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The Forgotten
This is an updated cover edition of 9780998437811.
"We are a world divided, with skeletons filling the cracks."
Evelyn Moore hasn't seen her children since the day they were born. No one in Felicity has.
From the moment a child is brought into the world they are placed into the arms of a patrol, and sent to live on the other side of the bridge. This is the way it has been for as long as anyone can remember. The water in Felicity is too tainted for the children to survive. They say it started with a war so ravenous that it split the land in two, creating what is now known as The Chasm – a giant crack in the earth that serves as the divider between Evelyn's world, and her children's.
On one side of the bridge is a city named Felicity, with beautiful high-rise buildings that can be seen from all the way across the divide. Those that live in Calloway can see the silhouette of the other city if they stand close enough to The Chasm. Every child wants over that bridge. Their city is riddled with violence, and the homes that are still standing are nothing better than shacks. It doesn't help that those that live in Felicity are oblivious to the squalor that surround their children. Everything about the cities must always remain separate.
Now that Evelyn's daughter, Char, is old enough to reenter Felicity she has chosen to become one of the patrols whose job it is to keep the cities safe, and separate. It was the only way she could ensure her brother, Alexander, stay safe in Calloway. Except, things begin to unravel the moment Char crosses over. Between the cryptic messages that Evelyn begins to receive, and the strange radio broadcast that Alexander discovers in Calloway, it becomes clear that someone out there is desperate for the truth to come forward.
Everything they thought they knew about their cities will turn out to be a lie. Unfortunately for them, some things are better left forgotten.
"We are a world divided, with skeletons filling the cracks."
Evelyn Moore hasn't seen her children since the day they were born. No one in Felicity has.
From the moment a child is brought into the world they are placed into the arms of a patrol, and sent to live on the other side of the bridge. This is the way it has been for as long as anyone can remember. The water in Felicity is too tainted for the children to survive. They say it started with a war so ravenous that it split the land in two, creating what is now known as The Chasm – a giant crack in the earth that serves as the divider between Evelyn's world, and her children's.
On one side of the bridge is a city named Felicity, with beautiful high-rise buildings that can be seen from all the way across the divide. Those that live in Calloway can see the silhouette of the other city if they stand close enough to The Chasm. Every child wants over that bridge. Their city is riddled with violence, and the homes that are still standing are nothing better than shacks. It doesn't help that those that live in Felicity are oblivious to the squalor that surround their children. Everything about the cities must always remain separate.
Now that Evelyn's daughter, Char, is old enough to reenter Felicity she has chosen to become one of the patrols whose job it is to keep the cities safe, and separate. It was the only way she could ensure her brother, Alexander, stay safe in Calloway. Except, things begin to unravel the moment Char crosses over. Between the cryptic messages that Evelyn begins to receive, and the strange radio broadcast that Alexander discovers in Calloway, it becomes clear that someone out there is desperate for the truth to come forward.
Everything they thought they knew about their cities will turn out to be a lie. Unfortunately for them, some things are better left forgotten.
- GenresDystopia
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2016
29 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
M. Stringfield
1 book25 followersM. Stringfield is a writer by day, and a reader by night. She is a lover of action-packed stories, whether they be thriller, horror, or science fiction. She is naturally drawn to everything weird, and a little bit crazy. She lives in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois with her husband, two children, and goofy looking dog.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 8, 2017
I don’t usually write book reviews, but as a fan of near-future-oriented SciFi this was strongly recommended to me by a close friend. The long and the short of it is, this is a high quality story which sets the stage for a highly unique and interesting world where what the characters want to believe vs. what is their reality is challenged, and the entire moral order of how we tend to demarcate ourselves for the betterment of others is critiqued (sounds familiar to real life, no?). The story is very reminiscent of other thrillers where each chapter kind of ends on a “WTF?!” and pulls you to the next – to wit, perhaps my only complaint is that there is some degree of openness to the ending. While all the relevant loose threads are tied (a pet peeve of mine are stories that leave MAJOR plot issues unresolved for the benefit of inevitable sequels) it still leaves you wondering what will happen next. This is net-net a good thing, but does make me want more.
December 2, 2016
I just finished reading this book and I have to say, it absolutely blew me away. I laughed... I even cried. You could really connect with the characters in this book. It was so hard to put down because I needed to know what was going to happen next! Then when I did have to put it down, I was left just thinking about everything that was going on and what I hoped would happen next. It is definitely a book that takes your imagination to a whole new world. I would highly recommend it.
February 8, 2017
This was a very unique book. The plotline is nothing like you expect and the entire time i was reading, I kept trying to piece it together and figure out what would happen - only to find I was way off! I couldn't put it down and found myself up through the night reading. You really need to give this one a try if you like suspense and a story that tugs at your heartstrings in all the best ways.
September 27, 2017
-I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Forgotten, by M. Stringfield, is a horrific dystopian about betraying your loved ones to protect a crumbling future.
Evelyn Moore is a mother who wants to see her beloved daughter again. All the while, she keeps hearing the quiet, tinkering sounds of a music box, one that will bring the bloody reminisces of a past she tried so hard to bury. Char Moore is a new recruit for an elite force that safeguards the city, Felicity. After a series of frightening experiences she is confronted by a family legacy that threatens the lives of everyone she loves. Alexander Moore is a young boy who stumbles across s scandal from long ago, one that begins to suffocate him until it finally claims him for its own. The fate of the Moore family rests upon a man named Charles, a man who led his family down an abyss of murder. The story cultivates an eerie beauty that deals with what happens when you stubbornly cling to what should have been forgotten so very long ago.
Evelyn was such a twisted character. Her twists and turns were so complex I was forced to wonder if I was reading about the same character. She was sweet and naive in the beginning, but as the book went on, I realized there was more to her than what I initially thought. Then there were Char and Alex, two children who were robbed of their innocence, if only to find their place in a society that had long lost its sanity. The three did what they thought was right, despite the terrible consequences in the end. Through these characters, Stringfield shows that the strict boundary between good and evil doesn’t exist. The system humanity had devised to save themselves is deeply flawed. We risk everything for the sake of feeling safe, even though it may be just a lie in the end.
This leads to one of the themes of the book, of forgetting everything that hurts and succumbing to a place where reality has no jurisdiction. Patricia believed that her son was in a better place, despite what Char had to say. Mara’s haunting death, with the words ‘Let them forget’ , was an illustration of how far people would go for the sake of believing that they did something for humanity. Even Evelyn felt this way as well, so much so she would kill her own husband and allow her children to suffer. The populace was robbed of the youth; all they had left was a lie they desperately cling to. This theme reflects the reality of the real world, such as that of Nazi Germany, and even the Cold War in America.
This book reminds me of a demented retelling of Alice in Wonderland. It’s as if these characters fell down a rabbit hole, before endeavoring to follow a morbid trail that leads to the Red Queen herself. How many people have died for her delusions, I shudder to even think about. Stringfield scripts a macabre world in which the dead go missing, and only the memories remain. As such, I would give this book a 4.6 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of dystopian worlds and the Brothers Grimm.
The Forgotten, by M. Stringfield, is a horrific dystopian about betraying your loved ones to protect a crumbling future.
Evelyn Moore is a mother who wants to see her beloved daughter again. All the while, she keeps hearing the quiet, tinkering sounds of a music box, one that will bring the bloody reminisces of a past she tried so hard to bury. Char Moore is a new recruit for an elite force that safeguards the city, Felicity. After a series of frightening experiences she is confronted by a family legacy that threatens the lives of everyone she loves. Alexander Moore is a young boy who stumbles across s scandal from long ago, one that begins to suffocate him until it finally claims him for its own. The fate of the Moore family rests upon a man named Charles, a man who led his family down an abyss of murder. The story cultivates an eerie beauty that deals with what happens when you stubbornly cling to what should have been forgotten so very long ago.
