Biome

by Ryan Galloway

Tomorrow is the day. After months of tending the biomes, Lizzy will finally have the chance to step outside the colony and see the Martian surface for herself.

Or at least, that's how things were supposed to go. But when she wakes for first expedition with a crippling headache, she finds that the previous week has started over. And no one seems to notice. The headache gets worse. Lizzy begins to remember things. Things that happened to other people. Like her best friend, or the boy who secretly falls in love with her week, after week, after week.

As the memories become more vivid, Lizzy begins to realize that cadets have disappeared from their place inside the colony. A terrible secret is hidden within these gleaming walls. The doctors are not what they seem--and if they figure out what she knows, one thing is certain: Lizzy won't be the first to be forgotten.

---

- 1st Place Award Winner, 2017 Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards
- Silver Medalist, 2018 IPPY Awards
- 2nd Place Award Winner, 2017 Royal Dragonfly e-Book Awards
- Finalist, 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
- Finalist, 2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards
- Recommended Review, Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopia, Fiction

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2016

About the author

Ryan has been writing books since he was twelve years old. After an undergrad in science and a very close call with the medical field, he chose to shift majors at the last moment to pursue his lifelong dream of authorship.

On the path to publication, Ryan's day job led him into marketing. To date, he's written for a few hundred major brands, including Oprah, Starbucks, Xbox, and Nike. His books have since been called “refreshing,” “tenacious,” “extremely engaging,” and a “mishmash of bad science and preachy self-help clichés.”

Reviews

[Sylvia Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So once I finally pried this book out of my husband's hands . . . I'm finishing up Sci-Fi August with this book and, yeah, I'm glad I ended with this one. Because that was a GREAT finish to an AMAZING month of reading!

WHAT I LOVED

This one was a bit more of a slow-burn than the last few I've reviewed. The opening isn't slam-packed with action, but instead has a slowly-increasing undercurrent of dread . . . which was actually super suspenseful! I loved it, and loved that it was just a little bit different from the other books in the genre I'd just been reading.

And make no mistake, the actual heart-pounding action starts up soon enough, with some incredible sequences that had me turning pages as fast as I possibly could. Ryan Galloway has thought through his world and his characters so carefully that everything felt REAL. Vivid and terrifyingly possible, if that makes sense.

I loved the heroine. At first I wasn't sure I would like her at all--she is so morose and awkward and frustrating. But slowly she starts to reveal her soft side. And honestly, she's enduring quite a tremendous mental burden--the memories of every cadet on the planet. Memories she really shouldn't have, including the memories of the boy who loves her . . .

The boy who loves her, but who has that loved erased from his memory at the end of each week . . . only for him to fall in love with her all over again . . .

Intriguing, right?

I loved the unfolding mystery of WHY the doctors on Mars Colony One are stealing the memories of these cadets. I felt all of Lizzy's fear and confusion right along with her, and her desperation. And I loved watching her resourcefulness as she handles each new threat thrown her way. Things don't come easily to this girl, but she figures it out, putting the pieces together slowly, painfully.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE SO MUCH

That. Ending.

I can't say too much, 'cause I don't want to give anything away. I mean, the ending is a WOW ending, that leaves you completely flabbergasted and breathless, but . . . but . . . um . . . Is there a book 2? Please, Mr. Galloway, tell me there's a book 2! Please!

Anyone who liked ILLUMINAE and THE DIABOLIC and some of the other really great, suspenseful YA sci-fi out there should definitely read this book. It's not as well-known as those others (it's from a small indie-press, apparently), but it's incredible. I could totally see this one made into a movie or mini-series.

And that does it for Science Fiction Month for me. I was planning to read The Daragh Deception, but just wasn't quite getting into it when I tried it. I think it's probably a good book, just not one I'm currently in the mood for, so I set it aside for the time being. And I started For Darkness Shows the Stars, but I think it might be more dystopian than sci-fi, so I'll save it for some future Dystopian Month instead.

Visit my website in a few days for my pick for Book of the Month! And Cover of the Month too, naturally. There were some amazing choices to be had this August. I lucked out as a reader!

[Anne Stengl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in a matter of days! Within the first few chapters I gave up trying to predict where the story would go and simply let it carry me on a wild, extraterrestrial ride. Ryan Galloway includes plenty of world-building details to make his Mars colony feel authentic and believable, but never so much that I felt bogged down in too many sci-fi details. Instead he focuses on breathtaking action and dynamic characters, particularly the compelling character of his first-person heroine. In short, Biome is a suspenseful thriller that kept me quickly turning pages all the way to that gut-punch of an ending!

A smart book for smart readers.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inside the gleaming domes of Mars Colony One, seventeen-year-old Lizzy Engram and her fellow cadets work to make the Red Planet habitable.

And every Sunday night, the doctors erase their memories.

Week by week the procedure is carried out. Until one morning, Lizzy wakes with all of the missing memories inside her head. And not just her own, but the memories of every cadet on the planet--

3.5 stars. The whole time I was reading Biome I thought it was a stand-alone, that is until I got to the giant cliff-hanger of an ending. That probably explains why I didn't see the ending coming. For the most part I enjoyed this, although there were times the main character came across a bit slow to me. There were times she was confused by what another character was saying to her, but I didn't think what he was saying was confusing at all. There were also times when I didn't like her all that much, but I have to say that I was impressed that the author actually wrote a teenage character that eventually sees her own faults and is able to humble herself enough to apologize for her shortcomings and make changes to herself.

I think the biggest flaw in the book is the fact that the main character is able to evade capture so easily when there are cameras almost everywhere. It never really felt like she was in too much danger. There was also some teen romance drama that became mildly annoying, although I liked that this book didn't get too deep into the romance. The best part about the book was probably the ending, although I really would have loved if this had been a stand-alone. Because of that ending, there is no way I will be able to pass up the next book. I really need to know what happens next. In a way this reminded me slightly of The 100. If you enjoy sci-fi dystopian novels give it a try.

Review also posted at Writings of a Reader

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biome is a dystopian sci/fi set on Mars, featuring an intriguing cast of characters that remain vivid in my mind. I honestly can hardly wait to read the sequel and discover what happens next!

Lizzy, the smart, tough, competent yet appealing viewpoint character, must unravel frightening mysteries surrounding the entire colony. The story offers friendships, competition, touches of romance, plenty of intrigue, some fascinating sci-fi aspects, and plenty of heart-pounding suspense and drama.

I highly recommend Biome to readers who enjoy intricate plots, 3-dimensional characters, a complex story-world, and multiple levels of meaning that keep a reader thinking long after the book ends.

[Liv (LivTheBookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3 stars

Ryan Galloway sent me an e-book copy of the book for an honest review

Review coming to www.livthebooknerd.blogspot.com in October

Thoughts For Now:
Okay so this book was actually good during the beginning, but once I hit the half-way mark I got soooo bored. It put me into a slump and I forced myself to read it when I actually picked it up. This could have been really good, but the middle bits dragged on FOREVER! I really didn't like how complicated and slow it got during the middle. I also noticed that little memory psychology twist that was going on all through the book. I had my psych lecture today, and we're starting the memory chapter and when I saw the names of the scientists I just went "WHAAAAT?" I'm am amused... But the biggest problem that I had was that I got sooo bored with the book. I nearly DNF'd it because I was just really irritated, but I pushed through....I really didn't like any of the characters and I couldn't connect with any of them. I was really excited to read this book too......Sorry Ryan xD

Full Review Here: http://livthebooknerd.blogspot.com/20...

Hey, guys!

I was sent an e-copy of Biome from Ryan Galloway for an honest review.

I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I had a few issues when it came to structuring, content, and frankly, I wasn't too fond of the characters.

Biome follows Lizzy Engram who is a cadet in the Mars Colony. She and hundreds of other cadets are working nonstop in order to ensure the future colonies are able to inhabit Mars...But every Sunday night the cadet's memories are erased. One day, Lizzy wakes up with all of the missing memories. She begins a journey to discover why the memories have been uploaded into her head and to ensure the safety of the colony and the cadets who have been taking care of it.

This book has a very interesting premise and I really liked the concept that Ryan came up with. The beginning of the book was pretty good. It was a bit slow, but it picked up for a good chunk of time. Unfortunately, the middle of the book felt, to me, to be a bunch of filler space and I got bored really quickly and I didn't really have any connection with the characters and I found the main character to be really boring and unrelatable. Her whole attitude was really annoying and I didn't even care about what happened to her.

Overall, the concept was really interesting and I liked the psychology aspects of it, but it the middle was really slow and boring and I didn't really care. This book caused me to get into a really nasty reading slump.

I think that fans of science fiction and dystopian YA, then you'll really like this. I think I just read this during a time that I wasn't in the mood to read science fiction. I don't know if I'll read the sequel, but I kind of want to know how the story ends, but I don't want all of the details...I just want the bare bones....

Don't forget to check out this book when it comes out in December 2016!!!!

[Ryan Galloway]

Hopefully there's a Tesla.

[Caitlin Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Galloway’s debut novel, Biome, takes the reader to a Mars Colony in its infancy stages. Lizzy is one of two hundred cadets on the Colony. The cadet’s primary duty is to tend to the plants growing in the various biome domes while Mars is being terraformed. Every week, the cadets attend therapy to ensure their mental health, but the doctors in charge of the cadets have taken this to extreme levels. Each therapy session ends with a revision, a process that partially erases their memories. One day Lizzy wakes up with all the cadet’s stolen memories in her brain. She has only a week before the next revision, only a week to figure out what the doctors are so desperate to keep secret that they’ll erase any memory of it from the cadet’s minds.

Biome pairs a fascinating premise with a gripping plot that will keep you guessing right up to the last page. The technicalities of life in the domes, and the terraforming process, are well thought out and realistic. Lizzy is strong and intelligent. I didn’t like her much, but that didn’t make her any less compelling as a character. Her struggle to adapt to the vast collection of memories inside her head presents her with a variety of moral dilemmas as well as raising complex, thought provoking questions for the reader. I liked the fact that she’s forced to form alliances with people she doesn’t like, never mind trust. Galloway has penned an excellent debut novel. It will be interesting to see what this talented writer does in the sequel to Biome.

(Reviewed for Reader's Favorite)

[Danae Dracht · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are several strong points in this debut novel. Together with a relatable leading female character, my favorite aspect of this book is more of a philosophical one. I was struck mid way through with the astute way the author guides readers to consider the question of perception versus reality. **Spoiler alert!** When we believe something is true (in this case, that Earth still exists) it becomes our tower of influence, a sound structure of selected ideas and beliefs we use for inhabiting our reality. When this tower is shattered (in this case, Earth no longer exists) and we are forced to lay out another, perhaps harsher foundation for what we understand to be real, what are the effects of this? How can we cope? What reality would we rather live in when both are handed to us as truth and we cannot trust our own memories to know for sure?

[Will Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another dystopian YA, and you think, "Why?" Well, BIOME really surprised me -- for one thing, it didn't have a "which cute guy should I choose?" (SUCH a problem!) subplot. For another, I actually wanted to find out what happened -- I read the book in a day. It has the same creepy feeling that the MATCHED series provides, and the stakes are really, really high, as the book's ending reveals. No, I won't revel it here; read the book and find out what for yourself. Main character Lizzie's not perfect, but then, who is? And she's 16, so cut her a break, all right? I read an ARC of this, and like it enough that I'll buy the sequel.

[Lauren Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will pull you in from the start. If you aren't into sci-fi (like myself, generally) it won't matter. The author hooks you with the desire to know what is happening to these characters, what is the truth, and whether or not they will overcome the antagonist/s. The book also explores morality and human psychology/behavior, as you could see as a sort of foundation for everything in the story. As you learn more about the characters over time, you feel more for them, as one of the character's past was relatable to my own experiences.

The ending takes a turn that will make you want more. I can see this being adapted into a film someday, assuming Hollywood doesn't butcher it.

[James Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved 90% of this book but that ending just didn't work. It's a to be continued so there really is no ending. It's a shame because this really is a talented writer.

[C.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Twists galore— right up to the last page. The book is infuriating in the best possible way. The world-building is beautiful and shockingly realistic, even though it takes place on a vastly foreign planet. The twists are shocking but the details are there if you’re really looking for them. The story hints at what’s going to happen but doesn’t give it away until it’s too late to predict. A beautiful story!

I am desperate to find out what happens to the characters next! I can’t wait for the sequel!!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I am reviewing a copy that I won through a goodreads giveaway. My copy came with a lovely note from the author, too!

The atmosphere of this book is terrific, with mystery and uncertainty in every one of Lizzy's thoughts, in the sterile and winding maze of the domes and habitats, and in the harsh landscape of a stormy Mars just beginning to support life. There are some moments of absolutely beautiful writing, especially when Lizzy is hit with a rush of memories (her own, or those of another cadet). The scenes when Lizzy looks at herself through the eyes of the other characters are especially revealing. My thoughts kept returning to how well this book would work as a YA TV series.

That said, there were times that Lizzy's strategizing and philosophizing become tedious. Much of the book is filled with hypothetical thoughts that go through Lizzy's head ("I can't X, because Z will respond by Y-ing.... could I W instead?" and "What if Q had not XYZ? Then...."). A good editor could have come in and chopped some of this out. Likewise, so many of the big plot points are revealed through dialogue, with one character simply explaining themselves to another over and over. This is a shame, because Galloway absolutely has the talent to show the vividness of some of these moments.
There is one particular section of the book when the narrative moves out to the Martian wilderness, when the dialogue is essentially gone and the red planet comes to life in gorgeous and devastating detail.

There's supposed to be more coming in this series. I definitely plan to keep reading. It would be especially interesting to find ourselves in another character's head for the next book.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first thoughts on this book. Not another book set on Mars. I just read The Martian Chronicles and was burnt out on the Mars theme. It was a fast paced story. Teenage kids were sent to Mars to tend plants. It was hoped that these plants would give Mars an atmosphere like Earth. The kids lived a very controlled life and every Sunday scientists would wipe their memories clean. They said it kept the colony safe and protected, no chaos. The question became is it right to alter someone's reality to keep them safe? Elizabeth and a group of friends staged a rebellion claiming chaos is good, that is how you learn and grow. Do you live life safe in a bubble? The ending surprised me. Then it says doctors win for now, to be continued. I don't think I will read the second book when it is released. The characters had too many problems. Elizabeth was annoying always blaming everybody except herself.

[The TBR Pile *Book review site* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Lizzy. She is antisocial and awkward, which I can certainly relate to. Once we meet Noah, who I love by the way, and a plan starts forming, things go from amazing to freaking epic. The twists, the secrets, the truth, it all unravels and Lizzy is stuck with all that knowledge crammed in her head. No wonder she is getting headaches.

As much as I love this book, the ending is…a total let down. Why split it into two books? Why not have an ending worthy of the story? I feel like the author is trying to stretch the story out to make more money with two books. One book with a satisfying ending would have really cinched this author as a must read for me.

Biome had a lot of potential but that ending really ruined the story for me.

Full Review: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...

[Jill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this book, and it is amazing! It has that "Wow" factor with a very satisfying ending. Page turner. Fast paced. Well-written. Definitely worth reading! It left me wanting a sequel and would make an amazing movie!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dystopian future + mars + teen romance = Yum.

I would call this a binge read with no regrets. #partyinthepages

[Sean Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt a little lost at the outset of this one, the complete memory regain happened so quickly and details like the Oxygen tank slipped in early on to confuse me some and that's never a good feeling with YA. But the story managed to completely grab my attention and the idea is certainly cleverly picked out. I really want to read the sequel now, which I suppose is the best sort of indicator you could ask for.

[Kirundo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unexpected find! Good book, I really liked the story and I wish it would have elaborated more on the plants and how they worked and how it was thought out to be but the characters were absolutely imaginable and overall well done!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is book 2

I'm so sad I've been waiting so long. It's okay as long as it's still coming out... please tell me its still coming out..

Years later this book and story is still in my thoughts I need an ending.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't really like this one. I thought Lizzy was a brat and the story didn't make a lot of sense. Neat twist at the end though.

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a lot longer than it needed to be and honestly I got very bored halfway through. I definitely don’t feel like I need to continue.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I don't like books written in the first person, but it is an absolute necessity for this tale. As a reader, you are immediately drawn into Lizzie's state of confusion. There is no backstory needed since Lizzie has about the same amount of information as the new reader: none. The entire story is a struggle since Lizzie does not know who can be trusted, simply because none of the cadets remember anything.

This is a refreshing spin on dysopian novels that brings in a greater depth of thought into how memories shape humankind, and how detrimental the loss of memories can be. I had been hoping that this was a stand-alone book, but it was clear at the 80% mark that this was the first book in a series.

****Spoiler****
I am not sure if I will read the next installment. I am curious to see how things will progress, but if all of the cadets have their memories wiped then I am concerned that the second book will be a repeat of the first book. Well like the first with a few changes: different bad guy, biomes damaged and Mars is habitable.

[Apostol Apostolov · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected much more based on the rather interesting premise but most of Biome is rather bland and uninteresting chase run championed by a fairly unlikable girl. The book drags to almost a halt in the middle but eventually delivers a gripping ending, one you'd not expect given most of the book tries hard to deliver fake solutions to accrual problems so much, you would be fooled into expecting the same at the very end. I really wish this book does not get a sequel because the ending is just as should be.

[Tina Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I think the author did an amazing job narrating from the point of view of a strong female character. I was a little disappointed in the ending at first because I don't like cliff hangers. However, after thinking about it, I think the ending is good choice and I'm looking forward to the second book!

[Maxximum Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah. Although there were times I wished to fast forward but the end gave it the stars! I did not see that coming!