirely tangible.
The stakes are masterfully introduced via a visual interface: five glowing health hearts in the corner of their vision. The teenagers quickly realize that time never stops in RIZE; when they log off to face their grim realities, their avatars remain behind as empty, starving shells.
Watching this group of brilliantly flawed strangers slowly drop their guards and synchronize their unique skillsets to build a home from scratch is profoundly engaging. From weaving waterproof baskets to stomping out sustainable cob bricks, Crane highlights the beauty of human collaboration against the backdrop of an impending winter and lurking predators.
The Verdict:
The Vanishing is a beautifully paced, atmospheric thriller that thrives on its rich character development. It captures the heavy, claustrophobic weight of teenage angst and global anxiety, while offering a beautiful, albeit dangerous, digital escape. By the time Jayden finds himself undone by the unforgiving physics of a river current, or Astrid finds herself holding a mysterious turquoise bead, you are completely invested in their collective survival. This is a phenomenal start to The Exiles series, leaving readers desperately eager to find out what happens when winter fully sets in.
This is an ambitious, thought-provoking, and deeply emotional start to The Exiles series. I laughed, worried, cried, and cheered for these characters.
If you love dystopian fiction with unforgettable characters, found-family friendships, survival elements, slow-burn romance, adventure, and a powerful message about hope, The Vanishing deserves a place on your TBR.
What would you do if you were given the chance to build a better world?🌎
Thank you, Kelsey Crane, for the opportunity to read and review The Vanishing. It was an absolute pleasure to step into the world you created and spend time with Astrid, Teo, Yekta, Ishaan, Rosalina, and Jayden. Each character felt unique, authentic, and impossible not to root for.
In a genre flooded with predictable dystopias, Kelsey Crane’s The Vanishing: The Exiles, Book One delivers a breath of crisp, dangerous air. The story hooks you immediately with a premise that feels terrifyingly plausible: in a fractured near-future of permanent orange skies and failing power grids, six teenagers across the globe receive an anonymous package containing a next-generation VR headset for a mysterious survivalist game called RIZE. What follows is an addictive blend of high-stakes wilderness survival and intense character drama, written in a clear, compelling human tone that flows naturally from start to finish.
Meet the Players:
Crane handles an ensemble cast beautifully, giving each character a distinct voice and a compelling, real-world trauma that drives their behavior inside the game:
Astrid (The Visionary - USA): Neurodivergent, hyper-observant, and deeply isolated in the real world, Astrid treats strategy not just as an instinct, but as the air she breathes. In life, her goal was to disappear; in RIZE, she quickly becomes the perceptive anchor the group needs to stay alive.
Teo (The Creator - Mexico): A brilliant youth mentor burdened by a sinking hometown and overwhelming grief, Teo brings practical crafting skills and a soulful depth to the team. His ability to forge weapons and sing around the campfire makes him an instant, magnetic leader.
Yekta (The Caregiver - Iran): Having lost her parents to war, Yekta finds solace in the virtual soil. Her "green-thumbed magic" and knowledge of ecosystems allow her to nurture life in a world that feels more real to her than the rubble back home.
Ishaan (The Healer - India): A seventeen-year-old prodigy surgeon reeling from a tragic, highly publicized failure in the operating room. Inside RIZE, his analytical, calculating mind allows him to engineer complex filtration systems, even as he struggles with social skills and immense guilt.
Rosalina (The Explorer - USA): A fierce, reckless protestor carrying the heavy trauma of a school shooting. Fueled by a burning inner rage, she channels her restless energy into becoming a fearless tracker and fire-starter for the group.
Jayden (The Rebel - China): A legendary, untraceable hacker who literally erased his own digital existence at age thirteen after being neglected by his parents. He masks his profound loneliness with quick wit and a desire to master the game's mechanics, though the wild quickly reminds him that nature cannot be hacked.
Tension You Can Feel.
The brilliance of The Vanishing lies in how it seamlessly bridges the gap between the virtual and the physical. When the characters put on their headsets, the simulation is shockingly absolute: the scent of damp earth, the rough texture of tree bark, the sting of cold river water, and even hunger pangs feel entirely tangible.
