The Inhibited

by Jay Saph

Two elderly scientists hide a dark secret. Twenty-five years earlier they were part of a UK government which legalised all recreational drugs. After only two years, the controversial law, ‘The Fairfield Act’ was repealed. The aftermath was disastrous.

Now it is 2042 and no one speaks of the past. The UK is within the Northern Zone, controlled from London-Centre, a utilitarian mega-city rebuilt for the new order. Citizens in the Northern Zone live only according to the Prime Mandates. They’ve lost the ability to create. For them, pleasure is a forgotten emotion.

'The Inhibited' is a futuristic diary following the life of Declan Smith and Hazel Tulse, two aggrieved students intent on uncovering the truth. Both believe the key to change lies in understanding the past, but they soon find out the greater challenge is the discovery of their souls.

Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2016

About the author

Over the past years, life has given me enough to write fiction novels. "Snack van" was my first. That work reflected my underlying fascination of how individuals, who appear normal on the surface, will resort to anything to achieve their goals. Lust, drugs, money, revenge and crime are good writing topics.

My second novel, "The Inhibited" is about a dystopian future after a failed UK government policy to legalize all drugs. It explores themes of genetics, segregation, emotion and what really makes us human - is it ourselves or our environment, or both?

I'm on Twitter @jaysaph @snackvannovel and @theinhibited

You can contact me at: jaysaph@hotmail.com

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a completely cool, creepy-awesome dystopian set in future-world Europe after a disastrous law that legalized all drugs, including some with devastating effects. Now twenty-five years later, the EU is divided into the Northern and Southern Zones, with the Northern Zone living under totalitarian rule, still destroyed by the drug’s aftermath. Talking about what happened is prohibited.

Author Jay Saph does a great job in the way he slowly metes out information at the start, never quite giving you the entire picture of what is going on, just enough to leave you salivating for more. Why are redheads so important? What’s up with the green lights? Who are these people living isolated and alone? What could have caused everyone to shut down inside? The text raises more questions than it gives answers in the beginning, and that’s the mark of great writing.

The other thing I really enjoy in a book, but particularly in sci fi and dystopians, are novels that propose lots of “what if” questions, and then spool out those scenarios with damning consequences. The question of drug legalization and drug control are ones currently being debated, with strong opinions on both sides. “The Inhibited” creates a scenario where things go very wrong (I wouldn’t spoil this, but it’s in the book’s summary). Then the rather insidious question is… what does the government do in the aftermath? I rather loved the author’s answers, slowly revealed one by one. The one question I wondered about was whether more people wouldn’t have remembered, if this happened only 20, rather than say 40 or 50 years ago.

Hazel and Declan made rather delightful narrators, each on different paths to tell various parts of this story. The protein drinks only for the special “crimson” children and the rare chicken given out in the food lines made me think a little of Russian food lines, and only the privileged being allowed the best supplies. Great pacing. Captivating storytelling. Very much enjoyed this author.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[Davyne DeSye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Inhibited is a dystopian novel – along the lines of 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale, rather than the popular YA dystopians we see so much of today – that kept my interest throughout.

The story takes place twenty-five years in the future in the UK. Our main character, Declan, is a young man curious about what happened a little more than two decades ago in his society: What created the “inhibited” (or “disengaged” as they are otherwise called) people that make up most of society? What happened to create the difference between these “inhibited” and Declan (and others like him) who have thoughts of their own, emotions, and a desire to learn and create. The search for the answer to this question is what drives Declan through the story, and the answer is skillfully drawn out and, once discovered, surprising.

The story started, as so many good science fiction novels do, by dumping me right into the midst of the story, raising questions in my mind from the very beginning. The world building is seamless and consistent, and allowed me to better and better understand the world Declan lives in as the story progressed. While Declan’s search for answers is the main thrust of the novel, the story is enriched by glimpses into politics (past and current and all relatively abhorrent), an underground revolutionary movement, and yes, even love. I have to admit, at about 90% to 95% through the book, I thought “There is no way this story can end satisfactorily in the next 5% to 10%! Dammit!” I was wrong! The ending is perfect!

