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The Undying Trilogy #1
The Undying Tower
What if living forever was a death sentence?
Decades after the discovery that a small percentage of the population has stopped ageing, the Avalonia Zone is in crisis. From overpopulation to food shortages, the ‘Undying’ have been blamed for the state’s problems, banished to the fringes of society, and punished for every minor infraction.
When sixteen-year-old Sadie takes the fall for an attack by a rebel group, The Alchemists, she suddenly finds herself wrenched away from her quiet life and from her ailing father.
Armed with little help and even less knowledge, Sadie is thrust into a cold and cryptic ‘correctional facility’ – The Tower. Here she’ll have to rethink everything she’s been told about the Undying population in an attempt to save the life she knows, protect a group of unlikely friends, and give voice to the voiceless in a society on the brink of catastrophic upheaval.
The first in a daring dystopian trilogy, The Undying Tower descends into the dark side of immortality and champions fighting for what’s right, especially when the world is against you.
Decades after the discovery that a small percentage of the population has stopped ageing, the Avalonia Zone is in crisis. From overpopulation to food shortages, the ‘Undying’ have been blamed for the state’s problems, banished to the fringes of society, and punished for every minor infraction.
When sixteen-year-old Sadie takes the fall for an attack by a rebel group, The Alchemists, she suddenly finds herself wrenched away from her quiet life and from her ailing father.
Armed with little help and even less knowledge, Sadie is thrust into a cold and cryptic ‘correctional facility’ – The Tower. Here she’ll have to rethink everything she’s been told about the Undying population in an attempt to save the life she knows, protect a group of unlikely friends, and give voice to the voiceless in a society on the brink of catastrophic upheaval.
The first in a daring dystopian trilogy, The Undying Tower descends into the dark side of immortality and champions fighting for what’s right, especially when the world is against you.
306 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2021
5 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Welliver
6 books41 followersMelissa Welliver writes speculative fiction about how the End Of The World is never really the end of the world. After studying MA Creative Writing under Jeanette Winterson at the University of Manchester, she went on to complete Curtis Brown Creative’s Writing for Children course. Her work has listed in Bath Novel Award, Mslexia, the Hachette Children’s Novel Award, and the Wells Book for Children Competition. She has been published in two short story collections and is an avid member of the Twitter writing community. Born in Stockport, she now lives in the High Peak with an assortment of doggy friends. The Undying Tower is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
November 16, 2021
This is my debut novel and I'm so proud of it - I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Read
June 27, 2021[Gifted - disclaimer: I edited this!]
A richly developed dystopian world, with tight plotting and characters you can root for. I can't wait to see what's next for Sadie and the Avalonia Zone.
A richly developed dystopian world, with tight plotting and characters you can root for. I can't wait to see what's next for Sadie and the Avalonia Zone.
July 30, 2021
The Undying Tower is the first book of a dystopian sci fi YA series that brings to mind the good old days of the YA dystopian glory. In addition, it has plenty of twists, even though the story feels predictable, and yet there were a lot of surprises.
But, first things first. The story follows the main narrator, Sadie, as she discovers that she is one of the undying, who she was raised to think as of 'lower priority'. She then is sent to enter The Tower, a prison facility for underaged undying, to uncover the mole that gives government information to a terrorist organization, in exchange for her father's life. The timeline is fused with memories of Sadie's past, giving the reader a chance to compare who Sadie was and how she is changing and her ideas are shifting. The structure of the story overall was well managed and built up the final blow-up masterfully. The relationships created were smoothly paced, fortunately non romantic ones and more on the friendship-family line, which made the twists in the ending feel more intense and dramatic.
Another plus, at least for me, was that the author chose to slowly introduce the world to the reader and don't dedicate the first chapters to chunks of information that would have tired the readers and slowed the story's pace down. The whole dystopian world itself was pretty interesting and compelling, and the writer let enough secrets out to give the second book room to breathe.
As for the characters, Sadie, the main protagonist and our guide through the whole adventure, was a bit annoying at first, as she felt like the school's queen, but maybe that was a trick to let the readers observe her character development. The latter was pretty obvious but nicely paced and enjoyable to read. So, in the end, Sadie did become a likable character. The rest weren't as explicitly presented, but they did boost the action forward. Freya was cute and her purpose in the story was clear. Jasper was mostly in the flashbacks, kind of a classic boyfriend material character whose twist was easily spotted from the start. Rivers was the cool one, moreover, dynamic and strong. Frost was the mysterious, mischievous one, one who can't be trusted, and yet Sadie wastes no time to trust him. Actually, that was one of the things that didn't work for me, the way Sadie felt like she was trying to excuse everyone for who they are and what they had done, although there were times when she herself contradicted herself.
The writing, finally, is simple but has a fast pace and it provides enough action and thrilling moments to keep things exciting.
Overall, The Undying Tower is an enjoyable read which feels predictable but can surprise you in many ways. It also felt like .
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me the ARC in exchange for an honest review
But, first things first. The story follows the main narrator, Sadie, as she discovers that she is one of the undying, who she was raised to think as of 'lower priority'. She then is sent to enter The Tower, a prison facility for underaged undying, to uncover the mole that gives government information to a terrorist organization, in exchange for her father's life. The timeline is fused with memories of Sadie's past, giving the reader a chance to compare who Sadie was and how she is changing and her ideas are shifting. The structure of the story overall was well managed and built up the final blow-up masterfully. The relationships created were smoothly paced, fortunately non romantic ones and more on the friendship-family line, which made the twists in the ending feel more intense and dramatic.
Another plus, at least for me, was that the author chose to slowly introduce the world to the reader and don't dedicate the first chapters to chunks of information that would have tired the readers and slowed the story's pace down. The whole dystopian world itself was pretty interesting and compelling, and the writer let enough secrets out to give the second book room to breathe.
As for the characters, Sadie, the main protagonist and our guide through the whole adventure, was a bit annoying at first, as she felt like the school's queen, but maybe that was a trick to let the readers observe her character development. The latter was pretty obvious but nicely paced and enjoyable to read. So, in the end, Sadie did become a likable character. The rest weren't as explicitly presented, but they did boost the action forward. Freya was cute and her purpose in the story was clear. Jasper was mostly in the flashbacks, kind of a classic boyfriend material character whose twist was easily spotted from the start. Rivers was the cool one, moreover, dynamic and strong. Frost was the mysterious, mischievous one, one who can't be trusted, and yet Sadie wastes no time to trust him. Actually, that was one of the things that didn't work for me, the way Sadie felt like she was trying to excuse everyone for who they are and what they had done, although there were times when she herself contradicted herself.
The writing, finally, is simple but has a fast pace and it provides enough action and thrilling moments to keep things exciting.
Overall, The Undying Tower is an enjoyable read which feels predictable but can surprise you in many ways. It also felt like .
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me the ARC in exchange for an honest review
June 21, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Undying Tower in exchange for an honest review.
This is a really solid intro to what I'm assuming (from genre similarities and expectations, not any word from the actual author) will become a dystopian trilogy. The story structure is very YA dystopian typical, but I do like how Welliver uses flashbacks not only to develop relationships & world, but also to show how oblivious and dumb the protagonist starts out. I was really a fan of how Welliver allows her protagonist to stumble instead of instantly becoming a cool, genius badass after getting the foundations of everything she believes in shook because it makes her feel a lot more realistic than other protagonists in the genre.
That being said, I do think this could have benefited from being a bit longer to flesh out a lot of the character (especially the antagonist and supporting cast) but all in all, this was a good opener.
This is a really solid intro to what I'm assuming (from genre similarities and expectations, not any word from the actual author) will become a dystopian trilogy. The story structure is very YA dystopian typical, but I do like how Welliver uses flashbacks not only to develop relationships & world, but also to show how oblivious and dumb the protagonist starts out. I was really a fan of how Welliver allows her protagonist to stumble instead of instantly becoming a cool, genius badass after getting the foundations of everything she believes in shook because it makes her feel a lot more realistic than other protagonists in the genre.
That being said, I do think this could have benefited from being a bit longer to flesh out a lot of the character (especially the antagonist and supporting cast) but all in all, this was a good opener.
September 7, 2021
The other day, I received a confidential file from James Benjamin Lancaster. He's compiled a set of documents as evidence, exposing the inhumane treatment of a group called the Undying in the Avalonia Zone (AZ).
The file contains The AZ Constitution (modern day UK), an awareness poster guiding citizens on how to identify & report an Undying (U), a medical report of an U subject at their State Medical Facility # 732: The Tower and finally a polaroid of an Ouroboros graffiti found near the site of a terrorist attack. Here's a copy of my report:
Report of The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver
Name: The Urban Reader
Role: Book Reviewer
Report: ☑️Log ◻️Study ◻️ Incident
It is the first book of this dystopian trilogy. It's set in a future dystopian world which followed after a religious war & countries nuking major cities. Our subject Sadie Abbott is a 16 year old who manages to find herself in the middle of an attack pulled by a rebel group called The Alchemist. She's hurt in the attack which is when the medical staff come to know that Sadie is not a Natural, she's an Undying - someone whose cells replicate faster than normal humans and hence doesn't die (until killed ofc). How will she explain herself to the authorities now?
Findings: The story has a basic dystopian premise but is very well told, the pacing is perfect from the start & one will not find themselves to be bored at any point. It takes from classics such as 1984 & Animal Farm & creates an entirely new world with an interesting concept to follow. The author accomplishes to accomodate political views from both sides, we all can learn so much from it while trying to have a conversation amongst ourselves in today's world. Never being preachy, she also clearly shows what it means to stand up for what you believe in & protecting those who are most affected by an unequal social construct.
Actions: MUST read the next book in the trilogy to quench my thirst from that well placed cliffhanger.
Escalate: ☑️ Yes, recommend that everyone reads this book.
◻️ No
I hereby confirm that the information contained herein is true & to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Thank you @agorabooksldn for the review copy!
The file contains The AZ Constitution (modern day UK), an awareness poster guiding citizens on how to identify & report an Undying (U), a medical report of an U subject at their State Medical Facility # 732: The Tower and finally a polaroid of an Ouroboros graffiti found near the site of a terrorist attack. Here's a copy of my report:
Report of The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver
Name: The Urban Reader
Role: Book Reviewer
Report: ☑️Log ◻️Study ◻️ Incident
It is the first book of this dystopian trilogy. It's set in a future dystopian world which followed after a religious war & countries nuking major cities. Our subject Sadie Abbott is a 16 year old who manages to find herself in the middle of an attack pulled by a rebel group called The Alchemist. She's hurt in the attack which is when the medical staff come to know that Sadie is not a Natural, she's an Undying - someone whose cells replicate faster than normal humans and hence doesn't die (until killed ofc). How will she explain herself to the authorities now?
Findings: The story has a basic dystopian premise but is very well told, the pacing is perfect from the start & one will not find themselves to be bored at any point. It takes from classics such as 1984 & Animal Farm & creates an entirely new world with an interesting concept to follow. The author accomplishes to accomodate political views from both sides, we all can learn so much from it while trying to have a conversation amongst ourselves in today's world. Never being preachy, she also clearly shows what it means to stand up for what you believe in & protecting those who are most affected by an unequal social construct.
Actions: MUST read the next book in the trilogy to quench my thirst from that well placed cliffhanger.
Escalate: ☑️ Yes, recommend that everyone reads this book.
◻️ No
I hereby confirm that the information contained herein is true & to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Thank you @agorabooksldn for the review copy!
September 5, 2021
Thank you to Agora Books for the review copy.
When I was first sent the book synopsis for The Undying by Melissa Welliver, I screamed a little bit. It was, quite literally, like someone taking the book idea I wrote onto a scrap of paper back in 2012 and amplified it by a bazillion and turned it into the coolest story of all time. There is nothing I love more than a post-apocalyptic story line with class segregation and UNDYING! You know it’s going to be good!
I think it’s pretty clear why I responded: YES YES YES YES YES to the blog tour request!
And while it wasn’t the story I was expecting, I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
It is almost impossible not to get hooked into this fast-paced story by Welliver, but that brings with it some challenges too. Some “cliffhangers” and quick decision making by protagonist Sadie where just not believable or had me scratching my head saying, “But why would she do that?” I can tell it was meant to move the story forward, so that didn’t take away from the plot too much.
Speaking of moving forward, this book also has flashbacks to how to Undying and the world came to be and I loved this aspect of the story! It not only made the world-building so much more interesting, but it was exciting to almost have this “insider’s look” into this dystopian world, while still keeping you hooked and curious enough to want to delve into her next one (this will be a trilogy!). Why all the secrets? I NEED MORE!
I’ll be honest, nothing in the story truly surprised me, but that didn’t stop it from being interesting and didn’t stop me from wanting to know more (I’m not afraid to have a DNF if I don’t like a text!).
I think people who appreciate YA dystopian will eat this one one, especially with the gorgeous cover that the official print of the text has. My review copy also came with really amazing paper products to go with the story, which I love. Makes me feel like I’m in the world or about to enter a film experience.
I rate this 3.5/5 stars so I rounded it up to four for Goodreads (please note that I am a challenging book reviewer!).
When I was first sent the book synopsis for The Undying by Melissa Welliver, I screamed a little bit. It was, quite literally, like someone taking the book idea I wrote onto a scrap of paper back in 2012 and amplified it by a bazillion and turned it into the coolest story of all time. There is nothing I love more than a post-apocalyptic story line with class segregation and UNDYING! You know it’s going to be good!
I think it’s pretty clear why I responded: YES YES YES YES YES to the blog tour request!
And while it wasn’t the story I was expecting, I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
It is almost impossible not to get hooked into this fast-paced story by Welliver, but that brings with it some challenges too. Some “cliffhangers” and quick decision making by protagonist Sadie where just not believable or had me scratching my head saying, “But why would she do that?” I can tell it was meant to move the story forward, so that didn’t take away from the plot too much.
Speaking of moving forward, this book also has flashbacks to how to Undying and the world came to be and I loved this aspect of the story! It not only made the world-building so much more interesting, but it was exciting to almost have this “insider’s look” into this dystopian world, while still keeping you hooked and curious enough to want to delve into her next one (this will be a trilogy!). Why all the secrets? I NEED MORE!
I’ll be honest, nothing in the story truly surprised me, but that didn’t stop it from being interesting and didn’t stop me from wanting to know more (I’m not afraid to have a DNF if I don’t like a text!).
I think people who appreciate YA dystopian will eat this one one, especially with the gorgeous cover that the official print of the text has. My review copy also came with really amazing paper products to go with the story, which I love. Makes me feel like I’m in the world or about to enter a film experience.
I rate this 3.5/5 stars so I rounded it up to four for Goodreads (please note that I am a challenging book reviewer!).
August 23, 2021
4 Stars
I had no idea what to expect from this book and was not expecting to be gripped from the first sentence to the last. I love dystopian fiction and in my opinion there has been a lack of great YA dystopian in recent years. The Undying Tower definitely fills in that gap for me.
It is decades in the future, climate change has ravaged the world, parts of the world have been bombed and are uninhabitable due to radiation plus overpopulation is a huge issue. A small percentage of the world are "the Undying", people that do not age from around 20-25 years old. These Undying are persecuted by the normal people and the leaders and have incredibly tough lives.
Our lead female is Sadie, a 16 year old "normal" who is set up to take the fall for a bomb attack from the Undying rebel group "The Alchemists". Sadie is a brilliant character and I loved getting to know her and seeing how she coped with each tough scenario she is thrown into. I love her kindness and bravery.
All of the side characters were so interesting and played really important roles. I cannot wait for the next book to get to know them even more.
The storyline was brilliant and had me completely gripped. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming which I loved! The writing was brilliant, so engaging and I loved having flashbacks of Sadie and her best friend Jasper.
The only thing I wish we had had more of was dialogue between Sadie and her inmates in the tower. I wanted more chat and connection to get to know them all even more.
Overall, a fantastic YA dystopian debut which took me by surprise and definitely exceeded my expectations. I genuinely cannot wait for the next book to see what happens next! Melissa Welliver is definitely a new author to watch out for!
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had no idea what to expect from this book and was not expecting to be gripped from the first sentence to the last. I love dystopian fiction and in my opinion there has been a lack of great YA dystopian in recent years. The Undying Tower definitely fills in that gap for me.
It is decades in the future, climate change has ravaged the world, parts of the world have been bombed and are uninhabitable due to radiation plus overpopulation is a huge issue. A small percentage of the world are "the Undying", people that do not age from around 20-25 years old. These Undying are persecuted by the normal people and the leaders and have incredibly tough lives.
Our lead female is Sadie, a 16 year old "normal" who is set up to take the fall for a bomb attack from the Undying rebel group "The Alchemists". Sadie is a brilliant character and I loved getting to know her and seeing how she coped with each tough scenario she is thrown into. I love her kindness and bravery.
All of the side characters were so interesting and played really important roles. I cannot wait for the next book to get to know them even more.
The storyline was brilliant and had me completely gripped. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming which I loved! The writing was brilliant, so engaging and I loved having flashbacks of Sadie and her best friend Jasper.
The only thing I wish we had had more of was dialogue between Sadie and her inmates in the tower. I wanted more chat and connection to get to know them all even more.
Overall, a fantastic YA dystopian debut which took me by surprise and definitely exceeded my expectations. I genuinely cannot wait for the next book to see what happens next! Melissa Welliver is definitely a new author to watch out for!
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2021
Thanks Netgalley for the eArc of this book and I'm leaving the review voluntarily.
Another dystopian YA. Yes please. And imagine that there wasn't any romance in it and I loved it. The only thing missing was more background on the things happened that led to the dystopian world, other that that it was awesome.
It sucked me in from the very beginning and didn't let go till the end. The pace was great, not too rushed not too slow.
Another dystopian YA. Yes please. And imagine that there wasn't any romance in it and I loved it. The only thing missing was more background on the things happened that led to the dystopian world, other that that it was awesome.
It sucked me in from the very beginning and didn't let go till the end. The pace was great, not too rushed not too slow.
September 4, 2021
I am a sucker for Sci-Fi and YA. And the fact that "The Undying Tower" is a YA sci-fi set in dystopian world, it just makes me even more excited for it. I dived into this book wishing for a dark-age world, some mysterious vibes and a page-turning story. And I can proudly say that it had all of it. I was so engrossed into it, I lost the track of time and there were times when I'd even forget about food. (But due to unavoidable reasons, I had to take breaks in between..>_< ). But everytime I picked it up again, I was resuming my experience with the book into the life of Sadie Abbott, the world of Undying.
The Undying Tower is about Sadie Abbott, who is raised normal in the world of discrimination based on, whether you are Undying or not. An undying is a species which stops ageing at the age of around 24-25 (physically) and they are treated as outcasts just because they are born Undying. Undying are kept in check, are experimented upon (but all in secrecy). Sadie Abbott's life changes because she has been framed for a bomb attack during a correction (what s a correction? I'd rather you find it out while reading it).
Now, the framed victim of the bomb attack, Sadie Abbott, finds out that she is an Undying because her mother is an Undying(about whom she doesn't know anything much) and just not that, her mother is the leader of the terrorist organization, which claims to be speaking out on behalf of Undying. Her floor is dragged and this is a new territory for her. And now she is sent to "The Tower", a juvenile detention center for young undying "criminals".
The world it is set in is decades into the future where we've messed up the world upto the extent that we've destroyed eveything, most of the countries are in dust or just ruins, paper is a luxury and people rely on artificial foods. But the interesting thing in this world is, the most common things in today's world are prohibited, practicing any religion is prohibited and hey are considered as "dirty language"
even the condiments like Turmeric is considered as "illegal".
Mellisa was incredible with the world building through her words, and the plot is absolutely striking, I so enjoyed the book. I would just blind-eye recommend it to anyone who enjoys Sci-Fi and forbidden dystopian world. I am trying hard not to spoil anything (I am proud I didn't spoil anyhting , I hope), but I would say, go give it a read.
I am excited for the Second book in the series and I am hoping to go on this adventure again, very soon.
"Because there just aren't enough of them. Less than five percent of the population are born Undying. They are the minority. And minority always loses," Nurse Pin says
The Undying Tower is about Sadie Abbott, who is raised normal in the world of discrimination based on, whether you are Undying or not. An undying is a species which stops ageing at the age of around 24-25 (physically) and they are treated as outcasts just because they are born Undying. Undying are kept in check, are experimented upon (but all in secrecy). Sadie Abbott's life changes because she has been framed for a bomb attack during a correction (what s a correction? I'd rather you find it out while reading it).
Now, the framed victim of the bomb attack, Sadie Abbott, finds out that she is an Undying because her mother is an Undying(about whom she doesn't know anything much) and just not that, her mother is the leader of the terrorist organization, which claims to be speaking out on behalf of Undying. Her floor is dragged and this is a new territory for her. And now she is sent to "The Tower", a juvenile detention center for young undying "criminals".
The world it is set in is decades into the future where we've messed up the world upto the extent that we've destroyed eveything, most of the countries are in dust or just ruins, paper is a luxury and people rely on artificial foods. But the interesting thing in this world is, the most common things in today's world are prohibited, practicing any religion is prohibited and hey are considered as "dirty language"
even the condiments like Turmeric is considered as "illegal".
Mellisa was incredible with the world building through her words, and the plot is absolutely striking, I so enjoyed the book. I would just blind-eye recommend it to anyone who enjoys Sci-Fi and forbidden dystopian world. I am trying hard not to spoil anything (I am proud I didn't spoil anyhting , I hope), but I would say, go give it a read.
I am excited for the Second book in the series and I am hoping to go on this adventure again, very soon.
September 6, 2021
If you’ve been trying to fill the space left behind by Divergent or The Hunger Games series, I think you’ll love this!
In a future version of England, there are people who live forever. The ‘Undying’ cause nothing but trouble for the rest of the population in the Avalonia Zone (AZ), where there are food shortages and overpopulation, so if they step out of line at all, rather than be sent to the already overcrowded prisons, they are hanged. Other than the under 18s, who are sent to ‘The Tower’, a research facility claiming to try to reintegrate the troubled Undying into society once they are over 18. But when sixteen year old Sadie takes the fall for a terrorist attack and suddenly finds herself at The Tower after years not realising she was an Undying, she will uncover something far more sinister going on at the facility, and she’ll have to decide whose side she’s really on…
This was such an addictive read and I’m so glad it’s only just the beginning of a series as I can’t wait for more! Sadie and the friends she falls in with at the correctional facility are a great bunch to cheer for, and whilst she’s maybe not your typical badass in the sense of a Katniss or Tris, she’s smart and led by a need to do the right thing. There are others to do the tough kid stuff!
I loved the premise of the series, with this idea of a part of the population who don’t age and therefore pose a risk to everyone else. And of course we have the same theme of people fearing those who are different to them as we do in real life, along with the oppression and fight for equality which is so timely. I thought this was a really powerful and engrossing way of looking at some of the biggest issues we face today.
And if you’re just along for the ride, you won’t be disappointed - there’s the perfect balance of action vs scene setting and background, so that people who are into details and people who just want the big fights will be equally satisfied!
In a future version of England, there are people who live forever. The ‘Undying’ cause nothing but trouble for the rest of the population in the Avalonia Zone (AZ), where there are food shortages and overpopulation, so if they step out of line at all, rather than be sent to the already overcrowded prisons, they are hanged. Other than the under 18s, who are sent to ‘The Tower’, a research facility claiming to try to reintegrate the troubled Undying into society once they are over 18. But when sixteen year old Sadie takes the fall for a terrorist attack and suddenly finds herself at The Tower after years not realising she was an Undying, she will uncover something far more sinister going on at the facility, and she’ll have to decide whose side she’s really on…
This was such an addictive read and I’m so glad it’s only just the beginning of a series as I can’t wait for more! Sadie and the friends she falls in with at the correctional facility are a great bunch to cheer for, and whilst she’s maybe not your typical badass in the sense of a Katniss or Tris, she’s smart and led by a need to do the right thing. There are others to do the tough kid stuff!
I loved the premise of the series, with this idea of a part of the population who don’t age and therefore pose a risk to everyone else. And of course we have the same theme of people fearing those who are different to them as we do in real life, along with the oppression and fight for equality which is so timely. I thought this was a really powerful and engrossing way of looking at some of the biggest issues we face today.
And if you’re just along for the ride, you won’t be disappointed - there’s the perfect balance of action vs scene setting and background, so that people who are into details and people who just want the big fights will be equally satisfied!
August 23, 2021
In the Avalonian Zone there is a divide between the ‘normal’ citizens and the ‘Undying’ who have genetically evolved to stop ageing. The Undying are blamed for all the ills of society: the adults are executed for any minor infringement and the minors are imprisoned in remote facilities like the ‘Undying Tower’. 16-year-old Sadie has grown-up believing all the Avalonian propaganda about the Undying, until the moment an explosion tears apart her world and sends her to the Undying Tower. There, Sadie must discover the truth about her world and choose a side.
Sadie is not a particularly likeable character to start with. It’s very difficult not to compare any YA dystopian novel to ‘The Hunger Games’, and Sadie is no Katniss—she is a child of the Capitol, raised in privilege, who avoids even thinking about the injustice of her own world. It’s an interesting character trajectory, a bit more subtle than the usual ‘chosen one’ narrative, and possibly a more realistic response to facing uncomfortable truths about the society you’ve grown up in. Sadie also has synaesthesia, and I really enjoyed the colours of her world. The action is deftly scripted and the worldbuilding is rich and complex.
‘The Undying Tower’ is a wonderfully evocative title and, together with the retro cover design, gives this book a slightly surreal, horror-style appeal.
Perfect for fans of Ben Oliver’s ‘The Loop’ or Marisa Noelle’s ‘The Unadjusted’ series, ‘The Undying Tower’ is a compelling, thought-provoking read. Can’t wait for book 2!
Sadie is not a particularly likeable character to start with. It’s very difficult not to compare any YA dystopian novel to ‘The Hunger Games’, and Sadie is no Katniss—she is a child of the Capitol, raised in privilege, who avoids even thinking about the injustice of her own world. It’s an interesting character trajectory, a bit more subtle than the usual ‘chosen one’ narrative, and possibly a more realistic response to facing uncomfortable truths about the society you’ve grown up in. Sadie also has synaesthesia, and I really enjoyed the colours of her world. The action is deftly scripted and the worldbuilding is rich and complex.
‘The Undying Tower’ is a wonderfully evocative title and, together with the retro cover design, gives this book a slightly surreal, horror-style appeal.
Perfect for fans of Ben Oliver’s ‘The Loop’ or Marisa Noelle’s ‘The Unadjusted’ series, ‘The Undying Tower’ is a compelling, thought-provoking read. Can’t wait for book 2!
August 27, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It takes place in a dystopian society where there are now people with prolonged lifespans called the undying. The undying are treated very poorly given the most dangerous jobs and very little food and housing. They also are hanged for the simplest of crimes.
The main character Sadie is raised to think that these undying are criminals that deserve what happens to them. Her best friend Jasper tries to convince her that the undying are people too and deserve better. He wants to help them, but Sadie worries this will get him punished or worse. Sadie’s father needs a new heart and trying to help him is her first priority.
Sadie’s world is turned upside down when someone sets off a bomb during a hanging of an undying that she attends. She soon learns that everything she thought she knew about her life was a lie. Sadie needs to decide who to trust and what is truly important to her. Her life and those around her depend on it!
This book was fast paced and had some exciting twists! I can’t wait to see what happens next with Sadie and the gang!
The main character Sadie is raised to think that these undying are criminals that deserve what happens to them. Her best friend Jasper tries to convince her that the undying are people too and deserve better. He wants to help them, but Sadie worries this will get him punished or worse. Sadie’s father needs a new heart and trying to help him is her first priority.
Sadie’s world is turned upside down when someone sets off a bomb during a hanging of an undying that she attends. She soon learns that everything she thought she knew about her life was a lie. Sadie needs to decide who to trust and what is truly important to her. Her life and those around her depend on it!
This book was fast paced and had some exciting twists! I can’t wait to see what happens next with Sadie and the gang!
July 9, 2021
This book really has the vibe of YA from 10 years ago. It's set in a dystopian future where some people stop aging and can, in theory, live forever - The Undying.
The MC, Sadie, gets caught in the middle after an explosion and is sent to a correction facility for young Undying - the Tower.
I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning, I found some actions a bit unbelievable. But once we get to the Tower, things really pick up and I like the twists. Some were a little more predictable than others but I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes. I'll admit, Sadie isn't my favourite but I'm hoping she'll continue to grow.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The MC, Sadie, gets caught in the middle after an explosion and is sent to a correction facility for young Undying - the Tower.
I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning, I found some actions a bit unbelievable. But once we get to the Tower, things really pick up and I like the twists. Some were a little more predictable than others but I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes. I'll admit, Sadie isn't my favourite but I'm hoping she'll continue to grow.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 8, 2021
I really enjoyed this dark, post-apocalyptic YA book.
The main character, Sadie, finds out some uncomfortable truths about herself, her friends, her family, and the world she is living in, and is forced to confront those truths, picking sides in a battle between the Undying and the normal civilians, where the Undying have few rights, live in ghettos, and live on starvation rations.
The plot is fairly predictable at times, but it doesn't take away from the overall story. It's quick and easy read that will appeal to those that love this genre. It will also appeal to those who can draw parallels to history about marginalising sections of society.
The main character, Sadie, finds out some uncomfortable truths about herself, her friends, her family, and the world she is living in, and is forced to confront those truths, picking sides in a battle between the Undying and the normal civilians, where the Undying have few rights, live in ghettos, and live on starvation rations.
The plot is fairly predictable at times, but it doesn't take away from the overall story. It's quick and easy read that will appeal to those that love this genre. It will also appeal to those who can draw parallels to history about marginalising sections of society.
July 30, 2024
Welcome to The Undying Tower, dystopian YA fiction at its best and getting a well deserved re-publish under a new publisher that will hopefully put it on the map and allow audiences to finally get the full trilogy.
With echoes of The Hunger Games and Divergent series, we are introduced to the Avalonia Zone, an area made up of multiple territories including what was once Great Britain. It's a society in crisis after the discovery that a small percentage of the population has stopped ageing causing massive overpopulation, and food shortages, ultimately causing the ‘Undying’ to be blamed for the state’s problems, banished to the fringes of society, and punished for every minor infraction. Following an explosion at a Correction (public execution), 16 year old Sadie Abbott has found herself being named a Terrorist and the leader of the explosion plot and has been transported to The Tower, a corrections centre for Undying youth with a mission to route out the rebel leaders. As she digs deeper into life at the centre and comes to know her fellow inmates she soon realises that everything is not as it seems and there is a far darker undercurrent running through the centre's acts and deeds.
What follows is a truly engrossing story of a small band of unlikely allies trying to uncover the secrets of the centre which ultimately go to the heart of Avalonia society and trying to figure out how on earth they can escape with their lives.
Honestly, this book had me in its grip from word one. I love dysoptian, post-apocalyptic fiction and Melissa Welliver delivers us a complete and complex world that unfolds to us as readers gradually throughout the story. The world building is thorough but not laden with bulky exposition. We're given enough throughout the story to build a rich and vivid pictures as the action develops simultaneously. We're also given characters we want to root for and come to care about quite quickly. Sadie, our main character is a initially shown as being a naïve and young teenager who is smart and caring but who can adapt and learn in order to survive and her band of allies in The Tower are also generally well realised and give you enough hooks to care about them (especially Freya).
The story itself is strong - adventurous, bleak, sad, tense and violent. It moves along at a breathless pace and you can't stop reading as you want to see how things shake out and see who survives and who doesn't. There's a little repetition in some scenes but that also works well to reflect the confusion and uncertainty our characters are facing. As the opening book of a trilogy though it's a well balanced story arc that leaves a lot of room for the remaining books to tell the whole story whilst also being pretty satisfying as a book by itself.
I for one can't wait to see how things pan out in Books 2 and 3 and hope to see more of the Undying society to explore further the more profound questions the situation brings about what it is to potentially live forever and also what it is to live in a discriminatory and inequal society where you hold so little power.
Highly recommended for fans of dystopian, science fiction and post apocalyptic fiction.
4.25*
Thank you to NetGalley and UCLan Publishing for a digital review copy of "The Undying Tower" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
With echoes of The Hunger Games and Divergent series, we are introduced to the Avalonia Zone, an area made up of multiple territories including what was once Great Britain. It's a society in crisis after the discovery that a small percentage of the population has stopped ageing causing massive overpopulation, and food shortages, ultimately causing the ‘Undying’ to be blamed for the state’s problems, banished to the fringes of society, and punished for every minor infraction. Following an explosion at a Correction (public execution), 16 year old Sadie Abbott has found herself being named a Terrorist and the leader of the explosion plot and has been transported to The Tower, a corrections centre for Undying youth with a mission to route out the rebel leaders. As she digs deeper into life at the centre and comes to know her fellow inmates she soon realises that everything is not as it seems and there is a far darker undercurrent running through the centre's acts and deeds.
What follows is a truly engrossing story of a small band of unlikely allies trying to uncover the secrets of the centre which ultimately go to the heart of Avalonia society and trying to figure out how on earth they can escape with their lives.
Honestly, this book had me in its grip from word one. I love dysoptian, post-apocalyptic fiction and Melissa Welliver delivers us a complete and complex world that unfolds to us as readers gradually throughout the story. The world building is thorough but not laden with bulky exposition. We're given enough throughout the story to build a rich and vivid pictures as the action develops simultaneously. We're also given characters we want to root for and come to care about quite quickly. Sadie, our main character is a initially shown as being a naïve and young teenager who is smart and caring but who can adapt and learn in order to survive and her band of allies in The Tower are also generally well realised and give you enough hooks to care about them (especially Freya).
The story itself is strong - adventurous, bleak, sad, tense and violent. It moves along at a breathless pace and you can't stop reading as you want to see how things shake out and see who survives and who doesn't. There's a little repetition in some scenes but that also works well to reflect the confusion and uncertainty our characters are facing. As the opening book of a trilogy though it's a well balanced story arc that leaves a lot of room for the remaining books to tell the whole story whilst also being pretty satisfying as a book by itself.
I for one can't wait to see how things pan out in Books 2 and 3 and hope to see more of the Undying society to explore further the more profound questions the situation brings about what it is to potentially live forever and also what it is to live in a discriminatory and inequal society where you hold so little power.
Highly recommended for fans of dystopian, science fiction and post apocalyptic fiction.
4.25*
Thank you to NetGalley and UCLan Publishing for a digital review copy of "The Undying Tower" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
July 22, 2021
In The Undying Tower, Melissa Welliver takes us to a dystopian world in the future where a small percentage of the population no longer age, known as the Undying. In a world ravaged by overpopulation, the Undying are seen as the problem and persecuted for it, leading to rebellions from the Undying. In response to the rebellions there are public hangings of the Undying. After our main character, Sadie, is mistakenly blamed for a Rebel attack she is sent to the Undying Tower. The Tower is an awful place where society imprisons the Undying. Sadie is then forced to rethink what she has been told and form her own opinions if she ever plans to get back to her old life.
This is a fairly typical YA dystopian world that is very wonderfully developed. The plot is interesting and the pacing was quite good. There are some parts in the beginning that took me out of the story a bit but once Sadie gets to the Tower it really takes off from there on. I enjoyed the author's use of flashbacks to show us how the world became this way rather than "telling" us. I also appreciate that our main character, Sadie, really stumbles a lot on her way to figuring out who she is going to become after her entire world is upended. Sadie's growth throughout the book is a lot more realistic then her just automatically becoming a righteous queen out of nowhere. I did feel like all the other characters could have been fleshed out a little more. Hopefully they will be in future installments of the series. The writing was quite good and I think this was overall a good debut for the author. Welliver wraps up the end of the book in a satisfactory way, while also leaving enough questions for you to want to come back for the rest of the trilogy.
I think people who enjoy dystopias, particularly YA dystopias, will really enjoy this. I also think people who can relate to the marginalization of a persecuted group of people will enjoy this as well. This book is about fighting for what is right even when it seems like the whole world may be against you. I can really appreciate that message. While I enjoy a great dystopian world, character stories are really my thing and I felt I only really got to know Sadie in this book. I did also feel like a lot of the twists and turns were quite predictable.
3💫
This is a fairly typical YA dystopian world that is very wonderfully developed. The plot is interesting and the pacing was quite good. There are some parts in the beginning that took me out of the story a bit but once Sadie gets to the Tower it really takes off from there on. I enjoyed the author's use of flashbacks to show us how the world became this way rather than "telling" us. I also appreciate that our main character, Sadie, really stumbles a lot on her way to figuring out who she is going to become after her entire world is upended. Sadie's growth throughout the book is a lot more realistic then her just automatically becoming a righteous queen out of nowhere. I did feel like all the other characters could have been fleshed out a little more. Hopefully they will be in future installments of the series. The writing was quite good and I think this was overall a good debut for the author. Welliver wraps up the end of the book in a satisfactory way, while also leaving enough questions for you to want to come back for the rest of the trilogy.
I think people who enjoy dystopias, particularly YA dystopias, will really enjoy this. I also think people who can relate to the marginalization of a persecuted group of people will enjoy this as well. This book is about fighting for what is right even when it seems like the whole world may be against you. I can really appreciate that message. While I enjoy a great dystopian world, character stories are really my thing and I felt I only really got to know Sadie in this book. I did also feel like a lot of the twists and turns were quite predictable.
3💫
September 10, 2021
Sadie is 16 years old and lives in the Avalonia Zone with her ailing father. Sadie was raised by her father after her mother left. The Avalonia Zone is a very different world and is currently in crisis after identifying members of society that do not age called the Undying. The Undying are blamed for all of the wrongs that take place in the Avalonia Zone. Whilst attending the latest Undying hanging a bomb is detonated and Sadie is identified as the culprit. Not only of causing the blast but Sadie is in disbelief when she is told she is a member of the Undying. Sadie is presented with two options: the first is that she is looking at a 2 year sentence in The Tower where the Undying are sent. She will stay there until she is 18 when she will be evaluated and a decision will be made on whether she is safe to re-enter society or if she'll be punished like all of the other adult Undying which means basically she will be hanged. Or the second option is that she enters The Tower on a secret mission to determine who is accessing information from The Tower and passing it to The Alchemists, a rebel group.
Sadie quickly learns that The Tower isn’t just a facility which is attempting to rehabilitate the Undying who have committed crimes but that there is something more sinister happening. Can Sadie learn the real truth behind the Tower?
This is the author’s first novel and she has done a fantastic job. Definitely an author to look out for in the future. The storyline is original and the world building is brilliant. From the first page the Avalonia Zone leaves a lasting impression of the type of world Sadie is living in. Especially as the first time we meet Sadie she is attending a hanging which appears to be a regular and normal occurrence. I found learning which items were forbidden such as turmeric, religious texts, memorabilia associated with the royal family etc and forbidden words were fascinating. Sadie as a character is likeable, confident and smart. From the outset it is clear that there is something special about her and that she isn’t just a normal teenager. The concept of the Undying was very fascinating and that’s what drew me to the book from the outset. As far as YA dystopian novels go I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself racing to finish it so I could see how it would end.
This book is the first in a trilogy and I am eager to read the next two instalments. I can tell already after reading the first book that this would make a brilliant TV series or film.
If you’re a fan of YA dystopian stories this is one book you need to add to your bookshelf. Or if you’ve never read a YA dystopian book before this would be the perfect introduction to the genre.
Sadie quickly learns that The Tower isn’t just a facility which is attempting to rehabilitate the Undying who have committed crimes but that there is something more sinister happening. Can Sadie learn the real truth behind the Tower?
This is the author’s first novel and she has done a fantastic job. Definitely an author to look out for in the future. The storyline is original and the world building is brilliant. From the first page the Avalonia Zone leaves a lasting impression of the type of world Sadie is living in. Especially as the first time we meet Sadie she is attending a hanging which appears to be a regular and normal occurrence. I found learning which items were forbidden such as turmeric, religious texts, memorabilia associated with the royal family etc and forbidden words were fascinating. Sadie as a character is likeable, confident and smart. From the outset it is clear that there is something special about her and that she isn’t just a normal teenager. The concept of the Undying was very fascinating and that’s what drew me to the book from the outset. As far as YA dystopian novels go I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself racing to finish it so I could see how it would end.
This book is the first in a trilogy and I am eager to read the next two instalments. I can tell already after reading the first book that this would make a brilliant TV series or film.
If you’re a fan of YA dystopian stories this is one book you need to add to your bookshelf. Or if you’ve never read a YA dystopian book before this would be the perfect introduction to the genre.
August 25, 2021
The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver is another YA dystopian novel, but this one stands heads and shoulders above the pack! Ms. Welliver has woven a tale of suspense, intrigue and horror at what people will do to one another in order to stay alive and relevant in society.
Sadie is part of the upper classes and is working hard to get into the Art stream in order to excel. She's also taking care of her ailing father, who needs a heart transplant. When she attends a Correction, which is a hanging of a person from the lower class (The Undying, who by some miracle of nature(?) don't age past their twenties and don't die by natural means, becoming a drag on society's resources), a bomb goes off and Sadie is caught in the aftermath and accused of setting it off...and being one of the Undying.
As Sadie is transported to The Tower, she meets some Undying teens and spends the next weeks learning about what actually goes on in this prison for them. It's a horror, one that she shouldn't be a part of as she tries to find out more about The Tower, the Undying and those that are in charge.
An incredible novel, one that I couldn't put down! I can't wait for the next two books in the series and just hope that the author follows through with the excitement and there is no disappointing, throwaway ending (I'm looking at you, #hungergames!) Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Agora Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Sadie is part of the upper classes and is working hard to get into the Art stream in order to excel. She's also taking care of her ailing father, who needs a heart transplant. When she attends a Correction, which is a hanging of a person from the lower class (The Undying, who by some miracle of nature(?) don't age past their twenties and don't die by natural means, becoming a drag on society's resources), a bomb goes off and Sadie is caught in the aftermath and accused of setting it off...and being one of the Undying.
As Sadie is transported to The Tower, she meets some Undying teens and spends the next weeks learning about what actually goes on in this prison for them. It's a horror, one that she shouldn't be a part of as she tries to find out more about The Tower, the Undying and those that are in charge.
An incredible novel, one that I couldn't put down! I can't wait for the next two books in the series and just hope that the author follows through with the excitement and there is no disappointing, throwaway ending (I'm looking at you, #hungergames!) Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Agora Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
August 24, 2021
Firstly I must state that I am an absolute sucker for dystopian YA books. The blurb for this book had me immediately intrigued and if it wasn’t for my pesky job I would’ve finished this book the same day I started it. Instead I finished it the following day and was then extremely annoyed with myself for not savouring the story. While I am very grateful to NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review, I am now experiencing the one downside to NetGalley and have to wait wait for any scrap of news in regards to the sequel - something I am eagerly anticipating.
I enjoyed the fact that that the main character Sadie didn’t start off as your typical strong-willed dystopian main character and instead had a more honest and realistic response to the uncomfortable truths with her society.
Also as someone who loves to draw, Sadie’s synaesthesia was a fantastic element that I thoroughly enjoyed visualising.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the fact that that the main character Sadie didn’t start off as your typical strong-willed dystopian main character and instead had a more honest and realistic response to the uncomfortable truths with her society.
Also as someone who loves to draw, Sadie’s synaesthesia was a fantastic element that I thoroughly enjoyed visualising.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2021
The Undying Tower is the first in a YA dystopian trilogy set in a future where a group of people, known as the Undying, cannot age. Immediately from starting this book I was hooked! The writing is fast-paced, throwing us instantly into action, with plenty of twists and unexpected reveals that truly made this a gripping read. The thing that most stood out to me about this book is it’s ability to discuss important themes of discrimination and inequality in a dystopian society that has hauntingly similar elements to our own.
June 1, 2024
Had this on my kindle for years was kindly gifted it from NetGally in return for an honest review.
At first wasn’t sure what I was getting into however I really did enjoy it! It was a great easy read with a story that was just as easy to follow.
I’ve been in abit of a reading slump recently and this picked me straight back out of it.
I loved the whole idea about the past world and how they use royalty related words are swear words.
I didn’t see where this story was going and it really did surprise me.
However felt the end was a little rushed and it ended so suddenly and now I want to know what happens to Sadie and the alchemists 😭
At first wasn’t sure what I was getting into however I really did enjoy it! It was a great easy read with a story that was just as easy to follow.
I’ve been in abit of a reading slump recently and this picked me straight back out of it.
I loved the whole idea about the past world and how they use royalty related words are swear words.
I didn’t see where this story was going and it really did surprise me.
However felt the end was a little rushed and it ended so suddenly and now I want to know what happens to Sadie and the alchemists 😭
August 5, 2021
The Undying Tower is a great YA dark, dystopia fiction that will grip readers from start to finish. Dealing with the issues of changing society and marginalization in society as it falls apart from war and environmental destruction, the main character undergoes a series of events which lead her to being part of the 'underclass' she never thought much of before. Fan of dystopian fiction? Don't miss this one - you won't want to wait for the next one!
August 15, 2021
I’m already looking forward to the sequel! This book was incredible. Character development was rich, I could almost feel Sadies synesthesia. The story was well paced and gripping. The twist at the end has me dying. Ive already recommended this to everyone I know!
September 10, 2021
Wow! Just wow! I loved it cover to cover, what a rip roaring ride! The plot is juicy, pacy and action-packed. The twists, the turns, the intrigue: I couldn’t put it down! I had to find out what happened at the end, and I am ready for the sequel :) gimme gimme gimme
November 7, 2021
This book was brilliant. Reminded me of a couple of books Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner and even Eve Of Man series. Was hooked from the very first page and struggled to put the book down. Can't wait for the next in the series.
October 8, 2021
The Undying Tower starts with a bang…literally! Sadie, her father and best friend Jasper are attending one of the regular “undying” hangings which take place in the Avalonia Zone. The undying are a group of people who don’t age generally beyond the age of 25 and have accelerated healing powers. They are 2nd class citizens in Avalonia and are regularly hanged for the smallest misdemeanours, due to the overflowing prisons. As the hanging is about to take place there is an explosion. Sadie is found injured in the rubble and is taken into custody. The authorities believe she was responsible for the bomb and is a member of the terrorist organisation, The Alchemists. In return for her freedom, she must agree to be sent to the undying correctional facility, know as The Tower, and try and uncover who the real Alchemists are.
“When they discovered the first human that didn’t age, well, it was both a miracle and a plague. A human that didn’t die naturally? And not just one, but millions, all over the planet?” “It was a total nightmare. In just five years, the population doubled. Doubled. Can you even imagine?”
I do like a dystopian read and this one is perfect for fans of the Divergent series and the Hunger Games. I loved how the book got straight into the action and the set up for this new world was well explained and thought provoking. The Tower is a prison but there is something more going on which is shocking to discover. Sadie is a great heroine and we discover what is going on at the same time as she does. There is one scene that completely knocked me for six and I read the last 100 pages in just a couple of hours, racing to the end because I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. Luckily, this is a trilogy so there is more to come and I can’t wait.
A great YA read, one that is also perfect for not so young readers, I really enjoyed this.
“When they discovered the first human that didn’t age, well, it was both a miracle and a plague. A human that didn’t die naturally? And not just one, but millions, all over the planet?” “It was a total nightmare. In just five years, the population doubled. Doubled. Can you even imagine?”
I do like a dystopian read and this one is perfect for fans of the Divergent series and the Hunger Games. I loved how the book got straight into the action and the set up for this new world was well explained and thought provoking. The Tower is a prison but there is something more going on which is shocking to discover. Sadie is a great heroine and we discover what is going on at the same time as she does. There is one scene that completely knocked me for six and I read the last 100 pages in just a couple of hours, racing to the end because I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. Luckily, this is a trilogy so there is more to come and I can’t wait.
A great YA read, one that is also perfect for not so young readers, I really enjoyed this.
October 13, 2021
'The Undying Tower' is Melissa Welliver's first novel and wow does she deliver a thrilling ride. From the first words, the reader is catapulted to a dystopian future where there is a division between 'normies' and a rising immortal portion of the population called 'The Undying'. These humans stop aging at age 25, but rather than celebrated for such an amazing scientific marvel, they are oppressed, villainised and subjected to gruelling labour and early deaths due to the overpopulation and pressure on waning resources. The world building here is really intriguing and I just know there is a lot more to find out in the sequels about these amazing immortal humans.
Our protagonist is Sadie Abbott who has been raised in a charmed life, suddenly propelled into a prison for teenage Undying on a dangerous undercover mission. On her way to weeding out a terrorist cell, she discovers truths about society which changes her fundamentally as a person. Her character arc is brilliant here, the reader convinced she is genuinely on a journey which is shaping her as a person and forcing her to grow up. The structure of the novel is clever to support this development, flashing back to pertinent moments prior to Sadie's incarceration. The twist this was leading to felt obvious from the outset but it did not undermine its power and my love for Sadie and Jasper as a pair.
Overall, this is an action packed first novel and I am impatient to read the sequels, especially after THAT ENDING. The array of characters, the world building and the underlying corruption bubbling through it all made this an excellent read. Please release the sequel tomorrow.... ;)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Our protagonist is Sadie Abbott who has been raised in a charmed life, suddenly propelled into a prison for teenage Undying on a dangerous undercover mission. On her way to weeding out a terrorist cell, she discovers truths about society which changes her fundamentally as a person. Her character arc is brilliant here, the reader convinced she is genuinely on a journey which is shaping her as a person and forcing her to grow up. The structure of the novel is clever to support this development, flashing back to pertinent moments prior to Sadie's incarceration. The twist this was leading to felt obvious from the outset but it did not undermine its power and my love for Sadie and Jasper as a pair.
Overall, this is an action packed first novel and I am impatient to read the sequels, especially after THAT ENDING. The array of characters, the world building and the underlying corruption bubbling through it all made this an excellent read. Please release the sequel tomorrow.... ;)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2021
"What if living forever was a death sentence?"
The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver was a really interesting YA Dystopian fiction set in Avalonia Zone. It's post apocalyptic world and Avalonia Zone was in Present day UK. The Undying Tower is the first part of a trilogy and it is perfect for fans of Divergent series and Hunger games. This first installment sets up the series pretty well.
I also got a few document's along with the proof which pertained to the story which was pretty cool. Files that are meant to be evidence for the outside world about the crimes committed in Avalonia Zone. The writing was articulate. The tone of the book was gritty. The characters were vivid. The plot was fast paced. The narration was in first person and had a non-linear timeline.
Sadie was a normal person until one day she was framed for bombing a gathering and was named a terrorist. She also found out that she was an Undying. Undying were people who didn't age or get disease and lived a very long life. But in this society with limited resources, they were unwanted and were lower class. They were not even considered a complete citizen. They were executed for the simplest of crimes.
The underage criminals were sent to the Tower. And this was where Sadie ended up. But she has a secret mission to bring down the Undying Terrorist group- The Alchemists from the Beadles ( Police). She ends up discovering things she was not meant to know. She also makes the unlikeliest of friends and together they strive to make a difference. I loved all the aspects of the book. The ending was kind of a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next book.
If you like YA Dystopian fiction, you must give this one a go. You won't regret it.
-Afreen
The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver was a really interesting YA Dystopian fiction set in Avalonia Zone. It's post apocalyptic world and Avalonia Zone was in Present day UK. The Undying Tower is the first part of a trilogy and it is perfect for fans of Divergent series and Hunger games. This first installment sets up the series pretty well.
I also got a few document's along with the proof which pertained to the story which was pretty cool. Files that are meant to be evidence for the outside world about the crimes committed in Avalonia Zone. The writing was articulate. The tone of the book was gritty. The characters were vivid. The plot was fast paced. The narration was in first person and had a non-linear timeline.
Sadie was a normal person until one day she was framed for bombing a gathering and was named a terrorist. She also found out that she was an Undying. Undying were people who didn't age or get disease and lived a very long life. But in this society with limited resources, they were unwanted and were lower class. They were not even considered a complete citizen. They were executed for the simplest of crimes.
The underage criminals were sent to the Tower. And this was where Sadie ended up. But she has a secret mission to bring down the Undying Terrorist group- The Alchemists from the Beadles ( Police). She ends up discovering things she was not meant to know. She also makes the unlikeliest of friends and together they strive to make a difference. I loved all the aspects of the book. The ending was kind of a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next book.
If you like YA Dystopian fiction, you must give this one a go. You won't regret it.
-Afreen
October 24, 2021
Really enjoyed the concepts in this book.
Full review here
https://www.fullofabook.co.uk/the-und...
Full review here
https://www.fullofabook.co.uk/the-und...
July 29, 2021
I came across this almost by accident, but a fortunate accident it was. This gets going in chapter one and accelerates through the rest of the book with action at every turn and characters that you'd die to meet (I'm not one of the non-aging ones!).
Keeps your interest throughout and I can hardly wait for the next one.
Keeps your interest throughout and I can hardly wait for the next one.
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