Evelyn was such a twisted character. Her twists and turns were so complex I was forced to wonder if I was reading about the same character. She was sweet and naive in the beginning, but as the book went on, I realized there was more to her than what I initially thought. Then there were Char and Alex, two children who were robbed of their innocence, if only to find their place in a society that had long lost its sanity. The three did what they thought was right, despite the terrible consequences in the end. Through these characters, Stringfield shows that the strict boundary between good and evil doesn’t exist. The system humanity had devised to save themselves is deeply flawed. We risk everything for the sake of feeling safe, even though it may be just a lie in the end.
This leads to one of the themes of the book, of forgetting everything that hurts and succumbing to a place where reality has no jurisdiction. Patricia believed that her son was in a better place, despite what Char had to say. Mara’s haunting death, with the words ‘Let them forget’ , was an illustration of how far people would go for the sake of believing that they did something for humanity. Even Evelyn felt this way as well, so much so she would kill her own husband and allow her children to suffer. The populace was robbed of the youth; all they had left was a lie they desperately cling to. This theme reflects the reality of the real world, such as that of Nazi Germany, and even the Cold War in America.
This book reminds me of a demented retelling of Alice in Wonderland. It’s as if these characters fell down a rabbit hole, before endeavoring to follow a morbid trail that leads to the Red Queen herself. How many people have died for her delusions, I shudder to even think about. Stringfield scripts a macabre world in which the dead go missing, and only the memories remain. As such, I would give this book a 4.6 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of dystopian worlds and the Brothers Grimm.
March 22, 2018
I feel like I've read a different book to everyone else! The story is bizarre with plot holes all over the place and so many major points not explained - Why didn't they just fix the water pipe? Or why didn't they all just move to where the water wasn't toxic? Why didn't whole families move to Calloway whilst their children grew up rather than send children on their own? Who were the caretakers? Why would anyone volunteer to be a patrol and even if they did, what would motivate them to follow orders if death is the punishment for not doing but they're going to die in 3 years anyway. Is it the dust or the water which is the problem? If they could build skyscrapers surely they could build some sort of dust storm protection, like a wall, rather than just some trees. What happened to the rest of the world? Why is Patricia so controlling? How does Evelyn maintain power when she is only 'awake' to reality for 8 hours a year? Where are they getting all their food from if all the land is barren? And wherever they are getting it from, why not share it equally between the adults and children? Why not just tell the children that they will get sick if they cross the bridge? It seems that the main reason for the patrols is to stop the children coming over the bridge, presumably this is to stop them getting sick and dying, but the punishment for crossing the bridge is death, so why not save the trouble and just let them cross and die? Etc. Etc. Every page brings a new discrepancy. Also I've never read a book with so much screaming! I'm not sure screaming for extended periods is a particularly common reaction to anything, however bad, but all the main characters seem to do it all the time. I didn't like all the unnecessary swearing either.
May 16, 2020
*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
The Forgotten was nothing like what I was expecting when I first started reading and I mean this in a really good way.
When war ravages the land and the water becomes poisonous for children to drink, the residents of Felicity make the heart-breaking decision to send them away across The Chasm to Calloway so that they might live. Thus starts a grim tradition that has been in place for as long as anyone can remember. Each parents longs for the day that their child becomes old enough to cross the bridge and return to them.
When Char Moore crosses back into Felicity, she is reunited with her mother Evelyn whom she struggles to form a bond with. Evelyn is jaded and haunted by past events, however she had always longed to see her children again.
When Char begins to unravel the mysteries of Felicity and Calloway, she learns the devastated truth of all that she had been brought up believing. Together with her mother and younger brother Alexander, she has to find all the answers before it is too late.
The Forgotten is one of these novels that you cannot tell what direction it will take next. There is no second guessing, which makes it an especially gripping and intense read. The characters were so raw with their emotions and you could really feel everything that each of them had gone through.