Declan, as a character, is likable and his relationships to the various people around him understandable and sympathetic. Threin, on the other hand, was psychotic. No worries – you’ll recognize him when you get there…

Overall, this was a thought-provoking and enjoyable read, recommended to those who enjoy adult dystopian novels.

[William Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Inhibited by Jay Saph is a tense, foreboding and very imaginative novel set over twenty years in our future, where the world is still feeling the effects of all drugs being legalised.

Saph’s world building was both unique and intricate. I enjoyed hearing about the new, highly dangerous drugs that were invented once illegal drugs became legal, which I think would realistically happen in the real world.

The premise is reminiscent of the ‘Purge’ series of movies, where all crime is legal one day a year, but still, I think this idea is different enough to set it apart.

The two main characters were both likeable and complex and the writing overall was solid. I’d definitely be interested in reading a sequel.

[Eishinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly imaginative and well thought out.
'The Inhibited' is an enthralling read showcasing the authors unique talent of weaving his thoughts into a well imagined and impressive story line that paints the world and struggles of characters vividly by plotting a dystopian novel based in future of 2042 where a 'Shaper' named declan strives to find answers to the present of human kind based on the decision made in past (year 2016) by the government on legalization of recreational drugs.
With numerous characters being complex, author Jay Saph does a remarkable job at bringing each one to life by developing and delivering a wild ride of unexpected twists and intriguing mystery that is packed with palpable trepidation.
I was genuinely impressed with the strong narrative demonstrated by author and think it flowed smoothly building a stunning conclusion. 'The Inhibited' is a fast paced novel that has the capability to whisk readers immediately into a highly imaginative and well thought out fiction. I would recommend young and mature readers to engage themselves in author Jay Saph's creativity and relate to the upcoming future by this dystopian read. Its a must read.

[Mariyam Hasnain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generations bore the brunt of one wrong decision and that was the legalization of drugs as it was for alcohol and tobacco. In the aftermath, new drugs and chemicals were synthesized that were more destructive and lethal including the cathinone, Flakka also known by its street name of gravel. This caused the whole UK population to behave violently. The government must exercise control measures to save the country from the looming catastrophe and what precipitated was even more disastrous and lethal for the existing and future generations.
Declan Smith is determined to find out the reason for the inhuman behavior of the present-day generation. This takes him on an arduous journey where he finds the love of his life Dana and discovers his hidden relationship with the most poignant member of the UK Government, Jim Fairfield.
The Inhibited by Jay Saph is a Sci-Fi Dystopian Novel set in the futuristic world of the year 2042. It portrays the journey of a young man Declan Smith, a research scholar at IIC, as he unravels the mystery of people becoming human machines, devoid of any feelings and creativity. The book spans from the year 2017 to 2018 to 2042 and finally ends with fifty years ahead of the year 2043.
For me, it took a little time to understand and grasp what’s going on but as the story unfolded I felt completely engrossed in the complex and twisted tale of political motivations and power-hungry games of the military and administration.
The toughest thing in the Sci-Fi novels is world building and the author does this with élan. He creates a world where the reader himself feels a part of the dystopian world. “The chlorophyll-laden scent, along with the damp country air, invigorated his grime-ridden nostrils, sore from a week in the city. High above a crow squawked. Its rude sound broke the calm.”
The world building is immaculate and the narrative is vivid and descriptive.
The sprawl of the story is enormous, and at one point I was thinking how the book is going to end. But Jay Saph nails it down with perfection. The main characters of the novel are young and are very well drawn. At the end, I recommend The Inhibited to anyone who loves reading YA Sci-Fi novels especially the ones that are set in the futuristic dystopian world.

[Norma Nikutowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The government decided to legalize all forms of drugs in order to reduce drug-related violence. What would happen if all drugs were legal? This is the question that The Inhibited explores.
What happens when we make bad decisions? Many times we have to deal with decisions that others in positions of power make for us.
It’s the year 2042. The world has changed. There is no art or music. There is a Northern and a Southern Zone. Most people are unable to feel emotions.
Hazel and Declan try to find out why the world changed. They want to find out what caused people to be inhibited and disengaged. The Shapers, a new genetic generation try to understand the past but they struggle to understand themselves.
There are vivid and detailed descriptions that make you feel you are right there with the characters.
Thought provoking and intriguing novel that explorers how events in 2018 may impact our future. t’s about the importance of understanding what happened in the past to solve the problems of the present. It took me a while to understand what was going on and what motivates the characters.
If you like dystopian fiction, you will enjoy this book.

[C.F. Rabbiosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inhibited was a fun and unique story that constantly had me turning the page to see just what was going on in this upside-down world. The story is told from several perspectives, one such is the young Declan, who feels something is wrong in his world but cannot place it. All around are people merely existing, with no joy or pleasure of any kind- and it feels wrong. One such quote really explains it well. "Disengaged parents, pallid faced and weary then turned away, leaving in droves to another day's production, and its quotas. A sea of steel gray uniforms with dashes of crimson made a strange contrast with the lush green of early summer foliage." Declan seeks out answers from a strange old man named Fairfield who secretly drinks moonshine, (Not allowed!) and comes to realize that things were once very different in his part of the world. He tells him how it used to be, before a new drug legislation led to the disastrous creation of the worse man-made drugs ever, and the eventual destruction of an entire society.

I really enjoyed reading the headlines from the before days, as things spiraled out of control, as well as the vivid descriptions of the current dystopian people and their lack-luster world. There are hints that things are different in other places, as walls keep people from leaving, and already there are those among them that seem different, and special, called "Shapers." The characters are well written and interesting and all come together perfectly in the end.

I gave this book 5 stars because the writing is absolutely beautiful: "Dana giggled, swaying from side to side, waiting in expectation. Her eyes harbored irises as if they were each a swirling green galaxy. They drew him inwards, made him defenseless. Her lips, blood red, pouted in a charming but crooked way. Everything about her was crooked, but beautiful." But also because the end had twists and turns I didn't see coming. Overall, a well written and interesting work of art.

[N. Sapkota · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dystopian novel is fast paced and fun to read but it also makes you think.

What would happen if all street drugs are legalized? What may happen when the whole population goes wild and uninhibited ? Would they find a way to control the population by completely inhibiting their brains? What would a society look like when the whole population is essentially lobotomized? What will people do when they have no creative thinking?

This is the main theme of this novel, “the inhibited”. The characters are well developed and the storytelling is excellent. It takes a little time to fully grasp what is happening when you start reading it. However, after the first few chapters, you clearly understand the world you are in. Then it all starts to make sense. You get completely immersed in this dystopian world.

In the end the story makes you think about the real world and what is happening today. You start to wonder what if…?

Anyway, it was a fun read, I had a good time.

[Lucretia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly thoughtful take on the dystopian genre and a real breath of fresh air. What would happen if all drugs were legal? What would a world of detached unemotional people be like? And how it would be to a person with rare emotions, one with questions about why things are the way they are? Those are the questions that swirl at the start as you are thrown into the fray with Declan. BTW I adore a story that starts in the story and unfolds as it goes, which is what you have here.

Getting to know Declan and the other people who populated this well-imagined reality was a joy. Some of them were quite the contrast to our MC as you might imagine. The plot is intelligent, fast paced, and as complex as you want to make it.

It’s easy to recommend to this.

[Dora Ilieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Inhibited” by Jay Saph is an ambitious dystopian novel which discusses important issues, such as the legalization of drugs, freedom and dictatorship, the importance of arts and humanities and many more. In the book, the world is divided into a Northern and Southern zones. The former is populated by “the inhibited”, people who have lost their ability to think, and the latter – by all who don’t want to live in such an environment and other people who are not clearly defined. The book offers two main plotlines which come together at the end as a revolution shakes the foundations of the Northern Zone, as well as some additional information the purpose of which is to shed more light on the main conflict. There are some parallels with today’s society and its problems which the reader might find interesting.

[Suzanne Paschke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read, and was surprised by how much. I absolutely loved the idea that this book is built around: that drugs had been legalised and the fall out of consequences thereof. It was the first time that I had read this angle in a book so I found it quite refreshing and it piqued my interest immediately. I wanted to know why the government of the time thought it was a good idea, and how the country had moved where they were from at the time of change to how they had gotten to where they were now existing, rather than thriving as a people.

But as much as I loved this there was one thing that I found myself wondering again and again throughout the book: How did they, as a people, end up where they were when not everyone would take drugs? In my mind the majority of people, if drugs were legalised, would still choose not to take them. This was a question that plagued me so much as I read that at times I got frustrated as I simply couldn't understand how it could all happen. It was all revealed as to why and what happened eventually, but I do wonder if it was a little too late in the book.

By the same token, I think it also showed solid writing from the author in holding the answer to my question back for so long. It kept me reading, wondering, and it kept me frustrated that a government could make such a stupid choice. But the explanation for the choice of the government wasn't stupid at all. The reasoning was solid, and I, as a reader, completely bought it and understood it.

The big surprise ultimately in this book is the explanation of how the country moved from where it was to where they ended up. This was well done, and without a doubt was something that I could reasonably see happening outside of fiction. A really great read.

[Ann Pratley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that it took me a while to get into this book, until I hit the 30% mark and finally a big answer started to be presented to a question that had been plaguing me right from the first page ('what happened to the world?!'). The book is split through time, places and characters, each of these offering different views of things that had happened in the past, that had made the world the way it was in the book's present (2042). As someone who tends to need to really understand the feelings of characters in order to get to know them and understand their own individual story, the first portion was difficult for me because one focus of the book is the lack of humans being able to still 'feel'. But once the 30% mark was behind me, I relaxed and enjoyed this book greatly. It is good now and then to read a book that promotes thought about our own world and our own time, and how we are dealing with different things that happen on the planet at any given moment. Overall I found this to be a very thought provoking book and its content shall stay in my mind for quite some time, I expect. I would recommend to anyone who starts it and perhaps finds it not grabbing your attention, to just keep reading. Pass that 30% mark at least before you make judgement, and I suspect you won't be disappointed.

[Christopher Jessulat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is decent, and the angle is interesting. There's certainly some elements of both wit and creativity, and generally the pacing is fairly fluid. The sporadic use of news bulletins (think transcripts/clippings of old articles) serving as interludes/stand-alone chapters adds some flavor to the read. What ultimately stole away the experience (and thus enjoyment) is the sheer volume of grammatical errors, especially concerning punctuation.

While in the self-published space errors do tend to creep through, it pains me to say that this iteration needs another pass of proofreading. I know from experience how tiring it can be to read and re-read the same work, but it's a necessary evil in order to improve the final quality of the product. If the author hooks up with a solid editor/proofreader, I could see this being a much more engaging read (and probably be an easy 4 star rating); the frequency of mistakes is a distraction I simply couldn't overcome.

Overall, it just lacks polish. It's a reasonably well thought out story, and given several clever plot devices, I wanted to like it more. Just wish it had the proofreading it is worthy of!

[K.T. Munson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters

Lots of interesting characters. I liked Hazel - the little girl - just because of her sweet outlook on most things. Declan was also a likable character although sometimes we was very much a 'boy' (caused me to roll my eyes a few times) but absolutely believable. That was something the author did very well - creating characters that felt like they could be real. I won't say too much here other then that in fear of giving away the story.

Plot

The overall plot isn't too complicated - a little predictable but I appreciated how real the author kept it. It was very imaginative and well within the bounds of what could happen. That is what made it have such an impact. No froo-froo ending of 'happily ever after.' It was a well thought out and realistic ending to this tale. It picked up on very real issue in society and exploited them - for that I have to say well done.

Overall

It felt a bit like reading a biography for fictional characters in a possible future - almost eerily so. Very well done, but it did have areas of languish that made my mind wander and then I'd have to snap back. It was well written and easy to follow - there were some dialogue pieces that read weird and a handful of errors but they weren't major. The slowness may have been due to the author withholding key information until nearly the very end of the book. However, that mystery was also well woven - like a flower slowly blooming, once complete it was a beautiful thing.

My biggest complaint - besides the somewhat rushed ending - was the setting. I really struggled to understand how the new formed world was set up. Some of it made absolutely zero sense. Mostly distance traveled versus time spent traveling and trying to track how far the Northern Zone really spread. That was underdeveloped and took me out of the story multiple times.

Rating

4 stars

This was a thought provoking read that I was surprised at how much I liked at the end. This author did a good job at weaving a believable dystopian future - anyone who likes dystopian books, this is a must read!

I received an eBook copy in exchange of an honest review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.

[Sheena Macleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Inhibited by Jay Saph - A thought-provoking dystopian novel set in the near future.
Set in the not too distant future, the Inhibited is a dystopian novel with an eerie message about the future negative consequences increased recreational drug use could have on society.
I was drawn to read this book which has for me an interesting premise; the consequences of our present day excesses. I was not disappointed, and the storyline held my interest.
By 2042, the world is split into two zones – the oppressed North and the un-oppressed South. The story moves between these two locations; which includes London, Bristol, Essex and Kenya. In the oppressed North, the vast majority of the population are zombie-like, devoid of emotion and creativity, and are denied access to music, alcohol and drugs. A small minority, called Shapers, retain some emotion and creativity but keep this hidden for fear of discrimination and reprisals.
With flashbacks to 2016-2018, events move between a wide range of characters. I particularly liked the relationship between Hazel and her Granddad (Professor Tulse) and Hazel’s explorations of Granddad’s attic. I also liked the relationship and growing awareness that developed between Declan and Dana.
Events raise questions about what it is to be human and the nature of living and being. I found the relationship between Hazel and her Granddad, as he encourages Hazel towards music and discovery, touching. Hazel’s keenness to do well and excel at what she does was typically child-like. The badge she wore and the ‘special’ group she was placed in at school was eerily reminiscent of the treatment of the Jews during Nazi occupation.
Declan, a young man in the oppressed North, tries to find out what led to the changes in his society. A few people, including him, still have thoughts of their own, experience emotions, and retain a desire to learn and create. As Declan unravels what happened in the past, the reader discovers why the majority of the population are disengaged. His search for answers provides some startling answers.
The wide-ranging locations, timelines and characters merge together in an under-arching theme and a surprising conclusion.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel is a schoolgirl in the year 2043, and in many ways she’s like her contemporary counterparts. She goes to school, rides the buses, visits her grandfather, and worries about her mother when she has to work long hours. But in other ways, Hazel’s life is very different. She lives in a world with no art and no music, surrounded by people who have no emotions.

She and Declan will have to unravel the mystery of why their world changed almost overnight. It started with the widespread legalization of recreational drugs, but it didn’t end there. And the details have been so suppressed that finding them out is difficult at best, and likely to become quite dangerous.

The Inhibited is a unique dystopic tale of what could be if our society takes a sharp turn for the worse. Recommended for all admirers of the genre.

[Elly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dystopian is set primarily in the UK (Other countries (Kenaya and South Africa, are weaved in, too) in 2042. The world is unique with intriguing concepts: lifting, Shapers, the band on music, legalized drugs. There's a big cast of characters. The main focus is on Declan, Hazel, Annabel & family and Therin & few others. I mostly enjoyed reading about Hazel, her mother and grandfather.

The pace was slow in the beginning and doesn't really take off until about 25% of book where things start to make more sense. There were a couple of tidbits revealed about some of the characters I didn't expect. Although a lot of information was given about the world and its rules, I wanted a few more details about day-to-day life of the characters and places such as the Northern Zone.

[Mark Kasniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Inhibited by Jay Saph was a really fun read for me, not just because I love dystopian stories, but I especially enjoy dystopian reads that leave a bit of mystery to the reader as the plot unfolds. So, let’s talk about the plot if I can do that without managing to be a spoiler.
The book takes place in several areas of what is now the Eastern hemisphere around the 2042 (mostly Europe and North Africa), and the reader is introduced to this part of the world having been divided up into zones. Our main protagonist is a young man named, Declan, and his very controlled world is all he has ever known.
In Declan’s world, a noble idea of government wanting to protect the people has greatly gone awry. Gone are the days of freedom of choice, mankind’s mistakes of the past had led to a totalitarianism state where decisions are made for you: what you can eat, study, the vehicle you can drive, the music you can listen to, etc. The population’s inability to make what was deemed the right decisions for them in the past has now been placed firmly in the hands of big brother, so that human existences can stay on the right course. All this power centralized in the new dictator style government didn’t come about just overnight, of course. With the passing of a 2016 bill into law that was aimed to curb drug abuse, the wheels of proliferation of power to the centralized government began turning, and nothing was ever the same. With the insight of an old man who goes by the name of, Fairfield, Delcan ultimately tries to unravel what went wrong in society and piece together what happened to the world in the brief stretch of forty thirty years.
Okay, so I hope that gives you an idea of what the Inhibited is all about without spilling the beans in any way. Now, as for Jay Saph’s writing, I would say that it’s pretty darn solid. He isn’t verbose or hard to follow even though at times the story can seem a bit complicated, but then again most dystopian stories are complicated and built in layers. The flow was nice and kept at an even pace for most of the book, and Jay added a fair amount of twist to keep you as the reader interested all the way to the end. If, I had to come up with a single drawback about the story, it would be its slow start, the book doesn’t reach out and grip you early, you have to give it time, but it will ultimately sink its fangs into you.
Overall, this is a great story, its fun, exciting, and a bit scary given that such strange things can happen in our ever-changing world. I would recommend this book for mid-teens and up, or for anyone who enjoys dystopian adventures. My final grade A-

[Tassa DeSalada · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Inhibited" is a fascinating, yet dark, book! It's brooding, it's twisting, it's turning. The really scary part is that it's also about our not-too-distant future. This story is fiction, but it reliably and eerily parallels our current society. The first few pages are intensely gripping, and the extremely well written. The suspense starts as the story is just beginning to develop. How fun!!

"The Inhibited" is a creepy peek into our fictional future. Who knows? The author might be right on target, and many parts of this story might become reality. The story's that realistic and hits very very close to home. Who knows what the future holds for us. It's a story the reader should think about and process. Laws and ways change, and this book is what our very near future very well might look like - music, writing, and creative expression are banned. Chance favors the prepared.

I highly recommend this book. Dystopia is not my preferred genre, but I definitely prefer this book. "The Inhibited" is an excellent example of this genre.

[251 Things To Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes us human? In many indigenous cultures, they never had a word for environment, the closest word to that is “home.” We are all one, all interconnected, and somewhere along the last few hundred years, that connection has been lost more and more and an extremely rapid rate. We segregate ourselves in communities/towns/cities and “nature” is simply decorative elements… That connection between nature that provides for us, and we provide for it, has been deeply lost. We are meant to live in cohesion, and this has been done successfully for thousands of years! This all stems from RESPECT…respect for ourselves and all living things around us including the plants, trees, bugs, animals... We are all equal.

The Inhibited branches off of the slow realization that humans have had far too many hiccups along the generational journey, made poor choices, and the main character, Declan, is left to pick up the pieces, search the past, to unravel critical information to the future well-being of the human race, the planet, in an “environment” that has become strictly controlled, too controlled, that the rules/enforced laws actually does the opposite of what was intended.

The author underlines indirectly the importance to our connection, to our protection of the natural world, and the story is rooted from this. This is quite a mature read, and it is great for the keen young adult, intelligent teen, who is interested in worldly issues, or the older adult. Thoroughly enjoyed, great character development, plot, ending. I loved how it was set in multiple locations around the world, all combining into one central theme. 5 Stars

[Michael Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Inhibited" is a dark, near future fiction. The events take place some 25 years after a social experiment went dreadfully wrong. The premise is engaging and the author has clearly thought hard about the consequences of legalizing drugs and how it would affect society. His ideas are original, and I was impressed with how he anchored his story in real events from recent history. It created an alternative version of our future which raised some interesting issues.

His use of flashbacks in the form of newspaper articles and journals was effective. I also liked how we get a sense of his society from the Government ministers down to the common people.

In terms of dialogue and characterisation, there were some quirky turns of phrase (such as the “all fine”) which gave this world, and its people, a measure of authenticity. The author clearly has talent for capturing an image and then presenting it descriptively on the page.

The reason why it is only three stars though, is that I feel the plot stalled in several places only to push the reader too fast in others. For example, the final unveiling of what caused the downfall of society, was an interesting twist. However, the natural place for this to be discovered by the main character was much earlier in the book.

The other issue, for me, was that the author over-described at times. As I said, he can capture an image very effectively, but when it is done to excess, it drew me out of the story and stopped the flow of his narrative.

Overall though, I think this is a solid work of dystopian fiction and for sheer scale and effort it is worth a read.

[Adam Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the author's writing style. It reads as if written by someone who has an adult perspective of the speculative events. The futuristic landscape and matter-of-fact table talk reminded me of Albert Camus' The Plague, one of my favorite authors.

As intriguing as the conversations are, I found myself not sure what exactly was critical to remember and what was just talk for talk's sake. There's nothing wrong with doing that, yet I think the story could stand to orient the reader more towards which threads are crucial to the plot and which aren't. That said, I've gotten the same complaint regarding my own writing.

Declan's quest through dystopic England is interesting, along with the characters he meets, but I felt held at arms length from the real grit, the real deep dive, of the mystery. At the end, I wasn't entirely sure what the prime takeaway was, versus the lesser takeaways.

The special children, known as Shapers, are interesting characters, but they seem to get lost in the background as the story progresses, rather than rise to confront the villains in some critical way.

It may help to dramatize the newspaper articles with actual scenes between the main characters, rather than introducing a static document. Or else, consolidate the newspaper articles into brief sentences and headlines, so it doesn't bog down the momentum.

Otherwise, great start. If there is a sequel or companion story in the works, feel free to treat me like I'm stupid so I can keep in step with Declan.

[Louis A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Inhibited” is a dystopian novel set in the not too distant future that explores the idea of an authoritarian government that has taken over most of Europe, which is split off into the Northern and Southern Zones. In the Northern Zone the people live under watch and are not permitted to enjoy things such as music or writing, anything that involves creative expression. This extreme measure was taken after the United Kingdom passed a drug legalization bill in 2016 that spiraled out of control and resulted in widespread drug abuse.

The novel presents a society where a person’s inhibitions are literally outlawed and creative thought is suppressed. The book also has a larger message to give the reader, one that says that moderation is the key to true bliss. Overindulgence, weather in alcohol or drug use will lead to a destructive society, but when used in proper doses will open up our inhibitions. It is not the job of a government to decide what is good or bad for its citizens, it is up to the citizens to decide and there are many gray areas to explore.

[Annabelle Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story revolves around a dystopian universe in which it is the year 2042 and the government has basically taken away the rights of the public to make decisions. A young man named Declan must then unravel the mystery of how the world fell apart so quickly. (Spoiler: It is not instigated by the election of Donald J. Trump.) Although I thought it started a bit slow, I thought this was a really well told story with enough twists to keep me turning pages until the very end. I loved how it all came together in the end. Highly recommend!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jay Saph has done a great job of creating a future marred by mistakes made by those in power in the past.

The narrative follows an entirely unlikeable man, Threin, who is determined to overthrow all efforts at improving the situation in The Northern Zone; Hazel, a young schoolgirl who shows signs of intelligence and engagement not exhibited by most of her schoolmates; Declan, a college student who is involved with a group whose movement involves investigating the events that led up to the populace becoming disengaged from the past norms of daily living.

Here we see a people who do not listen to music, do not enjoy or create art. Those who show an interest in such things are identified and labeled, and closely monitored. Threin, for one, would be happy to destroy them. They are not the "sheep" he'd prefer to deal with.

Apparently, the trouble began when the government chose to legalize all forms of drugs, including heroine and cocaine, believing that it would reduce drug-related crimes and deaths. Naturally, the criminal element that had been suppliers found new and creative ways to screw the new system and it wasn't long before thousands were addicted to man-made monster drugs with horrific side effects.

It all went to hell from there, and over some decades, we find England and the Northern Zone quite a changed place from that of 2018 or so.

I found this to be an interesting, if disturbing, read and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I don't know if there is a sequel, but I was certainly left with the "And then what happened?" feeling at the end.

Dystopian fans, jump in!

[Michael Patrick Small · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a genre I read much of, but it is one that can provide the reader with food for thought – and 'The Inhibited' is no exception. The story is set in the near future, some years after disastrous and controversial drug legislation left the UK in a state of decay. It is populated by apathetic beings, without initiative, seemingly without any sense of purpose beyond mere existence, and controlled from the vast London-Centre of the Northern Zone.

But what has happened to cause the degeneration of the country? The big question is not answered immediately. This is a little disconcerting at first, but the author gradually drip-feeds us with clues and snippets of information, which accumulate throughout the book to finally provide us with an answer.

There are exceptions to the general apathy of the population of course - the Shapers - young people who, for genetic reasons still have the potential to think, feel and act independently, and it is these characters that capture our attention as the storyline develops.

If you're looking for an easy bedtime read, then this may not be the book for you. It requires a certain amount of perseverance initially to come to grips with the story, but if you stick at it you will become involved in the lives of the principal characters, Declan and Hazel, and their quest to know the truth about the past and to find a better future.

All in all, I found 'The Inhibitors' a thought provoking book, and one that I really enjoyed once I had read my way into it.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Inhibited is an engaging futuristic sci-fi/dystopian that kept me engaged the whole time I was reading it. Our story follows Declan, a university student in the UK, who is on a crusade to find out what caused the changes to the people of his country, a change that made them inhibited, disengaged, and lacking any creativity or desire to create. Several decades beforehand, recreational drugs became legalized, which resulted in a a crumbling of society as a whole. The government, therefore, had to take drastic measures to deal with these changes. This novel was well written and very realistic. I can tell Mr. Saph did his research with regards to writing about chemical compounds and pharmaceutical drugs. It took a while for me to fully comprehend the extent of what was happening in the book, but it sucked me in once I did. The ending was a perfect conclusion to all the questions raised while reading it. The Inhibited is a book that questions many issues faced by our world today and makes the reader think, 'What if?"

I received a copy of this book with no obligation to leave a review.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did an amazing job of building the world. The work he did in developing a history and background to the story through news and letters created a real sense of the conflict. The characters felt real and each had their own personality that blended well with the progression of the plot.

My only gripes are with some of the punctuation and lulls in the storyline. Some of the comma use was distracting, but it didn't detract from the overall readability of the book.

[Ivan Baublitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, to start off I want to commend Jay Saph in captivating my attention with his prose. Some of the descriptions in the book are phenomenal. Jay is able to not only express the curiosity of "what happened" but also the scenes are set especially through Declan's eyes and senses. He adds smell, taste, color, into many of the scenes that give the reader a graphic provocative position while reading. His writing style is incredible and the prose rides freely and sets up each scene.

The story is set in the not so far future but rich with current questions facing our society's today in particular drug use. Fairfield who was responsible for the 2016 Fairfield Act to me is the interesting mystery that carries us through this tale. A fun character at times who likes his "whiskey" but also likes to leave Declan chasing his tale as he tries to unravel the past.

This is of course a dystopian novel and I was looking for a bit more action or rather see some sort of ending where Declan makes a decision that effects the population that was inhibited. I kept looking for a holy grail to release the shapers. As the story weaves around planet Earth so does the authors characters. They seem to be searching for why human beings decided to unravel, and an authoritarian government was needed to dictate the now and the future. Interesting enough I think the final message of this was "Use drugs don't abuse them".

Overall I want to once again commend the author on his prose. It was at time elegant and surprisingly fresh. A great read but not for the young unless they are ready to expand their minds.

[Denis Hachey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dystopian novel is set in the year 2042. The story starts out by giving the reader glimpses of the new world, and introducing you to the different characters. You understand that this is a very different world from the old one, one where there is no music, where most people are disengaged, without much memory of the old world and where the Administration has a very strict control. There are some people, GT4s or Shapers who are asking questions about the past and what happened. It all seems to have changed after the Fairfield Act of 2016 and the riots of 2018. Many shapers are trying to leave the Northern Zone in Europe for the Southern Zone in Africa which seems as though it is a place with less control and more freedom. A young shaper student, Declan, begins to do some research into the old world and where things went so wrong. He meets, Dr. Fairfield, an old man who tells him about how the old UK government legalized all recreational drugs, something Declan has never even heard of. The story follows Declan as he uncovers the truth of why the majority of the population in the Northern Zone is inhibited. A fast-paced and exciting read!