The stakes are masterfully introduced via a visual interface: five glowing health hearts in the corner of their vision. The teenagers quickly realize that time never stops in RIZE; when they log off to face their grim realities, their avatars remain behind as empty, starving shells.
Watching this group of brilliantly flawed strangers slowly drop their guards and synchronize their unique skillsets to build a home from scratch is profoundly engaging. From weaving waterproof baskets to stomping out sustainable cob bricks, Crane highlights the beauty of human collaboration against the backdrop of an impending winter and lurking predators.
The Verdict:
The Vanishing is a beautifully paced, atmospheric thriller that thrives on its rich character development. It captures the heavy, claustrophobic weight of teenage angst and global anxiety, while offering a beautiful, albeit dangerous, digital escape. By the time Jayden finds himself undone by the unforgiving physics of a river current, or Astrid finds herself holding a mysterious turquoise bead, you are completely invested in their collective survival. This is a phenomenal start to The Exiles series, leaving readers desperately eager to find out what happens when winter fully sets in.
This is an ambitious, thought-provoking, and deeply emotional start to The Exiles series. I laughed, worried, cried, and cheered for these characters.
If you love dystopian fiction with unforgettable characters, found-family friendships, survival elements, slow-burn romance, adventure, and a powerful message about hope, The Vanishing deserves a place on your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💫I never, ever would have thought that a book set in a post-apocalyptic world about teenagers*with no spice*would be right up my alley. I’m so shocked and struggling to find the right words that I don’t even know how to describe what’s in it.
I usually only read romance and dark romance, so when I had the chance to read this book early,thanks to the author, my curiosity got the better of me.
☀️I find the writing style wonderful and unique!
it’s absolutely perfect in how it explains complicated hacker code and procedures in a way that even a simple person like me, can understand. And I’m really not a coding person😩
🌎there’s such deep knowledge in the world around us:
in our lives, about what’s wrong with things right now, starting with globalization, how we produce our food, continuing on to how we treat nature, where we live, what we do, what kind of relationships we have, what kind of friends we have, what our family backgrounds are-it covers everything, absolutely everything, and it’s so complex that even now I’m searching for the right words, and I can’t believe what I just read.
🌝It all started when a few teenagers, or rather, six of them, got caught up in a game where they didn’t know the rules, but found themselves in a world with fresh air, a forest landscape, a stream, and a clearing-and in this dystopian world, that’s a complete anomaly; there’s nothing like that. Everything is polluted, built on lies, and mired in filth, stench, and smog.
🌸🌺The characters are completely unique.
each with their own distinct background, where they came from,and yet they form a family that’s unstoppable and utterly one-of-a-kind.
For me, this gives me a huge boost to dare to take action and create a better world, and somehow look back at our roots-which we’ve long since forgotten-that everything comes comes from nature, and everything we take, we must give back- it’s as complex as nature itself and Mother Nature, who created this world of ours
💥☄️⚡️I never would have thought the storytelling would captivate me this much, or that I’d care so deeply about the fates of these people and what they’re building—that the idealism would be portrayed so realistically, that a society*a mini-society*would come to life, and that from within this society, a few teenagers would change the world. It’s mind-blowing to me, and I don’t know how many years the author must have spent writing this book—the kind of knowledge and background research that went into it completely blew me away.
I recommend this book to everyone—even if you’ve never read a dystopian book in your life, and even if you’ve never read a single page—and I recommend that you just give it a try because this kind of shift in perspective and this kind of freshness and novelty, I think everyone will really enjoy it.
🌞🌜So I’m very happy that I got to be a part of this story, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it continues, because I sense that a lot has changed and come to a close, but I feel like there’s still so much I want to discover, and I want the ARK MISSION to succeed, so I can ,,see,, how this kids make their dreams come true.⚡️🪐
💫I never, ever would have thought that a book set in a post-apocalyptic world about teenagers*with no spice*would be right up my alley. I’m so shocked and struggling to find the right words that I don’t even know how to describe what’s in it.
I usually only read romance and dark romance, so when I had the chance to read this book early,thanks to the author, my curiosity got the better of me.
☀️I find the writing style wonderful and unique!
it’s absolutely perfect in how it explains complicated hacker code and procedures in a way that even a simple person like me, can understand. And I’m really not a coding person😩
🌎there’s such deep knowledge in the world around us:
in our lives, about what’s wrong with things right now, starting with globalization, how we produce our food, continuing on to how we treat nature, where we live, what we do, what kind of relationships we have, what kind of friends we have, what our family backgrounds are-it covers everything, absolutely everything, and it’s so complex that even now I’m searching for the right words, and I can’t believe what I just read.
🌝It all started when a few teenagers, or rather, six of them, got caught up in a game where they didn’t know the rules, but found themselves in a world with fresh air, a forest landscape, a stream, and a clearing-and in this dystopian world, that’s a complete anomaly; there’s nothing like that. Everything is polluted, built on lies, and mired in filth, stench, and smog.
🌸🌺The characters are completely unique.
each with their own distinct background, where they came from,and yet they form a family that’s unstoppable and utterly one-of-a-kind.
For me, this gives me a huge boost to dare to take action and create a better world, and somehow look back at our roots-which we’ve long since forgotten-that everything comes comes from nature, and everything we take, we must give back- it’s as complex as nature itself and Mother Nature, who created this world of ours
💥☄️⚡️I never would have thought the storytelling would captivate me this much, or that I’d care so deeply about the fates of these people and what they’re building—that the idealism would be portrayed so realistically, that a society*a mini-society*would come to life, and that from within this society, a few teenagers would change the world. It’s mind-blowing to me, and I don’t know how many years the author must have spent writing this book—the kind of knowledge and background research that went into it completely blew me away.
I recommend this book to everyone—even if you’ve never read a dystopian book in your life, and even if you’ve never read a single page—and I recommend that you just give it a try because this kind of shift in perspective and this kind of freshness and novelty, I think everyone will really enjoy it.
🌞🌜So I’m very happy that I got to be a part of this story, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it continues, because I sense that a lot has changed and come to a close, but I feel like there’s still so much I want to discover, and I want the ARK MISSION to succeed, so I can ,,see,, how this kids make their dreams come true.⚡️🪐
August 25, 2026
I really liked the premise behind The Vanishing. It’s a timely and important concept, and I thought there were some clever ideas at the heart of the story. The prose was also well written, and there were definitely elements that kept me curious about where the story was headed.
That said, I struggled with some of the execution. At times, the book felt like it was trying to take on a little too much at once. The story is told from the perspectives of six characters, with a seventh introduced about halfway (or even later) into the book. With so many perspectives in a relatively short book, I found that I didn’t get as much depth with the individual characters as I would have liked.
For example, there are relationships where two characters seem to be flirting, and just a few pages later they're telling each other they're in love. Then, shortly afterward, one of them is developing feelings for someone else. I found myself wishing we had been given more of the moments in between so that those relationships and emotional shifts felt more natural and earned.
I also felt that the pacing and tension were a little uneven. There are several parts of the story (the virtual reality game, as well as the characters' efforts to build their new world) that I didn't always understand the larger goal (story wise). I found some of the sections to feel a bit slow, particularly because there wasn't much tension building alongside them. There is quite a bit of technical and descriptive information, but I often found myself wanting more of the why behind it all.
It wasn't until much later in the book, particularly with the introduction of the FBI character, that I felt the story really began to build the sense of urgency and suspense I had been waiting for.
I also went into this expecting something a little different based on how the book is categorized and described. It's described as climate fiction and dystopian, and with the addition of the virtual reality element, I expected more of a science fiction feel. In reality, I found it to be much more grounded in realistic fiction, with perhaps some light dystopian elements. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think my expectations going in affected my reading experience.
I also wasn't sure the virtual reality game ultimately added that much to the story as I expected it to. I could see what it was trying to accomplish but for me, that aspect never quite came together in a way that felt compelling or necessary.
I did enjoy the twist at the end, and I appreciated where the story ultimately went. However, the ending still felt a little flat for me, and I wasn't quite left with enough of a hook to make me feel compelled to continue the series.
Overall, I think there are some really interesting ideas here, and I can see why the premise would appeal to readers who enjoy stories exploring the consequences of climate change. For me, though, I ultimately wanted more character development, relationship building, and tension throughout the story.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
That said, I struggled with some of the execution. At times, the book felt like it was trying to take on a little too much at once. The story is told from the perspectives of six characters, with a seventh introduced about halfway (or even later) into the book. With so many perspectives in a relatively short book, I found that I didn’t get as much depth with the individual characters as I would have liked.
For example, there are relationships where two characters seem to be flirting, and just a few pages later they're telling each other they're in love. Then, shortly afterward, one of them is developing feelings for someone else. I found myself wishing we had been given more of the moments in between so that those relationships and emotional shifts felt more natural and earned.
I also felt that the pacing and tension were a little uneven. There are several parts of the story (the virtual reality game, as well as the characters' efforts to build their new world) that I didn't always understand the larger goal (story wise). I found some of the sections to feel a bit slow, particularly because there wasn't much tension building alongside them. There is quite a bit of technical and descriptive information, but I often found myself wanting more of the why behind it all.
It wasn't until much later in the book, particularly with the introduction of the FBI character, that I felt the story really began to build the sense of urgency and suspense I had been waiting for.
I also went into this expecting something a little different based on how the book is categorized and described. It's described as climate fiction and dystopian, and with the addition of the virtual reality element, I expected more of a science fiction feel. In reality, I found it to be much more grounded in realistic fiction, with perhaps some light dystopian elements. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think my expectations going in affected my reading experience.
I also wasn't sure the virtual reality game ultimately added that much to the story as I expected it to. I could see what it was trying to accomplish but for me, that aspect never quite came together in a way that felt compelling or necessary.
I did enjoy the twist at the end, and I appreciated where the story ultimately went. However, the ending still felt a little flat for me, and I wasn't quite left with enough of a hook to make me feel compelled to continue the series.
Overall, I think there are some really interesting ideas here, and I can see why the premise would appeal to readers who enjoy stories exploring the consequences of climate change. For me, though, I ultimately wanted more character development, relationship building, and tension throughout the story.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I picked up The Vanishing drawn by its premise…. six teenagers from around the world receive mysterious VR headsets, enter a hyper realistic survival simulation called RIZE that shows Earth as it once was, and then make the radical decision to abandon the broken real world and try building something better offline. (Sounds a little like the Maze 🤔)
What starts as a game soon becomes more, a disappearance into the Pacific Northwest, and the creation of The Ark (an off grid homestead grounded in ancient knowledge, and stubborn hope.)
This is a YA dystopia that feels uncomfortably close to home rather than distant spectacle. No superpowers, no monsters, just ordinary 17 year olds confronting a world of pollution, scarcity, and systems that no longer serve them.
The choice they face…. remain obedient heirs to a failing civilization or risk everything to try living differently lands had me turning those pages. The early sections in the simulation and the transition to building The Ark are particularly effective at making the environmental stakes personal and tangible.
What worked best for me was the found family dynamic and the focus on the daily work of creating a community. Spring at The Ark brings the expected blossoming and blurred boundaries…. love, ideology, and personality clashes. Winter brings its own issues and external pressure harden everything.
The characters had great backgrounds, traumas, and skills, watching them try (and sometimes fail) to become a functioning unit was really compelling (I’d happily watch this on the big screen.)
Utopia is fragile. Relationships tangle. Trust fractures. A traitor emerges. Survival gets brutal. These elements keep the story from feeling naïve. At the same time, the book never fully abandons hope, the sense that young people might still be able to live a different life from their parents.
Pacing is deliberate in places. Getting to know six distinct points of view and settling into the rhythms of The Ark takes time, and some of the day to day details may feel slower if you’re primarily looking for high stakes thriller momentum. But once the external pressure and internal cracks intensify, the tension rises effectively.
The writing is clear, strong on atmosphere and emotional moments without becoming too much.
As a debut and the first in a series, The Vanishing sets up larger questions about technology, nature, community, and what it actually costs to try changing the trajectory of a damaged world. It left me invested in the characters and curious about where the story goes next.
If you like character driven YA that treats climate crisis and found family seriously then give this one a go.
It’s thoughtful and often moving.
I’m glad I read it, and I’ll be looking for Book Two.
🦋
*copy supplied for review
What starts as a game soon becomes more, a disappearance into the Pacific Northwest, and the creation of The Ark (an off grid homestead grounded in ancient knowledge, and stubborn hope.)
This is a YA dystopia that feels uncomfortably close to home rather than distant spectacle. No superpowers, no monsters, just ordinary 17 year olds confronting a world of pollution, scarcity, and systems that no longer serve them.
The choice they face…. remain obedient heirs to a failing civilization or risk everything to try living differently lands had me turning those pages. The early sections in the simulation and the transition to building The Ark are particularly effective at making the environmental stakes personal and tangible.
What worked best for me was the found family dynamic and the focus on the daily work of creating a community. Spring at The Ark brings the expected blossoming and blurred boundaries…. love, ideology, and personality clashes. Winter brings its own issues and external pressure harden everything.
The characters had great backgrounds, traumas, and skills, watching them try (and sometimes fail) to become a functioning unit was really compelling (I’d happily watch this on the big screen.)
Utopia is fragile. Relationships tangle. Trust fractures. A traitor emerges. Survival gets brutal. These elements keep the story from feeling naïve. At the same time, the book never fully abandons hope, the sense that young people might still be able to live a different life from their parents.
Pacing is deliberate in places. Getting to know six distinct points of view and settling into the rhythms of The Ark takes time, and some of the day to day details may feel slower if you’re primarily looking for high stakes thriller momentum. But once the external pressure and internal cracks intensify, the tension rises effectively.
The writing is clear, strong on atmosphere and emotional moments without becoming too much.
As a debut and the first in a series, The Vanishing sets up larger questions about technology, nature, community, and what it actually costs to try changing the trajectory of a damaged world. It left me invested in the characters and curious about where the story goes next.
If you like character driven YA that treats climate crisis and found family seriously then give this one a go.
It’s thoughtful and often moving.
I’m glad I read it, and I’ll be looking for Book Two.
🦋
*copy supplied for review
Review of advance copy received from Author
There are debut novels that show promise, and then there are debut novels that arrive feeling as though they have been patiently waiting years for the right voice to bring them into the world. The Vanishing: Book One of The Exiles belongs firmly in the latter category.
What struck me first was the beauty of Kelsey Crane's prose. This is a novel with a great deal to communicate - history, world building, relationships, and the complex realities of a dystopian future - yet it never feels burdened by exposition. Crane possesses a rare gift for weaving information seamlessly into passages of genuine lyricism. Her writing is poetic without becoming indulgent, thoughtful without sacrificing momentum. More than once, I found my heart racing with anticipation even as I lingered over the elegance of a particular sentence or image.
The novel's six-point-of-view structure is one of its greatest strengths. Each character emerges with a distinct voice and perspective, but what fascinated me most was watching them come alive through one another's eyes. Crane understands that we are revealed not only by what we think of ourselves, but by how we are seen, loved, misunderstood, and challenged by others. The result is a cast that feels remarkably vivid and human.
What elevates The Vanishing beyond many entries in the dystopian genre is its commitment to hope. Rather than simply presenting a broken future, Crane asks what might be required to heal one. Through the determination, courage, and growth of her young protagonists, she offers readers something increasingly rare: a reason to believe that meaningful change is possible. The novel invites us not only to imagine a different future but to consider our own role in shaping it.
Perhaps most impressive is the confidence of the storytelling. This does not read like the tentative work of a new novelist finding her footing. It reads like the first installment from a writer who has been carrying these ideas for a long time and has finally found the perfect medium through which to share them.
I finished The Vanishing eager for the next book in The Exiles series, but also eager to see where Kelsey Crane's imagination leads next. She is an exciting new voice in fiction—one with a unique perspective, a gift for language, and something meaningful to say. I, for one, don't want to miss a single step of the journey.
What struck me first was the beauty of Kelsey Crane's prose. This is a novel with a great deal to communicate - history, world building, relationships, and the complex realities of a dystopian future - yet it never feels burdened by exposition. Crane possesses a rare gift for weaving information seamlessly into passages of genuine lyricism. Her writing is poetic without becoming indulgent, thoughtful without sacrificing momentum. More than once, I found my heart racing with anticipation even as I lingered over the elegance of a particular sentence or image.
The novel's six-point-of-view structure is one of its greatest strengths. Each character emerges with a distinct voice and perspective, but what fascinated me most was watching them come alive through one another's eyes. Crane understands that we are revealed not only by what we think of ourselves, but by how we are seen, loved, misunderstood, and challenged by others. The result is a cast that feels remarkably vivid and human.
What elevates The Vanishing beyond many entries in the dystopian genre is its commitment to hope. Rather than simply presenting a broken future, Crane asks what might be required to heal one. Through the determination, courage, and growth of her young protagonists, she offers readers something increasingly rare: a reason to believe that meaningful change is possible. The novel invites us not only to imagine a different future but to consider our own role in shaping it.
Perhaps most impressive is the confidence of the storytelling. This does not read like the tentative work of a new novelist finding her footing. It reads like the first installment from a writer who has been carrying these ideas for a long time and has finally found the perfect medium through which to share them.
I finished The Vanishing eager for the next book in The Exiles series, but also eager to see where Kelsey Crane's imagination leads next. She is an exciting new voice in fiction—one with a unique perspective, a gift for language, and something meaningful to say. I, for one, don't want to miss a single step of the journey.
September 4, 2026
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
"Neither of them says it, but they feel it. They've felt it their whole lives. The pressure to fix what they inherited as broken. No one is going to save them."
Six teenagers, frustrated and broken from living in a dying world, are gifted what starts as a chance to escape reality, then a chance to build a new one.
This is YA and the characters very much reflect that in the way they think and what they're going through in the story.
I loved the concept of this book and the setup of our six characters. I did think it suffered a bit from having so many characters and POVs. Each character comes from a different background, contributes something different to the survival of the group, and the author tries to explore those skills and their cultures. But because we're jumping around so much and pushing through a medium-paced plot, I felt like some characters were developed more than others or we just got a surface-level mention of certain ideas and concepts while we got deep dives into others. It left me wanting a bit more, but maybe a full series can fix that.
This is a debut novel and I think sometimes the author's inexperience showed in writing style, which felt repetitive (mostly in the middle of the book, which hurt the pacing for me personally).
Despite that, the last third of this book really picked back up for me and sold the whole story. No spoilers, but the author did a great job of wrapping up enough loose ends to leave things satisfying while pointing to the unresolved issues and challenges that should make up the next book without a super dramatic twist or cliffhanger ending that authors so often resort to in this genre.
I would recommend this book for a YA reader or an adult reader looking for that level of read.
NOTE: I received this book as an ARC courtesy of the author's team.
"Neither of them says it, but they feel it. They've felt it their whole lives. The pressure to fix what they inherited as broken. No one is going to save them."
Six teenagers, frustrated and broken from living in a dying world, are gifted what starts as a chance to escape reality, then a chance to build a new one.
This is YA and the characters very much reflect that in the way they think and what they're going through in the story.
I loved the concept of this book and the setup of our six characters. I did think it suffered a bit from having so many characters and POVs. Each character comes from a different background, contributes something different to the survival of the group, and the author tries to explore those skills and their cultures. But because we're jumping around so much and pushing through a medium-paced plot, I felt like some characters were developed more than others or we just got a surface-level mention of certain ideas and concepts while we got deep dives into others. It left me wanting a bit more, but maybe a full series can fix that.
This is a debut novel and I think sometimes the author's inexperience showed in writing style, which felt repetitive (mostly in the middle of the book, which hurt the pacing for me personally).
Despite that, the last third of this book really picked back up for me and sold the whole story. No spoilers, but the author did a great job of wrapping up enough loose ends to leave things satisfying while pointing to the unresolved issues and challenges that should make up the next book without a super dramatic twist or cliffhanger ending that authors so often resort to in this genre.
I would recommend this book for a YA reader or an adult reader looking for that level of read.
NOTE: I received this book as an ARC courtesy of the author's team.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kelsey Crane’s The Vanishing: The Exiles, Book One is the first book in a fantastic, new climate fiction series. Kelsey immediately draws the reader in with a gripping story about teens from all over the world who are mysteriously drawn together to engage in a virtual reality world known as RIZE. But RIZE is not merely a game….
Through each of the six teens' different points of view, we learn about their cultures, past trauma and how they can combine their skills for the future well–being of the Earth. I found myself completely enthralled in their adventures and the development of their characters. The Vanishing is well-researched, with Kelsey sharing her knowledge about sustainable and regenerative environmental practices. Despite this being a work of fiction, I learned so much. I found myself researching more about greywater systems- something I hadn’t previously known much about. The writing is just so beautiful and creates a striking image in the mind’s eye such as “ the fire-blackened trees loom like skeletal fingers pointed ominously at the sky." I had to constantly remind myself that this book was the author’s debut novel, because it read like the work of a far more seasoned writer. The Vanishing comes to a thrilling conclusion, with a satisfying, hopeful ending and one that leaves the reader craving the next installment. The Vanishing is cutting edge climate fiction and will inspire readers to realize the impact that they can have on the future of our treasured planet.
Through each of the six teens' different points of view, we learn about their cultures, past trauma and how they can combine their skills for the future well–being of the Earth. I found myself completely enthralled in their adventures and the development of their characters. The Vanishing is well-researched, with Kelsey sharing her knowledge about sustainable and regenerative environmental practices. Despite this being a work of fiction, I learned so much. I found myself researching more about greywater systems- something I hadn’t previously known much about. The writing is just so beautiful and creates a striking image in the mind’s eye such as “ the fire-blackened trees loom like skeletal fingers pointed ominously at the sky." I had to constantly remind myself that this book was the author’s debut novel, because it read like the work of a far more seasoned writer. The Vanishing comes to a thrilling conclusion, with a satisfying, hopeful ending and one that leaves the reader craving the next installment. The Vanishing is cutting edge climate fiction and will inspire readers to realize the impact that they can have on the future of our treasured planet.
August 24, 2026
Kelsey Crane’s THE VANISHING is a triumph in young adult dystopian fiction, giving readers all the adventure, coming-of-age, and political intrigue we demand.
I absolutely fell in love with this novel’s cast of characters. They felt inherently adolescent—angry, rebellious, and oftentimes rash. But so full of hope for a future they all thought the world’s elite had ripped from their hands for good. Their individuality plays into the formation of different platonic and romantic dynamics, and how they respond to the environment in both a literal and figurative sense. Each character has their own distinct voice.
Overall, the plot was fast-paced and original. There’s a twist towards the end that caught me completely off-guard, but in the best way possible.
This novel does require the reader to suspend their belief to quite an extensive degree that other YA dystopian novels don’t. Because though the setting is familiar in that it is a near-future climate change and corruption ravaged version of our own present world, it features many real-life places, organizations, and institutions that we know intimately (SPOILER: for instance, a subplot involving an FBI agent). You’re not thrust into a completely fictionalized universe where the world’s governments as we know them no longer exist and every system we’ve built has come crashing to the ground. They still exist, yet these teens manage a way around much of it in order to forge their own paths.
I truly adored this book and cannot wait to see where The Exiles series goes next!
4.25/5
I absolutely fell in love with this novel’s cast of characters. They felt inherently adolescent—angry, rebellious, and oftentimes rash. But so full of hope for a future they all thought the world’s elite had ripped from their hands for good. Their individuality plays into the formation of different platonic and romantic dynamics, and how they respond to the environment in both a literal and figurative sense. Each character has their own distinct voice.
Overall, the plot was fast-paced and original. There’s a twist towards the end that caught me completely off-guard, but in the best way possible.
This novel does require the reader to suspend their belief to quite an extensive degree that other YA dystopian novels don’t. Because though the setting is familiar in that it is a near-future climate change and corruption ravaged version of our own present world, it features many real-life places, organizations, and institutions that we know intimately (SPOILER: for instance, a subplot involving an FBI agent). You’re not thrust into a completely fictionalized universe where the world’s governments as we know them no longer exist and every system we’ve built has come crashing to the ground. They still exist, yet these teens manage a way around much of it in order to forge their own paths.
I truly adored this book and cannot wait to see where The Exiles series goes next!
4.25/5
August 24, 2026
What if you could see a version of Earth that was thriving instead of falling apart—and then decided you wanted to build that world for real? That is the gamble at the heart of The Vanishing. Six teenagers from different corners of the world are drawn into RIZE, a mysterious virtual reality experience that shows them what the planet could look like. When tragedy changes everything, they make the ultimate escape: they vanish, leave their old lives behind, and head into the Pacific Northwest to build their own off-grid community. But creating a perfect new world is a lot harder when you’re still bringing human nature, secrets, relationships, and competing ideas along with you. With survival, romance, betrayal, technology, and a mystery at its center, The Vanishing takes the familiar dystopian formula and gives it a fresh, thought-provoking spin (and a lot to talk about and you know I like to talk )
.3 Reasons to Read
1. The hook is fantastic.
A VR world is so convincing that a group of teenagers decides to abandon reality and recreate it? I’m already in.
2. The stakes aren’t just about staying alive.
These characters are trying to answer a much bigger question: If the world you inherited is broken, do you fix it—or walk away and build your own?
3. Six teenagers + their own society = trouble.
Add secrets, romance, clashing beliefs, betrayal, and a mysterious technology to the mix, and there is absolutely no way this little experiment stays peaceful for long.
.3 Reasons to Read
1. The hook is fantastic.
A VR world is so convincing that a group of teenagers decides to abandon reality and recreate it? I’m already in.
2. The stakes aren’t just about staying alive.
These characters are trying to answer a much bigger question: If the world you inherited is broken, do you fix it—or walk away and build your own?
3. Six teenagers + their own society = trouble.
Add secrets, romance, clashing beliefs, betrayal, and a mysterious technology to the mix, and there is absolutely no way this little experiment stays peaceful for long.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kelsey Crane’s writing keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first chapter to the last. This story is so painfully needed in our world today and Kelsey saw the gap and filled it. I adored every second of this book - the romantic tension, the character development and the way every character felt real, flawed and borderline impossible not to root for.
In all honesty, this book made me sit and think about some incredibly important questions about the real world as Kelsey has so beautifully woven themes of community, environmental responsibility, connection and what it means to be human into this story. It’s so well done that you don’t even realise how much you’ve reflected on until you get to the end.
The world building in this novel is to be commended. I started and finished this book on a plane, and I hadn’t even realised it was time to land because I was caught up in turning each page. This book made me laugh, stressed me out and made me fall in love with characters I can’t wait to read about again. I am so excited for the rest of the series.
The Vanishing is a book that will stay with you forever and it is a beautiful way to help us educate a younger generation about the future of our world.
In all honesty, this book made me sit and think about some incredibly important questions about the real world as Kelsey has so beautifully woven themes of community, environmental responsibility, connection and what it means to be human into this story. It’s so well done that you don’t even realise how much you’ve reflected on until you get to the end.
The world building in this novel is to be commended. I started and finished this book on a plane, and I hadn’t even realised it was time to land because I was caught up in turning each page. This book made me laugh, stressed me out and made me fall in love with characters I can’t wait to read about again. I am so excited for the rest of the series.
The Vanishing is a book that will stay with you forever and it is a beautiful way to help us educate a younger generation about the future of our world.
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