There were so many plot twists and surprises at every turn. I cannot recommend The Forgotten enough. Dystopian science fiction at its best!
The Forgotten was nothing like what I was expecting when I first started reading and I mean this in a really good way.
When war ravages the land and the water becomes poisonous for children to drink, the residents of Felicity make the heart-breaking decision to send them away across The Chasm to Calloway so that they might live. Thus starts a grim tradition that has been in place for as long as anyone can remember. Each parents longs for the day that their child becomes old enough to cross the bridge and return to them.
When Char Moore crosses back into Felicity, she is reunited with her mother Evelyn whom she struggles to form a bond with. Evelyn is jaded and haunted by past events, however she had always longed to see her children again.
When Char begins to unravel the mysteries of Felicity and Calloway, she learns the devastated truth of all that she had been brought up believing. Together with her mother and younger brother Alexander, she has to find all the answers before it is too late.
The Forgotten is one of these novels that you cannot tell what direction it will take next. There is no second guessing, which makes it an especially gripping and intense read. The characters were so raw with their emotions and you could really feel everything that each of them had gone through.
There were so many plot twists and surprises at every turn. I cannot recommend The Forgotten enough. Dystopian science fiction at its best!
January 10, 2018
I recently read a trilogy about two towns separated by gender, so when I came across this book with two towns separated by age I was a little hesitant.
That trilogy and this book have nothing in common outside of the premise.
In this book newborns are sent across the bridge and the children live there separate from their parents until they reach the age of 18 when they are allowed to return.
There are some plot holes (who takes care of the little ones, how are they educated, etc.) and some unbelievable plot points (no town of adults is going to let a 12 year old rule them and make their life and death decisions on her own) it was still an interesting read that I enjoyed.
That trilogy and this book have nothing in common outside of the premise.
In this book newborns are sent across the bridge and the children live there separate from their parents until they reach the age of 18 when they are allowed to return.
There are some plot holes (who takes care of the little ones, how are they educated, etc.) and some unbelievable plot points (no town of adults is going to let a 12 year old rule them and make their life and death decisions on her own) it was still an interesting read that I enjoyed.
April 19, 2017
Great read
This book left me wanting more, there definitely needs to be a sequel and a prequel as well. I didn't give 5 stars because I felt this book could have gone deeper. I hope the author remedies this by creating a series.
This book left me wanting more, there definitely needs to be a sequel and a prequel as well. I didn't give 5 stars because I felt this book could have gone deeper. I hope the author remedies this by creating a series.
August 17, 2018
Great read
Great read! I love science fiction and post apocalypse world's! The story kept me intrigued and wanting to continue on to the next page!
Great read! I love science fiction and post apocalypse world's! The story kept me intrigued and wanting to continue on to the next page!
June 15, 2018
Holy crap!!! One of the best post apocalyptic books I've read in a long time. Only wish more was coming.
April 2, 2017
Wow
I thought I knew what was happening, but am glad to say it took a turn that caught me by surprise. That is exactly what a book should do
I thought I knew what was happening, but am glad to say it took a turn that caught me by surprise. That is exactly what a book should do
July 26, 2017
This was a really unique book with a very interesting plot line. A lot of plot twists that completely caught me off guard. I had a hard time putting it down! Definitely recommend.
November 3, 2021
Very interesting read... a dystopian novel until anything I've really read before. The world was intriguing without being too heavy to read about, and there were a ton of twists and turns. This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I would definitely recommend it to others.
June 22, 2018
Well done
Great content excellent story. I want to know what happens to Char does the colony survive? Looking forward to more
Great content excellent story. I want to know what happens to Char does the colony survive? Looking forward to more
July 30, 2018
Can’t put it down
Couldn’t put it down! The story was great and the characters were interesting. It left me wanting to know more about this place
Couldn’t put it down! The story was great and the characters were interesting. It left me wanting to know more about this place
July 29, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up. Quick read and interesting. I was surprised by one or two things, which is always good.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews