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The Forgotten Ones #1
The Weight of a Thousand Oceans
In a world where cities sprawl like half-submerged skeletons, Maia has spent her entire life hidden within the mountains of New Zealand. Her only companions being her ailing grandfather and a nomadic dog named Huck, Maia resents being alone. She spends her days wandering the ruins of a population long-gone, dreaming of a place where the few humans left behind can start again—a place her grandfather insists is a myth.
But Maia cannot escape a strong and mysterious force calling her out into the world, as well as bizarre events following her around the island. There is something strangely enchanted about the land in which she lives… or is it her?
When Maia hears a rumor that people are heading to The Old Arctic Circle half a world away, she knows this is where her destiny lies—until a devastating turn of events seems to shatter any hope of reaching her destination. Clinging to the edge of her life, Maia must come face to face with the transformative power of fate, discovering the one thing she has spent her life running from may be the only thing to save her.
But Maia cannot escape a strong and mysterious force calling her out into the world, as well as bizarre events following her around the island. There is something strangely enchanted about the land in which she lives… or is it her?
When Maia hears a rumor that people are heading to The Old Arctic Circle half a world away, she knows this is where her destiny lies—until a devastating turn of events seems to shatter any hope of reaching her destination. Clinging to the edge of her life, Maia must come face to face with the transformative power of fate, discovering the one thing she has spent her life running from may be the only thing to save her.
Unknown Binding
Published June 1, 2020
378 people are currently reading
1273 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Webster
4 books51 followersJillian Webster is a writer of dark, compelling fiction with a fantastical twist.
Originally from Michigan, Jillian traveled to New Zealand on a “six-month adventure” with nothing but a backpack and a dream … and never left. She now lives in a charming little home by the sea, tucked in a bay of rolling green hills speckled with sheep (and the occasional goat).
You can find her most days with her head in the clouds and her fingers on a keyboard. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, hiking in the pristine New Zealand bush with her husband and their dog, and cooking.
THE FORGOTTEN ONES is Jillian’s debut fiction trilogy.
Find more at jillianwebster.com
Originally from Michigan, Jillian traveled to New Zealand on a “six-month adventure” with nothing but a backpack and a dream … and never left. She now lives in a charming little home by the sea, tucked in a bay of rolling green hills speckled with sheep (and the occasional goat).
You can find her most days with her head in the clouds and her fingers on a keyboard. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, hiking in the pristine New Zealand bush with her husband and their dog, and cooking.
THE FORGOTTEN ONES is Jillian’s debut fiction trilogy.
Find more at jillianwebster.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 27, 2020
Warning: contains spoilers. A lot of them.
What can I say about this book? I loved it. Thinking about it now I am reminded a lot of Ayla in the Valley of Horses (by Jean M Auel), which I loved as a teenager. She too is a woman alone, journeying, meeting a sexy bloke along the way, with whom she has a passionate love affair. She too has a connection with the land and the animals. She is also kick-ass.
This first fiction novel is a great entry into the world of futuristic fantasy novel for this new author, and I cannot wait until the second book is released. Jillian does a superb job of crafting a future world, which is all the more real and grim because it is so very possible. We are living now with the hints of this future with us. Jillian takes the reader on a ripping journey from the future islands of New Zealand (rather grimly, it sounds like there really isn't much left of New Zealand, most of it being swallowed up by the ocean) where Maia lives alone with her dear grandfather in a world devastated and depopulated by a climate catastrophe. Searching for a life she is uncertain about yet feels called to find, Maia leaves her safe and secure home in isolation and desolation, for the hoped for future with others which she can only imagine, but not yet know if is real or not. Along the way she is guided by dreams and visions of her mother, and tantalising snippets of magical potential, which Jillian skilfully weaves throughout this story, never too much to be clunky, and always not enough for my curiosity to be fully satiated. Along with these snippets of something remarkable lurking within Maia is the cracking pace the novel is set at. Maia is propelled from her home and straight into danger as she journeys across oceans towards the Great Arctic Circle, a hoped for civilisation which she has heard about from others. Without giving away too much, once she leaves the shores in New Zealand early in the novel she bounces from one almost-disaster to the next. This is a page turner.
Now for the rest of my review I want to talk in detail about my favourite bits. So, spoilers ahead, people. Read the rest of this review after you have read the book!
Jillian does a superb job of maintaining the tension, describing the future world that Maia encounters along the way, with at times quite brilliantly innovative solutions to what often seems to be impossible predicaments. There is love, there is devastating loss, there is a magic and there is some fabulous writing in this book. By and large I think that if I have to stop and think about a writers words then either they are truely exceptional, or rather bad. For me it is a basic requirement of a book that the writing is invisible to the reader. It is very rare that I read words that I stop and marvel at. But I must say, there was one scene which I thought, "woah!" This is the love scene which occurs at sea on a raft. The way Jillian described the ocean, the thunder and lightening, the swells, and the rhythm of Maia's first sexual encounter all coming together creatively in the middle of a storm while perched precariously on a floating pile of junk, really made me pause and take breath and marvel. It really was extremely well done. As I read this scene I felt something in my brain shift. It was a new way of looking at things and it was magical. That was the moment in this book that the writing stopped being invisible and became visible to me because I had to leave the story to think about how she achieved this beautiful story-telling. It gave me chills.
There was another very strong scene in the book where Maia ends up stuck on an island made of junk. She did a fantastic job describing this shitty environmental context which we all know to be true in the world right now. She pulled in something which is very real now, and then went to town on describing it. It was a mix of hum-drum gritty real, and creative imagining - I would never have thought being washed up on an island of refuse would be an opportunity for freedom. Jillian fleshed this scene out extremely well. All the little details - the odd bits and pieces of junk here and there, the terror of sinking under (that would never have occurred to me to be a risk, so was an excellent addition), the way Maia and Lucas were able to tie together nets and use water condensation to save themselves. Honestly, it was brilliant. 10/10 for this scene.
And the other complete winner was the scene with her grandfather dying. If I think about it now it really was just her, an old man dying, and a cabin. A bit depressing on the face of it. But actually the emotion Jillian captured here was very powerful. This sort of scene can be very easily overdone. It is the point in a book where writers often get it quite wrong, and overdo it. But I charged through it, without even a thought to the writing (like I said, if I dont think about the writing it means I am not distracted by it, and in fact completely lost in the story). Her intensity of grief after he died, and then the solemnity and gutting realness of her carrying him to his pyre and burning his body; this was devastating. The image of the ashes falling for days, and her paralysis afterwards was very powerful. I'm not sure what else to say except it was marvellous, beautiful, and heart-wrenching. And it really really rammed home the depth of their relationship, and the magnitude of her loss in a way that describing these things could not have done.
These two scenes probably were my favourite yet they were brilliant for very different reasons - the island was about the intensity, the tension, the problem to solve, the imagery of the rubbish, the desperation of their situation. It was very concrete, active and mechanical in terms of what was communicated. The death scene and funeral was less mechanical, more feeling, more stillness - this was not describing events or visual images but expressing full heart. Both were really different contrasting scenes, yet both were written skilfully. This says a lot to me really about this author's talent as she hit both on the head so well. This gal is not a one-trick pony.
The book ends very well with a short scene on a raft on the shores of America. It was at this point that I was able to go “ahh, that’s how high the sea levels have risen”. Jillian has kept the details of the devastation of earth light through the book and hence by the end of the book as Maia encounters Los Angeles, I as a reader also encountered the extent of the devastation through the impressive image of a buried undersea city. That was an extremely powerful image. The power comes through this flashback to the past world of before, and also further describes Maia's power, because while it might not have been a magical scene, it was prophetically forecasted repeatedly through the book to this point. This is the point in which I was pulled into the magic which Jillian had spent the whole book hinting at. The book ends with this gripping image, of a new stage to the intrepid journey, with new hints of power about to be unleashed, and with new opportunities to explore.
Unfortunately now I have to wait for quite some time for the next one. But there you have it. I think it will be worth it.
What can I say about this book? I loved it. Thinking about it now I am reminded a lot of Ayla in the Valley of Horses (by Jean M Auel), which I loved as a teenager. She too is a woman alone, journeying, meeting a sexy bloke along the way, with whom she has a passionate love affair. She too has a connection with the land and the animals. She is also kick-ass.
This first fiction novel is a great entry into the world of futuristic fantasy novel for this new author, and I cannot wait until the second book is released. Jillian does a superb job of crafting a future world, which is all the more real and grim because it is so very possible. We are living now with the hints of this future with us. Jillian takes the reader on a ripping journey from the future islands of New Zealand (rather grimly, it sounds like there really isn't much left of New Zealand, most of it being swallowed up by the ocean) where Maia lives alone with her dear grandfather in a world devastated and depopulated by a climate catastrophe. Searching for a life she is uncertain about yet feels called to find, Maia leaves her safe and secure home in isolation and desolation, for the hoped for future with others which she can only imagine, but not yet know if is real or not. Along the way she is guided by dreams and visions of her mother, and tantalising snippets of magical potential, which Jillian skilfully weaves throughout this story, never too much to be clunky, and always not enough for my curiosity to be fully satiated. Along with these snippets of something remarkable lurking within Maia is the cracking pace the novel is set at. Maia is propelled from her home and straight into danger as she journeys across oceans towards the Great Arctic Circle, a hoped for civilisation which she has heard about from others. Without giving away too much, once she leaves the shores in New Zealand early in the novel she bounces from one almost-disaster to the next. This is a page turner.
Now for the rest of my review I want to talk in detail about my favourite bits. So, spoilers ahead, people. Read the rest of this review after you have read the book!
Jillian does a superb job of maintaining the tension, describing the future world that Maia encounters along the way, with at times quite brilliantly innovative solutions to what often seems to be impossible predicaments. There is love, there is devastating loss, there is a magic and there is some fabulous writing in this book. By and large I think that if I have to stop and think about a writers words then either they are truely exceptional, or rather bad. For me it is a basic requirement of a book that the writing is invisible to the reader. It is very rare that I read words that I stop and marvel at. But I must say, there was one scene which I thought, "woah!" This is the love scene which occurs at sea on a raft. The way Jillian described the ocean, the thunder and lightening, the swells, and the rhythm of Maia's first sexual encounter all coming together creatively in the middle of a storm while perched precariously on a floating pile of junk, really made me pause and take breath and marvel. It really was extremely well done. As I read this scene I felt something in my brain shift. It was a new way of looking at things and it was magical. That was the moment in this book that the writing stopped being invisible and became visible to me because I had to leave the story to think about how she achieved this beautiful story-telling. It gave me chills.
There was another very strong scene in the book where Maia ends up stuck on an island made of junk. She did a fantastic job describing this shitty environmental context which we all know to be true in the world right now. She pulled in something which is very real now, and then went to town on describing it. It was a mix of hum-drum gritty real, and creative imagining - I would never have thought being washed up on an island of refuse would be an opportunity for freedom. Jillian fleshed this scene out extremely well. All the little details - the odd bits and pieces of junk here and there, the terror of sinking under (that would never have occurred to me to be a risk, so was an excellent addition), the way Maia and Lucas were able to tie together nets and use water condensation to save themselves. Honestly, it was brilliant. 10/10 for this scene.
And the other complete winner was the scene with her grandfather dying. If I think about it now it really was just her, an old man dying, and a cabin. A bit depressing on the face of it. But actually the emotion Jillian captured here was very powerful. This sort of scene can be very easily overdone. It is the point in a book where writers often get it quite wrong, and overdo it. But I charged through it, without even a thought to the writing (like I said, if I dont think about the writing it means I am not distracted by it, and in fact completely lost in the story). Her intensity of grief after he died, and then the solemnity and gutting realness of her carrying him to his pyre and burning his body; this was devastating. The image of the ashes falling for days, and her paralysis afterwards was very powerful. I'm not sure what else to say except it was marvellous, beautiful, and heart-wrenching. And it really really rammed home the depth of their relationship, and the magnitude of her loss in a way that describing these things could not have done.
These two scenes probably were my favourite yet they were brilliant for very different reasons - the island was about the intensity, the tension, the problem to solve, the imagery of the rubbish, the desperation of their situation. It was very concrete, active and mechanical in terms of what was communicated. The death scene and funeral was less mechanical, more feeling, more stillness - this was not describing events or visual images but expressing full heart. Both were really different contrasting scenes, yet both were written skilfully. This says a lot to me really about this author's talent as she hit both on the head so well. This gal is not a one-trick pony.
The book ends very well with a short scene on a raft on the shores of America. It was at this point that I was able to go “ahh, that’s how high the sea levels have risen”. Jillian has kept the details of the devastation of earth light through the book and hence by the end of the book as Maia encounters Los Angeles, I as a reader also encountered the extent of the devastation through the impressive image of a buried undersea city. That was an extremely powerful image. The power comes through this flashback to the past world of before, and also further describes Maia's power, because while it might not have been a magical scene, it was prophetically forecasted repeatedly through the book to this point. This is the point in which I was pulled into the magic which Jillian had spent the whole book hinting at. The book ends with this gripping image, of a new stage to the intrepid journey, with new hints of power about to be unleashed, and with new opportunities to explore.
Unfortunately now I have to wait for quite some time for the next one. But there you have it. I think it will be worth it.
November 15, 2020
The Weight of a Thousand Oceans is a beautiful piece of art. Elegantly written, this novel paints the perfect picture of a dystopian world and one woman’s struggle to find her purpose in life. I was so drawn to the character that I could feel her pain and revel in her excitement. Webster’s writing is so clairvoyant, I felt like I was part of the story. This book has heart, adventure and even a little bit of magic! I’m looking forward to book two!
November 20, 2020
What an incredible start to what deserves to be a blockbuster trilogy!
Enchanting, rich, substantive, yet delightful and rewarding tale, a maturely written, beautifully descriptive journey...
So real you're there. This book is more than a great read, it's an experience, one the reader will not soon forget.
Do yourself a favor and grab this one.
Enchanting, rich, substantive, yet delightful and rewarding tale, a maturely written, beautifully descriptive journey...
So real you're there. This book is more than a great read, it's an experience, one the reader will not soon forget.
Do yourself a favor and grab this one.
August 15, 2021
This book isn’t my usual genre (dystopian/fantasy) but a friend told me I would love it and she was 100% right.
We follow the story of 20 year old Maia, living in a futuristic dystopian world which has been ravaged by climate change. Cities are underwater, oceans are clogged with garbage and millions of people have been killed. (A stark reminder of where we could be headed if we don’t change the way we look after this planet). Maia lives an isolated life with her grandfather in New Zealand but she has a strong pull to discover what else is left of the world.
I adored Maia’s character and thought she was such a strong female protagonist. Despite the devastation around her and the trials she faces, Maia’s strength and perseverance shines through making this a book full of love and hope even in the most adverse of conditions.
The way in which the author describes the setting was incredibly vivid and at all times I felt like I was on this journey with Maia. (Though I have to be honest I’m glad I was “there” from the comfort of my couch and not dealing with any of what Maia did!)
The relationships Maia has with other characters in the book were all so beautifully written, from her grandfather, to Huck (😭) and Lucas. The ending most definitely left me wanting more so I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the trilogy.
Thank you so much to the wonderful author Jillian Webster for sending me a copy of her amazing book, I couldn’t have loved it more.
.
We follow the story of 20 year old Maia, living in a futuristic dystopian world which has been ravaged by climate change. Cities are underwater, oceans are clogged with garbage and millions of people have been killed. (A stark reminder of where we could be headed if we don’t change the way we look after this planet). Maia lives an isolated life with her grandfather in New Zealand but she has a strong pull to discover what else is left of the world.
I adored Maia’s character and thought she was such a strong female protagonist. Despite the devastation around her and the trials she faces, Maia’s strength and perseverance shines through making this a book full of love and hope even in the most adverse of conditions.
The way in which the author describes the setting was incredibly vivid and at all times I felt like I was on this journey with Maia. (Though I have to be honest I’m glad I was “there” from the comfort of my couch and not dealing with any of what Maia did!)
The relationships Maia has with other characters in the book were all so beautifully written, from her grandfather, to Huck (😭) and Lucas. The ending most definitely left me wanting more so I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the trilogy.
Thank you so much to the wonderful author Jillian Webster for sending me a copy of her amazing book, I couldn’t have loved it more.
.
August 20, 2021
This book really drew me in, magic, apocalyptic survival, romance, danger, family bonds. Also yay a New Zealand author, bring on the next book 🥰
July 10, 2023
This book takes you on quite a journey. The world destroyed and Maia feels the pull of the old artic circle. She has visions of her mother and longs to travel to the circle. It is an amazing journey that only got more intriguing as I read. On to book 2.
June 15, 2020
You know how you read a book that's so moving it stays with you long after the last page? That's how I feel about THE WEIGHT OF A THOUSAND OCEANS. Book One of this magical story follows Maia, a young woman struggling to settle for the life into which she was born, a life shrouded and labored by the effects of a dystopian earth. As mysteries unfold around her, she's driven to seek answers regarding her bizarre connection to the earth both in her waking life and in her dreams. I’m purposely keeping this review vague because I don't want to give away any of Maia's magic—I want to invite you to dive into this story for yourself. If you enjoyed DIVERGENT, HUNGER GAMES, and/or THE MAZE RUNNER, then I believe you’ll also love Maia’s story. I received an Advance Reader copy of this book by the author, Jillian Webster, and I cannot wait to read what happens next in the series.
October 6, 2020
Wow. THIS BOOK. I just finished reading it and am already thinking about when I can start it all over again. (Thank goodness there is a sequel in the works!) Jillian Webster writes SO beautifully - the imagery, emotion, storytelling - all of it so hauntingly beautiful, I felt like I was there watching it all unfold. I especially fell in love with the main character, Maia, so much so that when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about her. By the end, I truly felt like I knew her, as though she were a real person, not just a character. I think that can only happen when the writing is THAT good, and it is.
The Weight of a Thousand Oceans is a story that will stay with me for quite some time.
The Weight of a Thousand Oceans is a story that will stay with me for quite some time.
August 17, 2021
Apart from being an amazing story that swept me away into Maia's life, I had some real tears flowing.
( update: I cannot find the 2nd book in the Google play app. Which means this is the end of the story for me, but through review searches I can find out enough of the story. )
****Bit of a spoiler**
I wanted to see Maia really use her powers in their scary situations.
(Maia and Lucus)
I know, she doesn't understand her powers and needs to learn, but boy oh boy...I wanted her to zap the thieves at the end.
I went to sleep last night feeling Huck's hurt and thinking of him.
As for the company she meets later; Jake has some real bad vibes going on. I don't like or trust him at all.
Mario did help, but Maia was getting 'creepy vibes from him.
I was thankful for Claire. She seemed like the real deal right up to the last bit, then I had a shadow of a doubt .
I do not have a credit card, or any money, but I do have some Google rewards credit. I'm going to see if Google books has the 2nd book so I can use my rewards program cash. If Google doesn't have the second book I won't be reading it.
I've read there will be a 3rd book. Again, it will depend on when I have Google rewards saved up and if Google books carries it. The points expire if I don't use them, then I have to wait again until I have enough collected.
( update: I cannot find the 2nd book in the Google play app. Which means this is the end of the story for me, but through review searches I can find out enough of the story. )
****Bit of a spoiler**
I wanted to see Maia really use her powers in their scary situations.
(Maia and Lucus)
I know, she doesn't understand her powers and needs to learn, but boy oh boy...I wanted her to zap the thieves at the end.
I went to sleep last night feeling Huck's hurt and thinking of him.
As for the company she meets later; Jake has some real bad vibes going on. I don't like or trust him at all.
Mario did help, but Maia was getting 'creepy vibes from him.
I was thankful for Claire. She seemed like the real deal right up to the last bit, then I had a shadow of a doubt .
I do not have a credit card, or any money, but I do have some Google rewards credit. I'm going to see if Google books has the 2nd book so I can use my rewards program cash. If Google doesn't have the second book I won't be reading it.
I've read there will be a 3rd book. Again, it will depend on when I have Google rewards saved up and if Google books carries it. The points expire if I don't use them, then I have to wait again until I have enough collected.
January 17, 2022
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Weight of a Thousand Oceans
Author: Jillian Webster
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 8/10
Of the 17 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
14 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
11 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“A thoroughly enjoyable story. The author has worked hard to offer memorable settings and characters.” Male reader, aged 67
“An interesting take on climate change and what the world might end up like. I thought the author’s ability to balance fact with an enjoyable, cleverly plotted story, was excellent. This is a wonderful start to ‘The Forgotten Ones’, and I suspect Maia’s ‘ability’ will be fully realized as the story develops.’ Female reader, aged 49
“There’s tons of good stuff in this fantasy, post-apocalyptic novel. It has a strong, although often illogical hero and the setting is interesting. I also thought the writing style was easy to follow, and the author works well with dialogue. It’s possibly a bit too preachy here and there, and the beginning is slow going, but I did enjoy it and I would read another book by this author.” Male reader, aged 28
“Gets off to a slow start, plodding almost. Then, halfway through, it gets going and is hard to put down. Worth it for the post-apocalyptic New Zealand setting! It’s also a good adventure with a sort of paranormal element to it. I think this could be the start of a fab set of books; just sort out the pacing.” Male reader, aged 53
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly plotted novel populated with memorable characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Weight of a Thousand Oceans
Author: Jillian Webster
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 8/10
Of the 17 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
14 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
11 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“A thoroughly enjoyable story. The author has worked hard to offer memorable settings and characters.” Male reader, aged 67
“An interesting take on climate change and what the world might end up like. I thought the author’s ability to balance fact with an enjoyable, cleverly plotted story, was excellent. This is a wonderful start to ‘The Forgotten Ones’, and I suspect Maia’s ‘ability’ will be fully realized as the story develops.’ Female reader, aged 49
“There’s tons of good stuff in this fantasy, post-apocalyptic novel. It has a strong, although often illogical hero and the setting is interesting. I also thought the writing style was easy to follow, and the author works well with dialogue. It’s possibly a bit too preachy here and there, and the beginning is slow going, but I did enjoy it and I would read another book by this author.” Male reader, aged 28
“Gets off to a slow start, plodding almost. Then, halfway through, it gets going and is hard to put down. Worth it for the post-apocalyptic New Zealand setting! It’s also a good adventure with a sort of paranormal element to it. I think this could be the start of a fab set of books; just sort out the pacing.” Male reader, aged 53
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly plotted novel populated with memorable characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
March 19, 2021
I won a digital copy if this book from Goodreads.
This was really good! I had no idea what to expect when I first won it. It's about a girl who was born after most of the world's population died due to pollution causing climate change and extreme weather.
The main character, Maia, wants to leave her small island (what was once part of New Zealand) and go exploring the world. Her grandfather, who has given his life to prepare a home for her, is constantly trying to convince her to stay and be safe.
Eventually, due to circumstances I won't mention, she does finally go out on her own and learn even more about the destruction of the Earth.
Definitely a beautiful and convicting story! Will make you much more aware of some of the trash we throw out.
My favorite character would definitely have to be Lucas because he shows her that there are still some good people left in the world.
I would recommend anyone to read this. As far as genre, this falls slightly under fantasy, definitely post-apocalyptic, with a dash of reality in it.
This was really good! I had no idea what to expect when I first won it. It's about a girl who was born after most of the world's population died due to pollution causing climate change and extreme weather.
The main character, Maia, wants to leave her small island (what was once part of New Zealand) and go exploring the world. Her grandfather, who has given his life to prepare a home for her, is constantly trying to convince her to stay and be safe.
Eventually, due to circumstances I won't mention, she does finally go out on her own and learn even more about the destruction of the Earth.
Definitely a beautiful and convicting story! Will make you much more aware of some of the trash we throw out.
My favorite character would definitely have to be Lucas because he shows her that there are still some good people left in the world.
I would recommend anyone to read this. As far as genre, this falls slightly under fantasy, definitely post-apocalyptic, with a dash of reality in it.
October 13, 2020
The dystopian atmosphere of this story is certainly one that is easily imaginable. One that could be more like the reality of our world than most! The writing of this story takes you on a journey through some of the worlds most beautiful landscapes. And it also vividly describes a future of disturbing consequence. But of course... there's Maia! Who like most is just trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs. Jillian Webster has created a magical being unlike any I've ever read about. She has given Maia a gift and power that is very intriguing to say the least. The Weight of a Thousand Oceans has set a solid foundation for The Forgotten Ones series. The possibilities for Maia and her power are limitless! There's so many directions that Maia's path can take! Anyone who has traveled along on her journey will definitely be anxious to find out her what her destiny will be. Fingers crossed we will have Book Two very soon!!!
January 5, 2021
I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
This was an interesting read. It didn't got the way I was expecting it to, it kept changing course and kept me on my toes.
We first meet Maia in the landscape of a recurring dream she's had all her life. Its the only place she's ever seen her mother, and we witness some odd phenomena with the plantlife there. But once she awakens, that seems to be the end of that. Intriguing, I expected us to see her odd powers manifest in her daily life, but we only get hints of things she has done before, and they are all bad.
Maia and her Grandpa live in a self-built homestead in the wilds of New Zealand following a global collapse of both society and the environment. The oceans are infested with Jellyfish, the weather is hot and tempermental. Surivial is based on what you can eke out with your own two hands. This was probably my favorite part of the story. Seeing how people had adapted to living after the end. I honestly feel this is one of the most accurate portrayls of post-apocolypse I have read to date. And i read that genre quite a bit. They have some "modern" luxuries, but they are running out. The towns have been picked over, and they have to make do with repairing what they have because there are not new options.
Initially we get the impression that they are the only ones left, but slowly it comes out that there is actually a significant number of people still around. They have boats and ships and communities. Knowing that he won't live forever, Grandpa tries to arrange for Maia to have somewhere to go when he is gone. But that does not match with what Maia wants. We meet a young couple and their baby who came over from Australia. And instead of the usual "Come join us!" you see in most books, the two groups just meet amicably but stay separate. You don't risk your resources for people you just met, no matter how nice they are. That was also realistic to me.
Honestly, Maia is not sure what she wants. Until she learns of a possible community in the Old Arctic Circle. The place her parents were headed before they got pregnant with her. Its supposed to be like an Eden in the current circumstances. But getting there from New Zealand will be no easy feat. I felt her motivation was completely believable. She has been reading adventure novels her whole life, she has a feeling that she is meant to be a hero in her own story. But her Grandpa is afraid for her. Afraid for what might happen if she goes out into the unknown, with its dangers and struggles. He wants her to be safe, but eventually realizes that his fears should not control her life.
Eventually she finds herself a stowaway on a pirate ship, hiding and starving and in constant fear for her life. Constantly afraid of being discovered. She never makes it to the North American continent, instead finding herself stranded on the great pacific garbage pile with a young sailor. This was a terrific imagry. If there is one place you would be able to find great scavanged resources after the towns are picked over, it is the garbage piles. And boy do they find alot!
Together they fashion a raft and face the elements alone, trying to make it to California. Through a series of trials, she is forced to accept the otherness her mother has been trying to teach her about in her dreams her whole life. she is not just herself, she holds the reincarnated spirit of Gaia, and she has mysterious powers over the earth and its occupants.
We only just scratch the surface of these powers when he book ends. Abandoning the direct route to the Arctic circle in favor of staying with her newfound love. Maia now journeies to the interior of old USA, looking for someone lost. What challenges they will face upon the way I am excited to see.
This was an interesting read. It didn't got the way I was expecting it to, it kept changing course and kept me on my toes.
We first meet Maia in the landscape of a recurring dream she's had all her life. Its the only place she's ever seen her mother, and we witness some odd phenomena with the plantlife there. But once she awakens, that seems to be the end of that. Intriguing, I expected us to see her odd powers manifest in her daily life, but we only get hints of things she has done before, and they are all bad.
Maia and her Grandpa live in a self-built homestead in the wilds of New Zealand following a global collapse of both society and the environment. The oceans are infested with Jellyfish, the weather is hot and tempermental. Surivial is based on what you can eke out with your own two hands. This was probably my favorite part of the story. Seeing how people had adapted to living after the end. I honestly feel this is one of the most accurate portrayls of post-apocolypse I have read to date. And i read that genre quite a bit. They have some "modern" luxuries, but they are running out. The towns have been picked over, and they have to make do with repairing what they have because there are not new options.
Initially we get the impression that they are the only ones left, but slowly it comes out that there is actually a significant number of people still around. They have boats and ships and communities. Knowing that he won't live forever, Grandpa tries to arrange for Maia to have somewhere to go when he is gone. But that does not match with what Maia wants. We meet a young couple and their baby who came over from Australia. And instead of the usual "Come join us!" you see in most books, the two groups just meet amicably but stay separate. You don't risk your resources for people you just met, no matter how nice they are. That was also realistic to me.
Honestly, Maia is not sure what she wants. Until she learns of a possible community in the Old Arctic Circle. The place her parents were headed before they got pregnant with her. Its supposed to be like an Eden in the current circumstances. But getting there from New Zealand will be no easy feat. I felt her motivation was completely believable. She has been reading adventure novels her whole life, she has a feeling that she is meant to be a hero in her own story. But her Grandpa is afraid for her. Afraid for what might happen if she goes out into the unknown, with its dangers and struggles. He wants her to be safe, but eventually realizes that his fears should not control her life.
Eventually she finds herself a stowaway on a pirate ship, hiding and starving and in constant fear for her life. Constantly afraid of being discovered. She never makes it to the North American continent, instead finding herself stranded on the great pacific garbage pile with a young sailor. This was a terrific imagry. If there is one place you would be able to find great scavanged resources after the towns are picked over, it is the garbage piles. And boy do they find alot!
Together they fashion a raft and face the elements alone, trying to make it to California. Through a series of trials, she is forced to accept the otherness her mother has been trying to teach her about in her dreams her whole life. she is not just herself, she holds the reincarnated spirit of Gaia, and she has mysterious powers over the earth and its occupants.
We only just scratch the surface of these powers when he book ends. Abandoning the direct route to the Arctic circle in favor of staying with her newfound love. Maia now journeies to the interior of old USA, looking for someone lost. What challenges they will face upon the way I am excited to see.
January 18, 2021
The Weight of a Thousand Oceans an absolute five star for me. I started a stealth read late 2020 while I was insanely busy and was captivated, but forced myself to put it down until I could give it the attention it deserved. It was my first read of 2021 and what a beauty it is! Jillian Webster had me hooked me with the imagery and flawless crafting of words in the first few chapters. I read it over two days and am eagerly awaiting her next release.
She wove environmental, political and cultural themes seamlessly through this dystopian novel, in such a way that causes you to pause and consider the impact we have on the world around us, as well as creating a full, believable character who you can't help but fall in love with. The premise of this novel seems very possible with our current world climate and trajectory.
It is a beautifully crafted novel which will I will definitely read again.
She wove environmental, political and cultural themes seamlessly through this dystopian novel, in such a way that causes you to pause and consider the impact we have on the world around us, as well as creating a full, believable character who you can't help but fall in love with. The premise of this novel seems very possible with our current world climate and trajectory.
It is a beautifully crafted novel which will I will definitely read again.
September 14, 2020
I cant remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much, I couldn't wait to pick it up again and I finished in a few days. I fell in love with the imagery Jillian created, I felt as though every scene was something I had seen with my own eyes and experienced myself.
The story was excellently paced, a slow walk through the forest to soak in all the beauty rolled seamlessly to excitement and adventure, wondering where you would end up next. The Weight of a Thousand Oceans is fantasy for the realist, a truly beautiful story and I can't wait to see what Jillian has in store for us next.
The story was excellently paced, a slow walk through the forest to soak in all the beauty rolled seamlessly to excitement and adventure, wondering where you would end up next. The Weight of a Thousand Oceans is fantasy for the realist, a truly beautiful story and I can't wait to see what Jillian has in store for us next.
November 1, 2020
"The Weight of a Thousand Oceans" took me on an incredible journey of discovery, both of New Zealand and its protagonist, Maia. Jillian has a fantastic gift of portraying deeply human experiences with a touch of dark, unsettling magic. Maia's path to her true identity is far from smooth, but she rises to the challenge and grows into a strong heroine I loved to root for. The evocative settings, high stakes, and disturbing atmosphere were the perfect background for this unique dystopian tale. I can't wait to see what Jillian has in store for us in the sequel.
December 6, 2020
"The Weight of a Thousand Oceans" pulled me in from the first page. Jillian Webster is able to transport the reader right into the setting, allowing them a front row seat to all that goes on. She is a very talented author. This was the first book in what will be, without a doubt, an unforgettable trilogy! I was beyond sad when I ran out of pages to read, and cannot wait until the next two books are published!
August 21, 2021
What a gripping story. This book kept me at the edge of my seat at the end of every chapter and I cannot wait to dive into book 2. There is some trigger warnings but I just couldn't get enough. Maia has the spirit of a tiger, she is determined, brave, beautiful and just so encouraging. Storms broke above her head and like in the title the weight of the ocean was upon her but still she believed. Honestly this was so good and would highly recommend it but double check the trigger warnings.
August 21, 2021
Grimm and Fascinating
Jillian Webster kicks off her series about a newer and grim future after society collapsed. It is a thoughtful and entertaining world. It undlerlines the resilience we have as the human race. I recommend this book and already have her next book lined up and ready to read!
Jillian Webster kicks off her series about a newer and grim future after society collapsed. It is a thoughtful and entertaining world. It undlerlines the resilience we have as the human race. I recommend this book and already have her next book lined up and ready to read!
January 19, 2021
Wow
I wasn't ready for this book to end. I'm grateful it is the first of a series, wishing the others were already available. Ms. Webster writes beautifully, the book painted a spare but clear portrait of a world to come.
I wasn't ready for this book to end. I'm grateful it is the first of a series, wishing the others were already available. Ms. Webster writes beautifully, the book painted a spare but clear portrait of a world to come.
April 6, 2021
It took me a little while to get into the story, there are points that are heartbreaking, and seeing the world through Maia’s eyes can sometimes be difficult. But once the story gets going it is captivating and you want to see Maia succeed.
Want to read
August 25, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/25/2020)! 🎁
November 11, 2020
Should be required reading for everyone. This book is a pretty scary look at what our world could be like in the future if we don't change our ways.
August 15, 2021
Great world development
Enjoyed her vision of the future in all of it retail. Will anxiously await the release
Of the next book in series
Enjoyed her vision of the future in all of it retail. Will anxiously await the release
Of the next book in series
August 18, 2021
Amazing!
I couldn't stop reading this. I literally stayed up all night and went to work on zero sleep just so I could finish this!!! Read this immediately...you won't be disappointed!
I couldn't stop reading this. I literally stayed up all night and went to work on zero sleep just so I could finish this!!! Read this immediately...you won't be disappointed!
May 30, 2022
This is an incredible novel. Poetic. Prophetic. Powerful. I'm not even sure how it ended up on my Kindle; perhaps it was on a free books newsletter and I downloaded it based on the glorious front cover. I love watching jellyfish. They've always been my favourite tank at the Vancouver Aquarium. Of course, they were captive jellyfish contained for our amusement and we, watching from the outside, felt safe.
Here, jellyfish are marauders and we are their amusement.
"The jellyfish rule the ocean now. With limited predators, warm oceans and over 700 million years of evolution, they've become sly at adapting to the elements."
This impactful apocalyptic novel—the first in Jillian Webster's The Forgotten Ones trilogy—begins in futuristic New Zealand, where the writer now lives. The book falls into that newish realm we call eco-fiction or eco-myth. The writing is poetic and literary; the plot, adventurous with enough romantic suspense to keep you up at night, and for those of us who love magic, Webster even adds a dash of the fantastical. Maia, the feisty twenty-year-old female protagonist, is something of a nature goddess. In this passage, reminiscent of the ancient Gaelic "Song of Amergin" Maia discovers her destiny and then must wear it.
"You are the reincarnation of a living earth, long forsaken. You are her. You are the soul of the trees, the heartbeat of each crawling ant, the breath of every humming bee. You are the music of the babbling brook and the pulse of each undulating wave. You are the spotted clouds of deep red sunsets and every reflective crystal of white mountain tops. You are the delicate drop of rain and the crushing avalanche of ice."
The tale begins with a prologue—a nightmare—in which a mother she's never met beckons Maia to follow her destiny. This recurring dream precipitates Maia's decision to leave the comfortable safety of the mountain haven her grandfather built for her, after he dies. Her choices? Live alone. Marry some old man from the North Island Community. Or follow her mother's voice and set out to seek her destiny.
The philosophy is tribal. We've heard it before; yet we always forget. And the consequences of forgetting is a planet flooded due to melted poles, overrun with jellyfish. Powerless cities rot beneath the sea, and desperados run disparate communities. It can be triggering, given the state of Earth these days. Yet there is a glint of hope in this torpid sea of jellyfish. A rumoured Utopia —The Old Arctic Circle—The New World.
"Before The End, there was a lot of talk about this anomaly, this place on earth that for thousands of year had been covered in ice. A wasteland—no man's land. Once the glaciers melted, there were these massive uninhabited pieces of earth at the very beginning stages of what they were like millions of years ago."
Imagine it. A tropical paradise as yet pristine and unaffected by human greed. Wouldn't you search for it? I would.
Be aware this book could trigger you. It will certainly make you think. When Maya dives off a pirated freighter into the sea off the west coast of California and lands in a wavering island of garbage, I almost stopped reading. It was too real, too much to dwell on. I know we're dumping tons of plastic and garbage into the ocean daily. How long will it take before the garbage rises up to the surface and becomes an island of nets, plastic, and death?
The best part for me was discovering that there is a book 2—The Burn of a Thousand Suns. I hope that people; at least, the "right" people hear the message Jillian Webster offers before it's too late.
Here, jellyfish are marauders and we are their amusement.
"The jellyfish rule the ocean now. With limited predators, warm oceans and over 700 million years of evolution, they've become sly at adapting to the elements."
This impactful apocalyptic novel—the first in Jillian Webster's The Forgotten Ones trilogy—begins in futuristic New Zealand, where the writer now lives. The book falls into that newish realm we call eco-fiction or eco-myth. The writing is poetic and literary; the plot, adventurous with enough romantic suspense to keep you up at night, and for those of us who love magic, Webster even adds a dash of the fantastical. Maia, the feisty twenty-year-old female protagonist, is something of a nature goddess. In this passage, reminiscent of the ancient Gaelic "Song of Amergin" Maia discovers her destiny and then must wear it.
"You are the reincarnation of a living earth, long forsaken. You are her. You are the soul of the trees, the heartbeat of each crawling ant, the breath of every humming bee. You are the music of the babbling brook and the pulse of each undulating wave. You are the spotted clouds of deep red sunsets and every reflective crystal of white mountain tops. You are the delicate drop of rain and the crushing avalanche of ice."
The tale begins with a prologue—a nightmare—in which a mother she's never met beckons Maia to follow her destiny. This recurring dream precipitates Maia's decision to leave the comfortable safety of the mountain haven her grandfather built for her, after he dies. Her choices? Live alone. Marry some old man from the North Island Community. Or follow her mother's voice and set out to seek her destiny.
The philosophy is tribal. We've heard it before; yet we always forget. And the consequences of forgetting is a planet flooded due to melted poles, overrun with jellyfish. Powerless cities rot beneath the sea, and desperados run disparate communities. It can be triggering, given the state of Earth these days. Yet there is a glint of hope in this torpid sea of jellyfish. A rumoured Utopia —The Old Arctic Circle—The New World.
"Before The End, there was a lot of talk about this anomaly, this place on earth that for thousands of year had been covered in ice. A wasteland—no man's land. Once the glaciers melted, there were these massive uninhabited pieces of earth at the very beginning stages of what they were like millions of years ago."
Imagine it. A tropical paradise as yet pristine and unaffected by human greed. Wouldn't you search for it? I would.
Be aware this book could trigger you. It will certainly make you think. When Maya dives off a pirated freighter into the sea off the west coast of California and lands in a wavering island of garbage, I almost stopped reading. It was too real, too much to dwell on. I know we're dumping tons of plastic and garbage into the ocean daily. How long will it take before the garbage rises up to the surface and becomes an island of nets, plastic, and death?
The best part for me was discovering that there is a book 2—The Burn of a Thousand Suns. I hope that people; at least, the "right" people hear the message Jillian Webster offers before it's too late.
September 4, 2020
Fascinating
To be honest I didn’t think I would like this as it’s not my usual read but from the first few pages I was fascinated. Something draws you in and as you follow along the draw gets stronger. You need to know where this is going.
For me the freshness gives it an original flavour. It is a paranormal novel, perhaps a romance but the comment on society, simple yet effective without interrupting the flow of the story reigns stronger.
Our female lead is more than she appears even if she doesn’t want to know about it. As her audience we know she won’t have a choice so we have to join the journey and see her awakening or perhaps acceptance.
Can’t wait for the next book.
To be honest I didn’t think I would like this as it’s not my usual read but from the first few pages I was fascinated. Something draws you in and as you follow along the draw gets stronger. You need to know where this is going.
For me the freshness gives it an original flavour. It is a paranormal novel, perhaps a romance but the comment on society, simple yet effective without interrupting the flow of the story reigns stronger.
Our female lead is more than she appears even if she doesn’t want to know about it. As her audience we know she won’t have a choice so we have to join the journey and see her awakening or perhaps acceptance.
Can’t wait for the next book.
October 20, 2020
A friend suggested I pick up this book and I am eternally grateful! This book has been an entrancing read right from the beginning. I can't wait to see where the story goes in book 2.
July 27, 2021
I really enjoyed this dystopian novel about Maia and seeing the world through her eyes which has changed extensively due to climate change. It is quite daunting thinking if we do not change our ways, this could be our future. Maia’s story kept me wanting to keep reading. I cannot wait for the sequel as this is book one of a trilogy.
I just want to thank the author, Jillian Webster for sending me an copy of her novel for my honest opinion.
I just want to thank the author, Jillian Webster for sending me an copy of her novel for my honest opinion.
February 12, 2022
Such a timely and though provoking novel. Still lingering. Can't wait to start book 2!
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