What do you think?
Rate this book
Sky On Fire
Dante is just a regular guy struggling with regular guy problems. Or at least, he was. Now he’s sole carer for his invalid and abusive mother after the rest of his family members fled her tyranny. He’s trying to finish high school even though the world is collapsing under a series of solar flares, and he’s trying to maintain his relationship with his awesome, yet long-suffering, girlfriend, who is sick of playing second fiddle to his mother.
When the biggest solar flare in history hits things get harder for Dante. A lot harder. Like many people on the planet he discovers he has mutated, and what’s worse, its not into one of the ‘Big Four’ mutant types. Now he’s an outcast amongst normies and mutants alike. His keen mutant instincts tell him anyone who remains on the coast will perish – sooner rather than later. But he fears hitting the road with his still-human, invalid mother is tantamount to killing her.
As Dante wrestles with the problem he meets an unlikely pair of mutants who he thinks might hold the answers to all his problems, yet as he gets to know them he realises that the coast is caught between two powerful forces – a biker gang, and what is left of the government. Dante quickly realises that there is a lot more at stake than just his life and the lives of those he loves.
When the biggest solar flare in history hits things get harder for Dante. A lot harder. Like many people on the planet he discovers he has mutated, and what’s worse, its not into one of the ‘Big Four’ mutant types. Now he’s an outcast amongst normies and mutants alike. His keen mutant instincts tell him anyone who remains on the coast will perish – sooner rather than later. But he fears hitting the road with his still-human, invalid mother is tantamount to killing her.
As Dante wrestles with the problem he meets an unlikely pair of mutants who he thinks might hold the answers to all his problems, yet as he gets to know them he realises that the coast is caught between two powerful forces – a biker gang, and what is left of the government. Dante quickly realises that there is a lot more at stake than just his life and the lives of those he loves.
Unknown Binding
First published October 30, 2020
15 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Greyson
3 books12 followersWant an Advanced Reader Copy of Sky On Fire in exchange for an honest goodreads review?
Click here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/e7xdwd2x23
Amazon: https://rb.gy/eka12x
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y88fjj47
Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/y9a9jka3
Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/yc685ywg
Jesse Greyson is an Australian debut author putting a fresh spin on the fantasy genre with her character-driven stories filled with friendships and fantastic beasts.
Jesse resides on the Gold Coast and lives that 'Houseplants & Huskies' life. She has three snow dogs, plants where her dining table should be (and on every other available surface), and more ideas for novels than she can ever hope to write in her lifetime. Jesse is active on social media and has a meme addiction, which she also flagrantly encourages in other people.
Keep in touch:
www.jessegreyson.com
Email: info@jessegreyson.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Twitter: @thejessegreyson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessegreyson...
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/jessegreyson/
Click here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/e7xdwd2x23
Amazon: https://rb.gy/eka12x
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y88fjj47
Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/y9a9jka3
Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/yc685ywg
Jesse Greyson is an Australian debut author putting a fresh spin on the fantasy genre with her character-driven stories filled with friendships and fantastic beasts.
Jesse resides on the Gold Coast and lives that 'Houseplants & Huskies' life. She has three snow dogs, plants where her dining table should be (and on every other available surface), and more ideas for novels than she can ever hope to write in her lifetime. Jesse is active on social media and has a meme addiction, which she also flagrantly encourages in other people.
Keep in touch:
www.jessegreyson.com
Email: info@jessegreyson.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Twitter: @thejessegreyson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessegreyson...
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/jessegreyson/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 5, 2020
Greyson delivers a beautifully painted and harsh apocalyptic battlefield that sees a slew of physical and emotional action as solar flares mutate DNA and factions form and fall apart in their efforts to survive. We see a possible future Gold Coast swamped by the geological devastation. Then we have a cast of excellent characters struggling with not only their biology, but with manipulation from power hungry groups and a narcissistic parent. The story skips along with Dante and Kamiko earning our empathy as they gather allies, battle foes, learn and grow.
Greyson's style is crisp, easy, and compelling. She confidently takes us on a deep dive into the creation and dissolution of relationships and communities. Perfect for this apocalyptic young adult fantasy. And perfectly set in Australia.
An excellent read.
Greyson's style is crisp, easy, and compelling. She confidently takes us on a deep dive into the creation and dissolution of relationships and communities. Perfect for this apocalyptic young adult fantasy. And perfectly set in Australia.
An excellent read.
November 13, 2020
A really enjoyable read with a uniquely Australian voice. I felt like the first part of the book probably dragged a little too long (or could have used a little more depth to it - I don't know which way would have been better, but it felt too shallow for how long it went on). When the post-apocalyptic world got re-apocalypsed though, that's when everything really got going.
This new post-post-apocalyptic world was interesting, with a good focus on just surviving another day. The characters didn't feel experienced in all of this, like some post-apocalypse stories can do to their characters. They seemed to be going through all of this for the first time, just as they should be!
As for the characters themselves, Dante and Kamiko were interesting throughout. They both grow together - and apart, on occasion - and keep the story interesting.
And fuck Bev. Just despicable. Not a single redeeming feature in her.
This new post-post-apocalyptic world was interesting, with a good focus on just surviving another day. The characters didn't feel experienced in all of this, like some post-apocalypse stories can do to their characters. They seemed to be going through all of this for the first time, just as they should be!
As for the characters themselves, Dante and Kamiko were interesting throughout. They both grow together - and apart, on occasion - and keep the story interesting.
And fuck Bev. Just despicable. Not a single redeeming feature in her.
December 1, 2020
Nicely done post-apocalyptic YA novel, it really stood out for me for several reasons. Set in a place I was unfamiliar with, Gold Coast, Australia (a metropolitan region on Australia’s east coast, south of Brisbane, famed for its long sandy beaches) and with for me a unique Australian feel (I had to look up a few words like willy-willy and skol, but there weren’t too many words like that for me and I am always happy to increase my vocabulary as well as read a book with a strong sense of place) it was already a breath of fresh air from so many post-apocalyptic stories set in the United States and for that I was glad.
The world building was interesting, quickly grasped and then further detailed as I read more of the novel. The world is falling apart, with the ocean gradually rising, earthquakes shaking the land, tsunamis crashing into the coast, but most importantly massive solar flares that both make electronics a dicey proposition at best but worse, began mutating people. Though there is no guarantee exposure to flares will mutate you, many people do mutate when exposed, practically overnight becoming one of several mutant groups, most likely what are known as the Big Four, taking on characteristics of say dolphins, rats, or bats, such as say wings. Though the mutations can provide powerful tools to survive in a world that is getting worse by the day, they also can be burdens, as others, “normies” who haven’t mutated, either fear and hate you for being a mutant or seek to exploit you.
Trying to get through life in this world is Dante Jones, a good high school kid, trying to have as normal life as possible in a world that is falling apart, hoping to spend time with his girlfriend Kamiko and counting down the days till he can leave school and leave home, possibly the country. As bad as the world is getting with mutants, gang activity (a gang called the 4220 is becoming an increasing menace), government’s policies (simultaneously dangerous for both inaction and for the actions it does take, sounds familiar), and the increasing scarcity of food and medicine, the worst menace of all may be Dante’s Mum, Bev. Though at times she does generate some sympathy (through Dante’s eyes, who is a good man), as she has a number of vulnerabilities; she is overweight and it is very hard for her to move, a terrible thing in a world where you might have to suddenly leave and head to a new home because of rising sea levels or tsunami damage, moving to a building that likely has no power and so might require going up numerous flights of stairs, something incredibly hard for her to do. She has diabetes and is always at risk to fall into a diabetic coma, seemingly perpetually almost out of insulin in a world that seems to be losing all its pharmacies and what insulin is left is very difficult to get. She is old, she is lonely, having only one of her children at home, an understandably frightened woman, sometimes even quite relatable.
However, you soon see why she has only one of her children still home. Though Dante does have a very admirable streak of loyalty to his Mum, of not wanting to let a helpless person suffer and die in the apocalypse, he is also trapped not only in a caregiver role but because he is quite actually trapped; his Mum keeps locked away in a safe all of the identification papers he needs to get away and if that wasn’t enough, she emotionally blackmails him and does all she can to sabotage any efforts on his part to get friends, a job, a girlfriend, any sort of outside support network that doesn’t center around her, making getting away truly impossible. She is lying, manipulative, and most of all narcissistic. All things ultimately revolve around her, everything she does is heroic, everyone else is treacherous until proven otherwise, and she consistently makes Dante’s life miserable.
The Bev-Dante relationship really grounded the book and was often the core story of the novel, that while we the reader absolutely get riveting stories about gang activity and government policies and disasters and mutants and saving others, again and again the toxic relationship of Bev and Dante is almost the personification of the toxic setting as a whole, of a way of life that is broken and should be discarded but isn’t.
I liked how Dante had a good character arc in the book, an arc of not only coming into his own in the apocalypse and dealing with the new world, but in dealing with Bev. Bev for her part was villainous but not cartoonishly so; at times she could be a decent parent, even if it was for self-serving reasons, and there is in the end still sympathy for her in many ways though she causes so much grief for Dante and later others.
I am interested in further exploration of this world, of what more of the world we get to see. There are hints aplenty of what the world might hold in store but we haven’t yet experienced, of all the rich variety of mutants that exist and what they might be like, of a looming fight perhaps between mutants and normies/the government. The novel is good both as a stand alone but also would work quite well as a series opener too.
The world building was interesting, quickly grasped and then further detailed as I read more of the novel. The world is falling apart, with the ocean gradually rising, earthquakes shaking the land, tsunamis crashing into the coast, but most importantly massive solar flares that both make electronics a dicey proposition at best but worse, began mutating people. Though there is no guarantee exposure to flares will mutate you, many people do mutate when exposed, practically overnight becoming one of several mutant groups, most likely what are known as the Big Four, taking on characteristics of say dolphins, rats, or bats, such as say wings. Though the mutations can provide powerful tools to survive in a world that is getting worse by the day, they also can be burdens, as others, “normies” who haven’t mutated, either fear and hate you for being a mutant or seek to exploit you.
Trying to get through life in this world is Dante Jones, a good high school kid, trying to have as normal life as possible in a world that is falling apart, hoping to spend time with his girlfriend Kamiko and counting down the days till he can leave school and leave home, possibly the country. As bad as the world is getting with mutants, gang activity (a gang called the 4220 is becoming an increasing menace), government’s policies (simultaneously dangerous for both inaction and for the actions it does take, sounds familiar), and the increasing scarcity of food and medicine, the worst menace of all may be Dante’s Mum, Bev. Though at times she does generate some sympathy (through Dante’s eyes, who is a good man), as she has a number of vulnerabilities; she is overweight and it is very hard for her to move, a terrible thing in a world where you might have to suddenly leave and head to a new home because of rising sea levels or tsunami damage, moving to a building that likely has no power and so might require going up numerous flights of stairs, something incredibly hard for her to do. She has diabetes and is always at risk to fall into a diabetic coma, seemingly perpetually almost out of insulin in a world that seems to be losing all its pharmacies and what insulin is left is very difficult to get. She is old, she is lonely, having only one of her children at home, an understandably frightened woman, sometimes even quite relatable.
However, you soon see why she has only one of her children still home. Though Dante does have a very admirable streak of loyalty to his Mum, of not wanting to let a helpless person suffer and die in the apocalypse, he is also trapped not only in a caregiver role but because he is quite actually trapped; his Mum keeps locked away in a safe all of the identification papers he needs to get away and if that wasn’t enough, she emotionally blackmails him and does all she can to sabotage any efforts on his part to get friends, a job, a girlfriend, any sort of outside support network that doesn’t center around her, making getting away truly impossible. She is lying, manipulative, and most of all narcissistic. All things ultimately revolve around her, everything she does is heroic, everyone else is treacherous until proven otherwise, and she consistently makes Dante’s life miserable.
The Bev-Dante relationship really grounded the book and was often the core story of the novel, that while we the reader absolutely get riveting stories about gang activity and government policies and disasters and mutants and saving others, again and again the toxic relationship of Bev and Dante is almost the personification of the toxic setting as a whole, of a way of life that is broken and should be discarded but isn’t.
I liked how Dante had a good character arc in the book, an arc of not only coming into his own in the apocalypse and dealing with the new world, but in dealing with Bev. Bev for her part was villainous but not cartoonishly so; at times she could be a decent parent, even if it was for self-serving reasons, and there is in the end still sympathy for her in many ways though she causes so much grief for Dante and later others.
I am interested in further exploration of this world, of what more of the world we get to see. There are hints aplenty of what the world might hold in store but we haven’t yet experienced, of all the rich variety of mutants that exist and what they might be like, of a looming fight perhaps between mutants and normies/the government. The novel is good both as a stand alone but also would work quite well as a series opener too.
November 18, 2020
I met the author at a writers' conference a few years ago. This is the first thing of hers that I've read, and I found it highly enjoyable with several unique perspectives.
The first such unique perspective was the setting. Jesse Grayson lives in Gold Coast, a city of a half-million or so on Australia's east coast. That's where she set her novel, which is not the typical setting for the apocalypse to occur. It also allowed her to create a very strong sense of place. Having said that, as an American, some of the Aussie language was confusing at first. For example, type of shoe Americans call a flip-flop Aussies call a thong. But I eventually figured it out.
The second unique perspective was the characters. In typical end-of-the-world fare, the main characters have highly functional families. Dante Jones, our narrator, is living with his mother, a diabetic narcissist, who is frankly abusing him. (Mostly emotionally, but occasionally physically.) She is quite frankly not the kind of person you'd want around at all, let alone in a crisis.
The last unique perspective was the nature of the disasters that were befalling Dante. Although society is clearly under massive stress due to solar flares and radiation-induced mutations, for the first third of the book it still sort of functions. Passports are useful, school is in session, and at society somewhat functions. Then the big one hits, and things go downhill from there.
Despite the grim nature of the end of the world, I found the story very entertaining. It was a quick read with some compelling action and characters. I look forward to more from this author.
The first such unique perspective was the setting. Jesse Grayson lives in Gold Coast, a city of a half-million or so on Australia's east coast. That's where she set her novel, which is not the typical setting for the apocalypse to occur. It also allowed her to create a very strong sense of place. Having said that, as an American, some of the Aussie language was confusing at first. For example, type of shoe Americans call a flip-flop Aussies call a thong. But I eventually figured it out.
The second unique perspective was the characters. In typical end-of-the-world fare, the main characters have highly functional families. Dante Jones, our narrator, is living with his mother, a diabetic narcissist, who is frankly abusing him. (Mostly emotionally, but occasionally physically.) She is quite frankly not the kind of person you'd want around at all, let alone in a crisis.
The last unique perspective was the nature of the disasters that were befalling Dante. Although society is clearly under massive stress due to solar flares and radiation-induced mutations, for the first third of the book it still sort of functions. Passports are useful, school is in session, and at society somewhat functions. Then the big one hits, and things go downhill from there.
Despite the grim nature of the end of the world, I found the story very entertaining. It was a quick read with some compelling action and characters. I look forward to more from this author.
December 5, 2020
This is not yout typical apocalyptic story. There is almost no romance in this book, which was was a huge Plus for me. I am a bit disappointed that we didn't get to know what exactly the Big Five are (at least two are pretty obvious, so I am going with Birds/Bats and Ape-like mutans?) and some more background on the mutants in general would have been nice. I loved that the story was told from a male character's POV. That is something that does not happen very often and I loved Dante.
When I first read the description I thought: Oh, the Mom is going to be some comic relief, that sounds fun!
Spoiler Alert: The Mom is no fun. The mom - Bev - is absolutely NO FUN at all. When I read the second chapter, I had to take a break because I could not believe what I had just read. I do not think I have ever read such an accurate and downright terrifying description of a narcisstic charater in a book - and I loved it. There is nothing romantic or sweet about nacissism. It's terrifying, it's dangerous and this book portrayed it in such an accurate way; it's truly amazing. I do wish the book came with a trigger warning because I am sure that fact is disturbing for some people.
The end... came actually quite unexpected. I found myself being utterly stunned that this was the end? Seriously? I had felt like I had just gotten to the beginning. I sincerely hope there will be another book, but I am pretty sure it is a standalone... Sadly, because the overall trope and the characters were absolutely interesting. I also loved that the book was set in Australia, which will make me love the book almost instantly.
I received a free ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I first read the description I thought: Oh, the Mom is going to be some comic relief, that sounds fun!
Spoiler Alert: The Mom is no fun. The mom - Bev - is absolutely NO FUN at all. When I read the second chapter, I had to take a break because I could not believe what I had just read. I do not think I have ever read such an accurate and downright terrifying description of a narcisstic charater in a book - and I loved it. There is nothing romantic or sweet about nacissism. It's terrifying, it's dangerous and this book portrayed it in such an accurate way; it's truly amazing. I do wish the book came with a trigger warning because I am sure that fact is disturbing for some people.
The end... came actually quite unexpected. I found myself being utterly stunned that this was the end? Seriously? I had felt like I had just gotten to the beginning. I sincerely hope there will be another book, but I am pretty sure it is a standalone... Sadly, because the overall trope and the characters were absolutely interesting. I also loved that the book was set in Australia, which will make me love the book almost instantly.
I received a free ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2020
I haven’t read a lot of YA in my adult life but Jesse Grayson’s Sky On Fire has me rethinking that.
Her debut novel is a worthy and exciting one, and one can expect her to only get better. In a post apocalyptic Australia, the story follows Dante, a high schooler trying to navigate the waters of school and social pressures while the world begins to descend into the chaos of mutated beings, survival and prejudice. As things go from bad to worse, he and his girlfriend Kamiko soon discover there are more dangers than just society falling apart.
The story moves along at a fast pace, I’d almost like to see some scenes spin out longer, but it never bogs down. Interesting and well thought out characters fill the narrative as well as one of the best villainous antagonists since Annie Wilkes from Misery.
Interesting psychological interactions and teen angst play out throughout and the story left me wanting more.
If you’re a fan of post apocalyptic tales or mutant chronicles this is a must read. If you’re dipping your toes into YA fiction for the first time you will find the waters refreshing.
Her debut novel is a worthy and exciting one, and one can expect her to only get better. In a post apocalyptic Australia, the story follows Dante, a high schooler trying to navigate the waters of school and social pressures while the world begins to descend into the chaos of mutated beings, survival and prejudice. As things go from bad to worse, he and his girlfriend Kamiko soon discover there are more dangers than just society falling apart.
The story moves along at a fast pace, I’d almost like to see some scenes spin out longer, but it never bogs down. Interesting and well thought out characters fill the narrative as well as one of the best villainous antagonists since Annie Wilkes from Misery.
Interesting psychological interactions and teen angst play out throughout and the story left me wanting more.
If you’re a fan of post apocalyptic tales or mutant chronicles this is a must read. If you’re dipping your toes into YA fiction for the first time you will find the waters refreshing.
November 23, 2020
This was a very refreshing read!!!
There was romance, but it was a very supportive and encouraging relationship.
The mutations and the handling of the solar flares and sci-fi were interesting and different enough that I was intrigued, I would definitely read a sequel if this book ever gets one!
And...I won't spoil anything but this is one of the few books that I've read where I was like "CAN XYZ JUST DIE ALREADY?!?!" I have rarely, if ever, rooted for a character to die. Haha
It was overall a quick read, and the most important takeaways from this book for me were 1) good friends are worth the hassle and 2) just because someone is family doesn't mean that you should feel like you owe them
I will mention that if family dysfunction, abuse (physical and emotional), and emotional blackmail are triggers for you, READ WITH CAUTION. :)
There was romance, but it was a very supportive and encouraging relationship.
The mutations and the handling of the solar flares and sci-fi were interesting and different enough that I was intrigued, I would definitely read a sequel if this book ever gets one!
And...I won't spoil anything but this is one of the few books that I've read where I was like "CAN XYZ JUST DIE ALREADY?!?!" I have rarely, if ever, rooted for a character to die. Haha
It was overall a quick read, and the most important takeaways from this book for me were 1) good friends are worth the hassle and 2) just because someone is family doesn't mean that you should feel like you owe them
I will mention that if family dysfunction, abuse (physical and emotional), and emotional blackmail are triggers for you, READ WITH CAUTION. :)
November 28, 2020
Jesse has crafted a story that is well plotted and exciting. Each character has an arc. I am invested in each of them and care about their adventure. I love the 'spons' I can believe them and maybe wish I had wings. What more can you ask for, great characters, great plot and fantastic world building.
Well done Jesse! I look forward to your next novel.
Well done Jesse! I look forward to your next novel.
November 8, 2020
A wonderful contemporary-fantasy debut from Jesse Greyson. The story follows young Dante, a high-school graduate who’s just discovered he’s mutated after the latest solar flares. In between keeping his girl happy and his narcistic mother alive, he has to discover who he is and what he’s capable of to save them all.
If you like mutants, romance, a little family drama, and an antagonists you love to hate, this book is for you.
Great characters, good writing, and a story that questions human nature and why sometimes we make choices that are not easy to understand.
If you like mutants, romance, a little family drama, and an antagonists you love to hate, this book is for you.
Great characters, good writing, and a story that questions human nature and why sometimes we make choices that are not easy to understand.
June 16, 2021
Review originally posted on A Keyboard and an Open Mind June 12, 2021:
3.5 stars
Ahh. I was in the mood for a good dystopia and this definitely hit the spot in a lot of ways.
I loved that this was set in a specifically Australian climate-ravaged dystopia. Greyson is obviously drawing on her own knowledge of the Gold Coast when her characters navigate the city.
The world-building was strong enough to carry the story but didn’t get bogged down in details. It told me what I needed to know (solar flares, mutations) but left the rest to my imagination.
I also thought the central characters were really well done – they are all quite distinct and I never had any trouble knowing who was who.
Having said that, I was a little bit bothered that the only character who was either fat or disabled was the villain. While the manipulative, abusive mother was incredibly well-written, and I had genuine angry reactions to some of her actions, but there is a wider stereotype of disabled people as villains, and this plays into that.
Where the book started to fall down for me was in the plotting. I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt and wonder if I just missed a sentence here or there that would have explained things, but as it was, there were a few plot inconsistencies that bothered me. At one stage, Dante had an hour to obtain another dose of insulin for his mother, but then spent the day exploring. Earlier in the book, Dante trades with a gang for insulin, because the gang had already hit up the MegaPharm. But then later in the book, the main characters raid the MegaPharm for more. It seemed unlikely to me that in the events of the book, the pharmacy would have been able to restock.
Having said all of that, the book had a strong hopeful ending that I really liked. A book’s ending can make or break it for me, and in this case, it made it.
3.5 stars
Ahh. I was in the mood for a good dystopia and this definitely hit the spot in a lot of ways.
I loved that this was set in a specifically Australian climate-ravaged dystopia. Greyson is obviously drawing on her own knowledge of the Gold Coast when her characters navigate the city.
The world-building was strong enough to carry the story but didn’t get bogged down in details. It told me what I needed to know (solar flares, mutations) but left the rest to my imagination.
I also thought the central characters were really well done – they are all quite distinct and I never had any trouble knowing who was who.
Having said that, I was a little bit bothered that the only character who was either fat or disabled was the villain. While the manipulative, abusive mother was incredibly well-written, and I had genuine angry reactions to some of her actions, but there is a wider stereotype of disabled people as villains, and this plays into that.
Where the book started to fall down for me was in the plotting. I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt and wonder if I just missed a sentence here or there that would have explained things, but as it was, there were a few plot inconsistencies that bothered me. At one stage, Dante had an hour to obtain another dose of insulin for his mother, but then spent the day exploring. Earlier in the book, Dante trades with a gang for insulin, because the gang had already hit up the MegaPharm. But then later in the book, the main characters raid the MegaPharm for more. It seemed unlikely to me that in the events of the book, the pharmacy would have been able to restock.
Having said all of that, the book had a strong hopeful ending that I really liked. A book’s ending can make or break it for me, and in this case, it made it.
December 9, 2020
This is my first Jesse Greyson book and I delved into the story without really reading the premise. All I knew was that the cover hinted at a shifter fantasy of some sort. Many times I am not gung-ho about urban paranormal shifter novels, but this one quite pulled it off by focusing the worldbuilding in the futuristic dystopian novel instead.
The premise in a brief nutshell is that a few years ago for unexplained reasons, the Earth has been battered by solar flares that have rendered much of the world uninhabitable, hordes of dead animals from the radiation, and electrical devices rendered unreliable due to energy surges.
Dante Jones is our sole POV, a 17-year-old normie as he goes to yet another ordinary day of high school at the end of the world. We don't know much of what is going on, but hints of the world are cleverly being introduced as Dante first stares at a poster from the Australian government for a mutant assistance hotline. Mutant? Huh?
Apparently, after the first flare, an increasing amount of humans suffer from an involuntary transformation and can turn into a humanoid shifter beast. While they seem to initially retain their human memories, they eventually all abandon human settlements to clan with their species.
We are then quickly introduced to Dante's financially well-off girlfriend Kamiko who always gives him spare food and dreams of a future with him... which he seems rather ambivalent because he just happens to be the son of a psychotic control freak named Bev who tries to belittle him taking advantage he can't run away because he is still a minor in a somewhat functional human society.
Bev is vicious and violent against Dante and she is capable of sabotaging his plans to escape with Kamiko even by doing things that could be beneficial to her for the sole purpose of abusing him.
The first scenes of the novel are fabulous and I just loved how Jesse threads a complex post-apocalyptic world where clean potable water is the new sought-after currency yet strangely combined with the senseless normalcy of Bev still having electricity in her cheap run-down duplex to watch mutant-hunting tv shows. Since I have never been to Australia, I obviously can't orient myself around the likely real-life buildings used in the story that are crumbling apart due to tsunamis and tremors. All the same, I didn't have a hard time orienting myself. I also found it amusing how the 4220 gang is so reminiscent of the biker thugs in the Mad Max films.
I think my favorite scene of the whole book was both the part where Dante lets a teenager from his school named Ruth to tag along while he barters insulin for his mother and the one where we discover the flares have turned domesticated dogs into wild and vicious animals that are now one of many new threats in this strange world. I really would have loved it if the book had taken advantage of the already dangerous fauna of Australia and gone completely overboard with it. How about some flying Koalas that spit acidic venom? That would have been cool.
The plot premise explains very well that one third into the book, Dante transforms into a mutant of a different, more powerful variety with batwings, otherwise human hands that can grow claws at will and night vision. I thought it was really fun seeing how Dante learns how to fly for the first time and come to grips with the cons and pros of his transformed body. I don't wish to spoil what role Kamiko serves in the story, but she serves as a constant supporting character alongside Ruth and unfortunately Bev.
You see, Jesse wrote Bev very, very well. She is an utterly detestable character and you will quickly want to pull your hair off your scalp every time she belittles Dante. I was truly hoping he would grow a spine once he suffered his mutation and become more assertive, only to feel disappointed that his character barely budges an inch more out of habit than any remaining fear she could truly harm him in his more powerful body. I feel like Dante is a real jerk to poor Kamiko who was always so supportive of him. I can't stand mamma boys that let a nasty maternal figure act towards their SO with such a degree of malice while he just stands there like a literal doormat.
So yes, I was initially emphatic regarding Dante's unideal situation when the world still had a sense of muted normalcy, but as the Gold Coast turned into complete chaos after his sponning, it seemed far less important to keep Bev alive at all costs when Dante and Kamiko were already direly short of supplies when she treated both of them so horribly. Also, her brainwashing prompted Dante to take a lot of absurdly stupid decisions.
As much as Bev's character grated on me and made the middle of the story a bit slower than I wished, I think my biggest shortcoming of the book is the plotholes after the newest great flare. From the first scene to the end of the book, the whole book could not have happened in more than 6-8 weeks. Bev told Dante he took 2 weeks to finish his spon and the days he was looking for a new place to live to the end of the book, it doesn't seem like this part of the story took more than 10 days. And yet Dante meets a fellow mutant that sponned a whopping 3 months ago without explaining whether some of these strange new mutations like Dante's were happening before his change or not.
Ruth joins Dante's group and she retrieves from her flooded home all sorts of useful items... yet she doesn't bring a spare change of clean clothes in her backpack?
All sorts of electrical devices after the latest flare blew up and yet fire detector alarm batteries are still perfectly functional? Do commercial airplanes and cars still work?
Bev (actually Dante did all the work) cooks a veggie stew without potable water but Bev sprinkles the stew I initially presumed was made with seawater with table salt?
Kamiko despite her extensive knowledge of surfing and tying maritime knots doesn't know how to fish?
Does anybody learn in school how to make jams and salted cured meats?
Dante wastes a valuable match to light a candle instead of simply using the veggie stew cooking fire?
Oli is scared of touching the water but she has no qualms drinking it?
I initially let some scenes that didn't quite add up a pass, but recurring plot holes did affect the fun factor of the book. I initially assumed Bev used an old school reusable glass syringe that she boiled in water in a world where even basic medical supplies are impossible to obtain, but she has an endless supply of medical-grade new needles and alcohol wipes. Despite the electric haywire, Bev's glucometer not only still works, she has a huge supply of dib tips. Whoa! Those things are insanely expensive. In a post-apocalyptic world where expensive disposable medical stuff is a rare commodity, people would return to use more rustic devices to measure blood sugar such as urine dipsticks. The numbers they report would never be 100% reliable, but it would still serve the plot perfectly well and stay true to a dystopian world of chronic shortages.
In a nutshell, yes the plotholes can be a huge issue, but the last 20% of the book was very fun to read albeit a tad bit on the rushed side. All in all, I think if Jesse writes a sequel, it would probably be very good and it would be interesting if she decides to participate in the SPFBO indie fantasy book contest. Enjoy!
The premise in a brief nutshell is that a few years ago for unexplained reasons, the Earth has been battered by solar flares that have rendered much of the world uninhabitable, hordes of dead animals from the radiation, and electrical devices rendered unreliable due to energy surges.
Dante Jones is our sole POV, a 17-year-old normie as he goes to yet another ordinary day of high school at the end of the world. We don't know much of what is going on, but hints of the world are cleverly being introduced as Dante first stares at a poster from the Australian government for a mutant assistance hotline. Mutant? Huh?
Apparently, after the first flare, an increasing amount of humans suffer from an involuntary transformation and can turn into a humanoid shifter beast. While they seem to initially retain their human memories, they eventually all abandon human settlements to clan with their species.
We are then quickly introduced to Dante's financially well-off girlfriend Kamiko who always gives him spare food and dreams of a future with him... which he seems rather ambivalent because he just happens to be the son of a psychotic control freak named Bev who tries to belittle him taking advantage he can't run away because he is still a minor in a somewhat functional human society.
Bev is vicious and violent against Dante and she is capable of sabotaging his plans to escape with Kamiko even by doing things that could be beneficial to her for the sole purpose of abusing him.
The first scenes of the novel are fabulous and I just loved how Jesse threads a complex post-apocalyptic world where clean potable water is the new sought-after currency yet strangely combined with the senseless normalcy of Bev still having electricity in her cheap run-down duplex to watch mutant-hunting tv shows. Since I have never been to Australia, I obviously can't orient myself around the likely real-life buildings used in the story that are crumbling apart due to tsunamis and tremors. All the same, I didn't have a hard time orienting myself. I also found it amusing how the 4220 gang is so reminiscent of the biker thugs in the Mad Max films.
I think my favorite scene of the whole book was both the part where Dante lets a teenager from his school named Ruth to tag along while he barters insulin for his mother and the one where we discover the flares have turned domesticated dogs into wild and vicious animals that are now one of many new threats in this strange world. I really would have loved it if the book had taken advantage of the already dangerous fauna of Australia and gone completely overboard with it. How about some flying Koalas that spit acidic venom? That would have been cool.
The plot premise explains very well that one third into the book, Dante transforms into a mutant of a different, more powerful variety with batwings, otherwise human hands that can grow claws at will and night vision. I thought it was really fun seeing how Dante learns how to fly for the first time and come to grips with the cons and pros of his transformed body. I don't wish to spoil what role Kamiko serves in the story, but she serves as a constant supporting character alongside Ruth and unfortunately Bev.
You see, Jesse wrote Bev very, very well. She is an utterly detestable character and you will quickly want to pull your hair off your scalp every time she belittles Dante. I was truly hoping he would grow a spine once he suffered his mutation and become more assertive, only to feel disappointed that his character barely budges an inch more out of habit than any remaining fear she could truly harm him in his more powerful body. I feel like Dante is a real jerk to poor Kamiko who was always so supportive of him. I can't stand mamma boys that let a nasty maternal figure act towards their SO with such a degree of malice while he just stands there like a literal doormat.
So yes, I was initially emphatic regarding Dante's unideal situation when the world still had a sense of muted normalcy, but as the Gold Coast turned into complete chaos after his sponning, it seemed far less important to keep Bev alive at all costs when Dante and Kamiko were already direly short of supplies when she treated both of them so horribly. Also, her brainwashing prompted Dante to take a lot of absurdly stupid decisions.
As much as Bev's character grated on me and made the middle of the story a bit slower than I wished, I think my biggest shortcoming of the book is the plotholes after the newest great flare. From the first scene to the end of the book, the whole book could not have happened in more than 6-8 weeks. Bev told Dante he took 2 weeks to finish his spon and the days he was looking for a new place to live to the end of the book, it doesn't seem like this part of the story took more than 10 days. And yet Dante meets a fellow mutant that sponned a whopping 3 months ago without explaining whether some of these strange new mutations like Dante's were happening before his change or not.
Ruth joins Dante's group and she retrieves from her flooded home all sorts of useful items... yet she doesn't bring a spare change of clean clothes in her backpack?
All sorts of electrical devices after the latest flare blew up and yet fire detector alarm batteries are still perfectly functional? Do commercial airplanes and cars still work?
Bev (actually Dante did all the work) cooks a veggie stew without potable water but Bev sprinkles the stew I initially presumed was made with seawater with table salt?
Kamiko despite her extensive knowledge of surfing and tying maritime knots doesn't know how to fish?
Does anybody learn in school how to make jams and salted cured meats?
Dante wastes a valuable match to light a candle instead of simply using the veggie stew cooking fire?
Oli is scared of touching the water but she has no qualms drinking it?
I initially let some scenes that didn't quite add up a pass, but recurring plot holes did affect the fun factor of the book. I initially assumed Bev used an old school reusable glass syringe that she boiled in water in a world where even basic medical supplies are impossible to obtain, but she has an endless supply of medical-grade new needles and alcohol wipes. Despite the electric haywire, Bev's glucometer not only still works, she has a huge supply of dib tips. Whoa! Those things are insanely expensive. In a post-apocalyptic world where expensive disposable medical stuff is a rare commodity, people would return to use more rustic devices to measure blood sugar such as urine dipsticks. The numbers they report would never be 100% reliable, but it would still serve the plot perfectly well and stay true to a dystopian world of chronic shortages.
In a nutshell, yes the plotholes can be a huge issue, but the last 20% of the book was very fun to read albeit a tad bit on the rushed side. All in all, I think if Jesse writes a sequel, it would probably be very good and it would be interesting if she decides to participate in the SPFBO indie fantasy book contest. Enjoy!
December 2, 2020
This is the story of Dante, an 18 year old Australian, who has to juggle his physically and psychologically abusive mother with surviving in a world ravaged by radioactive solar flares that caused him to mutant into a winged super being.
The relationship between Dante and his mother is spot on. It’s hard to read about at times because it is so realistic.
His friendship with his girlfriend and the younger teen Ruth are also well done.
I loved the mutations the characters exhibited. It was fun to see how their personalities influenced what animal traits they morphed into.
This story excelled in the family drama but I struggled to picture the larger action scenes.
Engaging and well written, this is a great study of maternal manipulation and abuse set against the backdrop of a dystopian world.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The relationship between Dante and his mother is spot on. It’s hard to read about at times because it is so realistic.
His friendship with his girlfriend and the younger teen Ruth are also well done.
I loved the mutations the characters exhibited. It was fun to see how their personalities influenced what animal traits they morphed into.
This story excelled in the family drama but I struggled to picture the larger action scenes.
Engaging and well written, this is a great study of maternal manipulation and abuse set against the backdrop of a dystopian world.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2020
This is not yout typical apocalyptic story. There is almost no romance in this book, which was was a huge Plus for me. I am a bit disappointed that we didn't get to know what exactly the Big Five are (at least two are pretty obvious, so I am going with Birds/Bats and Ape-like mutans?) and some more background on the mutants in general would have been nice. I loved that the story was told from a male character's POV. That is something that does not happen very often and I loved Dante.
When I first read the description I thought: Oh, the Mom is going to be some comic relief, that sounds fun!
Spoiler Alert: The Mom is no fun. The mom - Bev - is absolutely NO FUN at all. When I read the second chapter, I had to take a break because I could not believe what I had just read. I do not think I have ever read such an accurate and downright terrifying description of a narcisstic charater in a book - and I loved it. There is nothing romantic or sweet about nacissism. It's terrifying, it's dangerous and this book portrayed it in such an accurate way; it's truly amazing. I do wish the book came with a trigger warning because I am sure that fact is disturbing for some people.
The end... came actually quite unexpected. I found myself being utterly stunned that this was the end? Seriously? I had felt like I had just gotten to the beginning. I sincerely hope there will be another book, but I am pretty sure it is a standalone... Sadly, because the overall trope and the characters were absolutely interesting. I also loved that the book was set in Australia, which will make me love the book almost instantly.
I received a free ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I first read the description I thought: Oh, the Mom is going to be some comic relief, that sounds fun!
Spoiler Alert: The Mom is no fun. The mom - Bev - is absolutely NO FUN at all. When I read the second chapter, I had to take a break because I could not believe what I had just read. I do not think I have ever read such an accurate and downright terrifying description of a narcisstic charater in a book - and I loved it. There is nothing romantic or sweet about nacissism. It's terrifying, it's dangerous and this book portrayed it in such an accurate way; it's truly amazing. I do wish the book came with a trigger warning because I am sure that fact is disturbing for some people.
The end... came actually quite unexpected. I found myself being utterly stunned that this was the end? Seriously? I had felt like I had just gotten to the beginning. I sincerely hope there will be another book, but I am pretty sure it is a standalone... Sadly, because the overall trope and the characters were absolutely interesting. I also loved that the book was set in Australia, which will make me love the book almost instantly.
I received a free ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2021
In general I liked this book. The writing was very good, and the descriptions of the characters and scenes were vivid. I could definitely picture what was happening in my mind clearly. There was quite a bit of back story given (about 20%) before the main plot began, which seemed a bit long to me. But once it did, I felt the plot moved at a very good pace.
However, I did remember reading a tagline for this somewhere that read "X-men on the Gold Coast." From that, I was expecting a group of mutants (potentially new mutants based on the first couple chapters) who banded together to survive something. It sort of is, but it really is more about the main character dealing with an abusive, narcissistic mother...and there's mutants. If I'd known that up front, I'd have felt more prepared for what I was getting ready to read. Also, I did have a hard time understand Dante's motivations for dealing with his mother, at times.
In all, I think this was probably around 3.75 stars. I do think this was a good first book by Greyson and I'll be interested to see what her next offerings are.
However, I did remember reading a tagline for this somewhere that read "X-men on the Gold Coast." From that, I was expecting a group of mutants (potentially new mutants based on the first couple chapters) who banded together to survive something. It sort of is, but it really is more about the main character dealing with an abusive, narcissistic mother...and there's mutants. If I'd known that up front, I'd have felt more prepared for what I was getting ready to read. Also, I did have a hard time understand Dante's motivations for dealing with his mother, at times.
In all, I think this was probably around 3.75 stars. I do think this was a good first book by Greyson and I'll be interested to see what her next offerings are.
April 25, 2021
Well written
Everything described and laid out in a way that keeps you turning the page and a picture in your mind of people and places and situations. It was a really good read. The pages at the very end, describing a very real type of personality was also very interesting and educational and would recommend everyone read that through as well.
Everything described and laid out in a way that keeps you turning the page and a picture in your mind of people and places and situations. It was a really good read. The pages at the very end, describing a very real type of personality was also very interesting and educational and would recommend everyone read that through as well.
Want to read
October 1, 2020𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 30th 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬! It's X-men on the Gold Coast.
An exciting, coming-of age fantasy novel. [Stand-alone]
Amazon pre-orders: https://rb.gy/eka12x
Other retailers: https://books2read.com/SkyOnFire
Learn more: https://www.jessegreyson.com.au/
All the links: https://www.jessegreyson.com.au/links...
The end of the world began on a Tuesday.
An exciting, coming-of age fantasy novel. [Stand-alone]
Amazon pre-orders: https://rb.gy/eka12x
Other retailers: https://books2read.com/SkyOnFire
Learn more: https://www.jessegreyson.com.au/
All the links: https://www.jessegreyson.com.au/links...
The end of the world began on a Tuesday.
The end of the world began on a Tuesday. I was at school, of all things, when the ‘big one’ hit. School. Nothing seems less important than obtaining a higher education when the world is crumbling around you. Despite the ongoing chaos the flares caused, Bev insisted that someone in our family graduate - because she never got to. And seeing as I was the only sibling who hadn’t yet fled the Tyranny of Bev, that someone was me.
“Everything okay Jones?” Mr Adams gave me a searching look as he handed me today’s biology reading. I nodded as Kamiko turned in her seat beside me and frowned. I ignored her, chewing on my bottom lip as I slogged through the text. It was more of the same ground we had covered in the previous class. And the one before that. The scientific community, well - what was left of it, had scrambled to make sense of the world since the solar flares started. When the impossible became possible scientists did math and ran experiments, hoping no doubt, to gain a sense of control over the situation. But there was no control. There was barely any understanding. Humans all over the planet were undergoing spontaneous genesis; taking previously unexplored paths of evolution in life’s last-ditch attempt to help save some of us, any of us, from the apocalypse that was upon us.
“Pffft.” Kamiko tossed her copy onto the desk, which was scarred with years of compass stab marks and biro graffiti. “We don’t need to understand how we came out of the ocean. We need to figure out how were able to go back to it.”
Typical. I was only halfway through, and she had already finished reading. Sometimes it was annoying to have an insanely smart girlfriend. I tried to finish the article, but it was impossible to focus with Kamiko fidgeting beside me.
“What’s the worst mutation to get?” Biology class bored Kamiko, and the more restless she grew the louder she spoke.
“Umm… I don’t know. I guess—”
“Dante Jones – do you have some wonderful insight on the article that you’d like to share with the class?”
“No. I—”
“Well then, Mr Jones, please leave me to do the talking, and you to do the listening. Okay?”
There was no point arguing. The whole class had turned to look at me as I sat in my usual spot in the back row. I hated their eyes upon me. I was more comfortable when I felt invisible - with my back to the wall and an eye on the exit.
“Yes sir.”
Mr Adams turned back to the blurry slide he had up on the antiquated projector. Laptops had become too unreliable since the flares began. I leant to my left and jabbed Kamiko with my elbow. She drew back and hid a silent giggle with her hands, her shiny black hair leaving the scent of coconut on the air.
“Troublemaker,” I mouthed, keeping one eye on Mr Adams. Kamiko’s brown eyes sparkled with mischief above her hands. Why did girls do that? Hide their faces when they smiled or laughed? Kamiko tipped sideways, bumping me with her shoulder and then leaving her body weight resting against me. I loved it when she did that. It always… centred me? Grounded me? It did something to me. It made me feel nurtured but also caused me to swell with protectiveness. It was a lot of feelings to arise from such a simple gesture.
When the bell rang none of us, including Mr Adams, had a better understanding of what was happening to the world. Kamiko and I strolled toward the refectory for lunch. Before the flares, the halls had been packed, swarming with students pushing and shoving each other between classes. I used to have to use my stature to cut a swath through the crowd as Kamiko tucked in behind me and laughed at the chaos that swirled around us. Now we could easily walk side-by-side, and we gave quiet nods to the sombre faces that passed us.
Two year-ten students hurried by, avoiding eye contact. Kamiko shook her head, her mouth pulled down at the corners. “There’s fewer and fewer of us each day.”
My gaze followed the students. One of them was absent-mindedly tearing down posters stuck on locker doors as they went. ‘Do you know someone who has undergone Spon-Gen?’ The posters said in bold red letters. ‘You’re not alone. Call 1300 Mutant for information and support.’ In even smaller letters below that was written ‘All calls are confidential.’
I dragged my eyes away from the casual destruction and looked at Kamiko. “School was a waste of time before the flares started. Now it’s just an exercise in futility.”
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews