Merging The Drift

The Drift Trilogy #1

by Tom Bray

“How much do you know about your death?”

On the morning of his 18th birthday Ali woke up to his family home unusually silent, and deserted. He soon learns that he never lived the childhood he remembers and all his memories up until that point are fake. He is now alone, and an occupant of the Drift, an entity where deceased children coexist as their adult selves, with the ability to view a parallel version of their being in a separate, fictional world, without any influence or control over this life path.

Almost three years on, Ali has settled into a routine, but events from the real world he was taken from as a child begin to impact on the limits of his existence as he develops a strange connection with a fellow occupant seeking an unprecedented truth that surfaces a disturbing past and will forever bind together multiple souls.

Follow Ali and three others over the course of a mind-bending week as each seeks comfort and answers from their existence.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Tom Bray is a writer from the north west of England, where he lives with his wife, young son, and golden retriever pup.

Having always enjoyed creative writing on the side despite pursuing a career in digital marketing, Tom completed his first novel Merging The Drift - a contemporary adult fiction - in 2020, and a trilogy is now in the works, with each instalment taking a particular focus on contemporary life in working class Britain, while exploring universal themes concerning memory, family and relationships, and the concept of fate. Get drawn into a gritty yet relatable worlds as you embark on a journey with complex characters experiencing plenty of twists, turns, and dark humoured comments.

Tom is big sports fan, a keen distance runner, and loves exquisitely told (& brilliantly written) TV shows and films. He enjoys long walks in the country or at the coast, mostly favouring those that don't end up with chasing the dog.

Reviews

[Amanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally published at https://amanjareads.com/2021/04/27/me...

Thank you to author Tom Bray for providing me with a copy of Merging the Drift in exchange for this honest review.

Merging the Drift is a genre bending novel that takes place somewhat in one reality and somewhat in one afterlife. There is, of course, the potential for more than one of both. The drift is a sort of afterlife alternative for those poor souls who die before their 18th birthday.

The novel follows three main characters as they navigate their own stories. How these stories become connected by the end was my favorite part of the book. The characters come together in a way that makes sense, doesn't seem completely forced, and actually has meaning. This seems to be a rareity for this type of story structure.

The rest of the book hops around between the perspectives of Danny, Ali, and Kitty or Kerri. We learn about the drift and what reality is as they do.

Although Ali and Kitty are both young enough for this book to fall into the Young Adult category it's hard to place it there due to the strong content. There are some intense scenes of violence that might shock an unexpecting reader. Just make sure to be prepared for adult content in this one.

Merging the Drift deals with some unusual forces of the supernatural and time travel, for lack of a better term. It's not exactly time travel but everything gets just as muddled as if it were time travel. This occasionally takes the narrative to some confusing places. The chapters are headed with days of the week but that does not help the reader sort out the sequence of events.There are instances of flashbacks with no preludes that make it feel like the characters are drifting in and out of different ages.

There are also several examples within these pages of the proverbial male gaze. We are subject to lines of text describing female characters in overtly sexualized and honestly disturbing ways, especially considering that Kitty is underaged (at least by US standards). However, the morality of the story is anti sexual abuse so... I guess it evens out?

Well used shock value has a time and a place, I would say Merging the Drift is about 70% successful. It works to make the reader feel as uncomfortable as the character in the scene is when being undressed with someone's eyes. It doesn't work when it tips past discomfort and into gratuitous; to the point it almost feels like the author had a little too much fun writing it.

But that's just how I felt reading it. One of the things that works well about Merging the Drift is that it is likely different people will have different emotional takeaways from it; they'll make different connections based on their own histories. That's when books are best for discussion, and that's the only type of book worth reading.

Read Merging the Drift and let me know what your takeaway was.

[Tavleen Kaur (Travelling Through Words) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merging The Drift is one of those books that instantly intrigue you by offering a fresh premise in the world of young adult and adult fiction. Afterlife is a topic that has been explored in books and movies many times. In this book, we see it through a different lens which is through the eyes of four characters who died very young. The boundaries between the living world and the afterlife get blurred and what we see are people who had difficult lives and the mental wounds that were left on them.

All the characters – whether alive or dead – have their own trauma. The characters I found most fascinating were Kitty, a rebellious teenager with a disability and a strained relationship with her mom, and Kerri, Kitty’s guardian of sorts who was invisible to others.

The book delves into some existential themes which is not something I see often in such thrilling and gritty books. One particular point that stayed with me was that our mundane lives are necessary, and even special, to make us feel grounded and not alone. This was related to the mental state of the people who died and went to the Drift. The other side of death. It also showed a different kind of loneliness, that of the person who dies, and not of the grieving family which many movies and books based on the afterlife and death have shown. Certain parts and certain conversations in the book make you really introspect.

The novel has some graphic and scary action scenes that would come out and smack you out of nowhere. While they fit the overall darkness of the novel, I think they could’ve been written in a better way. I lost interest at some points in the novel and didn’t feel connected to the characters. Some situations felt forcedly sexual to me.

The writing style of this book is simple. The narration reflects the typical angsty tone of teenagers.

Merging The Drift by Tom Bray encompasses many genres and themes. It is a good combination of the elements of horror and fantasy as well as deeper psychological themes like childhood trauma. The book is a fascinating culmination of all the attractive aspects of contemporary fiction. I would highly recommend it if you’re looking for an interesting and thrilling book that also has deeper themes.

Trigger warnings for the book: sexual abuse, violence

Check out more of my book reviews, recommendations, and other content on my blog Travelling Through Words and bookstagram!

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I am so conflicted.

Let me start by saying what I really enjoyed in this story:
The theme and the idea behind the Drift is simply brilliant. The idea of the Drift - a parallel world where children who died get to see what life they could have led through a parallel world called the Viewing is unique and amazing!
This is not the type of story I usually read but as soon as I read the synopsis I was on board. We follow the story of four different characters as they navigate their own life. They seemingly have no link with each other until the very end where everything is explained. I simply adored the ending. It was so clever and brilliant and the author made an amazing job in terms of plot and linearity. It was difficult to follow the story at times but it was made up by the fact that the plot was so rich and detailed. The build up was done perfectly and I even gasped when I read the last chapters. I didn’t see anything coming and I really applaud the author on that front. The characters really had their own voice and unique train of thoughts. My personal favorite was Ali and the way he viewed the world. I also like the way the author conveyed a true and authentic “Northern voice” through the language of some characters and the lifestyle they were leading. It was a really nice touch and a beautiful testimony of the working class in Britain. This is extremely promising for a debut novel!!

However, as much as I enjoyed this book I felt uncomfortable with the way women were described. We could really tell that they were seen through a man’s gaze because of the focus on their physical attributes. I understand why it was written in such a way but it just felt like it was too much at times. And this book contains a lot of dark themes such as rape, child abuse, and general descriptions of violence which is not a problem but I can’t help but feel that some of the scenes that were described were gratuitous and that they brought nothing to the story. For some moments it felt like the author dried to paint an awful picture but it became unbelievable. I did feel empathy or sadness for the characters because it just superficial and not as chilling as it should have been, This is really why I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I wanted to.

Overall this was a unique story of hope, love, family and grief. I really enjoyed a lot of the discussions the characters where having about life and its purpose which made me embrace even the mundane elements of my life and cherish the memories I am lucky to have.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merging The Drift takes us on a journey of 4 main characters whose lives intertwine, through a gripping exploration of the world as we know it, blurred amongst the afterlife. The story deep-dives into the characters' lives from the start, so if, like me, you sometimes get easily confused with parallel storylines, hang in there - all will be revealed and it's certainly worth any initial confusion that may arise as it all ties together nicely in an ending I certainly couldn't have predicted! I also found it to be very engaging and gripped me early on, as I was so keen to suss out what was going on and how it all pieces together.

This is the kind of story which sticks with you for a long time, leaving you questioning its' deeper themes, such as identity, destiny, memory, death, life, social inequality, relationships. Yet the storyline flows so easily that the themes easily run throughout, it was mostly once I'd finished the book that I realised it left me with so much to reflect on! Tom manages to communicate these more complex ideas in a very straightforward way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the way it captured my attention so easily. I felt connected to the characters and keen to keep reading - I would highly recommend this thrilling read!

[Sareena Bhatoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merging the Drift (2020) is a debut novel which is difficult to categorise due to the multi-generic nature of the narrative – it could be classed as science-fiction or magical realism, psychological, suspense and social issue, but truly the novel takes on a mind-bending category of its own. I don’t usually read books of this genre but I was compelled to pick up Merging the Drift due to the original and compelling concept, and the contemporary Northern England working-class background which doesn’t get nearly enough literary attention.

The story takes a multiple-narrative form written in third-person, but focalised through four protagonists – Danny, Ali, Kitty and Kerri, thus giving us four unique perspectives. The story begins when Ali wakes up on his eighteenth birthday to find his home suspiciously empty, absent of his family members. He is met by who appears to be his schoolboy crush who tells him that she is really a simulation of Ali’s crush, and that she is there to break the news to him that he passed away as a child, and he is now inhabiting the Drift, a parallel entity where deceased children coexist as their adult selves. Occupants of the Drift can go into their ‘Viewing’ where they can see a parallel version of themselves like a film of their life, in a separate, imagined world where they can only watch but have no ability to influence what they are seeing. Ali accepts this reality and becomes accustomed into his life in the Drift, but things begin to go awry and he begins to question if the rules of the Drift are as cut and dried as they appear to be. We follow Ali and the other three characters over the course of a week as they grapple with the nature of their reality see how fates align in the strangest of ways.

The themes of the novel are life in the working-class North of England, trauma, family, relationships, memory, and fate. As aforementioned, I was particularly persuaded to read this due to the Northern setting. Bray does a wonderful job of depicting contemporary working-class life which is bleak at times, but there is are rays of hope throughout, suggestive of the idea that people from the North have resilience and grit despite socio-economic disadvantages and the inevitable tragedies they suffer, which is an optimistic overarching theme of the novel. Due to this, sections of the novel are gritty and dark, but it is never done in a way that feels gratuitous, and it is important for the character’s backstory. (It should be mentioned as a trigger warning that there are themes of violence and rape in the novel.) These darker scenes are well-written and immersive and help the reader empathise with these characters who have suffered such terrible fates.

Moreover, not only is the scene-setting well done, but the psychological component of the novel is well-developed. The reason I tend to find dystopian sort-of novels lacking is because they have very fascinating ideas and worlds that are well built, but the characters lack depth. Merging the Drift completely defied these expectations as each character is a well-rounded individual with a unique and clear sense of voice, with character motivations and internal monologues that are authentic and convincing for their age and status. What’s more, is that these characters are likeable and easy to connect to, (despite the fact that they are confused about what is going on half of the time due to the suspense). Besides Ali in the Drift, Kitty is the precocious teen with a chip on her shoulder, living with her single mum, Danny is a half-cynic, half-optimist, who has done well for himself as an adult despite his tragic childhood and his mum having cancer, and Kerri is something of a mystery in and of herself. Bray is masterful with dialogue, writing seamless character interactions and internal monologues; and when he writes in the vernacular you can hear the Northern accent fluently in your mind. For me, the creation of voice and dialogue really pulls the novel together and introduces elements of comedy at times keeping the novel from being consistently tense.

That’s not to say the other elements of the book aren’t well written – it takes an organised mind and a skilful writer to write a non-chronological, multiple-narrative as well as Bray does. Bray creates a lot of intrigue – in the beginning it is the characters which draw you into the story, as the creation of suspense conjures more questions than it answers. There is a lot of intentional confusion in the novel as ‘merging the Drift’ takes place. When you reach the final parts of the novel, all of the characters merge, and the loose ends tie up beautifully with a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion, that takes a truly inventive mind to engineer.

In conclusion, I would recommend this novel if you are looking for a novel comprised of ingenuity, fresh dialogue, a suspenseful narrative, a view into Northern life, and story with shades of both tragedy and hope. For a debut novelist Bray’s style is clear and compelling, and the creation of suspense keeps you turning the page, and never frustrated with intrigue. Merging the Drift is the first in a trilogy, and I am intrigued to see what Bray comes up with next.

https://readerlust1998.wordpress.com/...

[Linda Arrighi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I’m reviewing ths book in exchange for a copy of the book sent to me by the author, but all opinions are my own.

I decided to pick up Merging The Drift since the concept behind it was very intriguing. The Drift is an entity where deceased children live as their adult selves. The Drift allows its guests to visualise fictional and unchangeable memories as their own. The themes of family, memory and fate all intertwine in this book, which is meant to capture your mind. This premise really called me and I started this book with excitement.

Merging The Drift is written as a multiple narrative novel, which tells the story of the characters Danny, Ali, Kerri and Kitty. I am generally a fan of multiple narratives but a negative of this writing style is that it is difficult to get into the story and understand what is going on at the beginning. I think an introduction of the characters or an introduction of their world would have really helped to create context. Despite this, I understand why little was revealed at the beginning as this book also contains a mystery. Essentially, if you have had bad experiences with multiple narrative novels before maybe this is not the book for you.

After the first few chapters, once some of the connections between the different narratives were revealed, the book became a lot more engaging. All of the characters in this book have a difficult and violent past and are navigating the enigmatic and confusing events which occur as a consequence of trying to "merge the drift". I particularly enjoyed the flashbacks and the deep analysis of the psychology of all of the characters, which definitely helped to make me feel more connected with them.

An aspect of Merging The Drift which amazed me was the skill of the author to seamlessly and believably introduce magical realism in a book which was already mind-boggling on its own. Adding elements of magical realism really fitted with the theme and tone of the book overall. I can probably say that this was my favourite thing about this book. Although some of the plot elements remained unexplained, I found the ending satisfying and the twists surprising and interesting.

In conclusion, I overall thought that this book was great. I would probably not recommend it to people who dislike multiple narrators in a book but I urge you to pick up this book if you are intrigued by the concept and the themes of family, memory and fate, and also if you are a magical realism fan.

[Cathy C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merging the Drift is one of the most unique books I’ve read in a long time, it provides a completely new take on what happens after a person (in this case, children) after they die.

The author, Tom Bray, has created an intricate and interesting afterlife in Merging the Drift, as well as a group of well-developed characters.

The story is told from multiple perspectives and takes place over one week. The author spends a lot of time developing the characters at the start of the book, laying the ground work for later on. We really get to know the main characters Danny, Kitty, and Ali pretty well at the start of the book, but their stories are completely separate from one another… or so you think.

As you get to know more about each of these characters, things start to fit into place - a random, seemingly insignificant, interaction in a bar suddenly becomes the key you need to figure out what’s going on and how these characters are all connected. You get that *lightbulb* moment a few times throughout the story.

I wasn’t sure if I particularly liked many of the characters to begin with, but I think that’s what makes them as realistic as they are and they’ve all been through a lot of stuff in their lives so I can get where they’re coming from. I think the struggles and difficulties each of the characters have experienced gives them a realness that I imagine can be quite difficult to replicate in writing.

I did warm up to most of the characters by the end - they grow on you as you get to know them more and the author has done a really thorough job of providing you with their backgrounds.

I love books where you, as the reader, get to put the puzzle pieces together (especially if I can figure it out before the end of the book) but Tom Bray didn’t make it easy. Such an intricate story and the relationships within it could go wrong, but the author gives just the right amount of a hint at the right time that puts you on a new path of thinking.

I have to admit, I didn’t manage to figure the link between the characters out before I got to the end, and what an ending it was(!), but I enjoyed having a go.

Merging the Drift is a unique story with a unique but complex set of characters. The author has created a vivid afterlife and connection to it that definitely makes you think. Overall, Merging the Drift was an interesting read and a story that’ll definitely stay with me for a while.

**I do want to warn other readers that there are some fairly graphic scenes within the book**

[Caitlan 🌺 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merging the Drift is not what I would typically read, but the concept intrigued me enough to dive in. The story is a multi-perspective narrative focused on Danny, Ali, Kitty and Kerri.
The concept of “the drift” was a new take on the experience of death and like nothing I have come across before. I loved the desolate tone it set for the novel. I was very immersed at the start of the book.

I will say that at about a quarter of the way I found I was getting a little buried amongst the multiple narratives and the magical concepts as well as aspects of the story that I had trouble linking directly to the plot. This paid off though as the ending was well executed and required the suspense/mystery created at the start of the book. I loved the interplay of destiny/fate as a recurring theme through the story. It was done really nicely and it was a major contributing factor to a satisfying conclusion that left me thinking about the story well after I finished reading.
The writing style was consistent and I was impressed by how well the author could characterise between each person and keep them distinct. Towards the start of the book my brain had trouble getting around Kitty/Kerri/Kirsty and I needed to look back a few times to make sure I wasn’t getting confused.. This resolved itself as I read on.

I connected with Danny’s POV the most. I found Kitty to be a little abrasive, but I was able to understand her motivations and her attitudes. Some of the prose is quite sexist and offensive but this plays to the characters within the book. It should be noted though that this may be an issue for some readers.

All in all, I would recommend to anyone interested in the darker sides of memory, family, loss, grief and death. It’s not a book you can flick through, this one really requires a level of attention and concentration, otherwise it would be easy to lose yourself amongst the multiple POV’s and the complexity of “the drift”.

(CW for this book: child abuse, violence, sexual themes).

[Alexandra Gagean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you very much to the author for sending me a copy of Merging the Drift in exchange for an honest review!

As a fan of dystopias and magical realism, I was very intrigued by the plot of Merging the Drift, as it set out to combine the two genres in one. The Drift presents an entirely new approach to death and the afterlife, existing as a place where people who have died while they were children suddenly wake up on their 18th birthday, free to create a world of their own, while watching their parallel life (or the “what could have been”) go by in a different world.

Each chapter presents us with the perspective of each of the main characters, Ali, Danny, Kitty, and Kerri, some living in The Drift, and some in the real world. The characters are very well written, each with their own unique personality and voice, and Bray doesn’t shy away from touching on the nitty-gritty of the human psyche, exploring how family, relationships, and trauma affect each of his characters. Dialogues and inner-monologues are believable and intersected with humour even when touching on darker themes, which makes for a very real and immersive read, even though it deals with some fantastical elements.

There is an overall sense of suspense, and the narrative gets very unsettling and confusing at times, but it all falls into place in the second half of the book, as the net that connects these characters begins to unravel, and Bray flawlessly manages to bring all plot points together, to make for an ending that is satisfying and makes sense.

I found Merging the Drift to be a very gripping read, unlike anything I had ever read before - certainly a great effort for a debut novel!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has one of the most interesting concepts that I have ever read. I loved the first quarter of this book a lot, it was so fascinating and I was really hooked. But I soon began to lose interest as things remained unexplained and I became confused as to what was actually going on. The world building doesn't seem to occur (or if it did I didn't understand it) and I got lost after that point.

Another thing that wasn't my favorite in this book was the remarks about plus size people. There were several phrases that I read throughout the book that referred to fat people in a rude and mean manner. As someone who is plus size, I felt these remarks were unnecessary and I didn't like reading them.

There is a LOT of swearing in this book that I personally don't find appealing in a story. I also felt that women were sexualized a lot in the eyes of the male characters in this book but that might be something that I was particularly attuned to while reading.

Overall, I do think this book has a lot of potential to be a great series. But for me, it fell a bit flat and it isn't my favorite.

[Jagriti Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Merging the Drift' follows the story of four main characters - Ali, Dany, Kitty and Kerri - occupants of Drift and the real, tangible world. Despite being a plot driven narrative it certainly leans more towards implicit characterization. The ambiguity of the first few chapters felt like an unexpected treat. Progressively it became more coherent and the characters more defined. The story illustrated seven days of the four main characters' lives. The build up was intense, full of apprehension, secrets and self - reflection. In that regard, the ending was a tad bit underwhelming, but no less dramatic. 'Merging the Drift' is all about familial love and exploration of afterlife, a contemporary fiction set apart from other afterlife themed stories by its skilful writing and mysterious elements. An intriguing and rather melancholic seven days of four people that leaves you wanting for more.

TW graphic descriptions of violence.

[Neil Snowdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex but always gripping novel with emotional heft. It has stayed with me long past the end of the story. The arc of the story, the underlying themes are profound and moving. With a lot going on in this it would have been easy to lose track or drop the ball, but the author keep us clear on what's happening to who at all times, while never losing the mystery at the heart of the story that keeps us - and the characters - guessing until the end. It's a tightrope that more established authors have failed to cross, but Tom Bray succeeds, marking himself out as an author to keep a close eye on. For a debut novelist he takes real risks, but pays them off beautifully, but leaves just enough threads dangling for us to want more. I look forward to seeing what happens next in The Drift and for Bray as a writer.

[Cathleen (Woven From Words) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merging the Drift is a novel that definitely had me thinking! This story follows the viewpoints of several characters who have passed away. They are offered a chance to watch what their lives may have been like if they’ve lived. This ‘in between’ area is called the Drift.
This story is very entertaining! It’s a different story from what I’m used to picking up, but it has that ‘sci-fi’ vibe that I lean towards. I felt that it touched on the question ‘what happens after death’ very well. I liked learning about these characters, and appreciated the development of these children as the story progressed.

Thank you to the author for providing me a gifted copy!

[Lifely Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sent this book by the author, however, as always my opinions are my own and completely honest.

The concept of this book was so intriguing and with the way Tom Bray describes emotional distress and still kept a certain sense of humour, I was hooked.
Some points were quite confusing and not everything made sense to me at first, but the ending made up for a lot of the questioning I had do while reading.
Overall I gave this book a 3.5/5 because despite being confusing it was a gripping and creative story and if you stick it out I hope you'll find it as satisfying as I did.
Full review is on my blog, thanks again to Tom Bray for providing me with a copy.

[Lottie (The Book Bump) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start by thanking the author, Tom Bray, for giving me a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me quite a while to read because life got in the way a little, and secondly, I got frustrated with the book. I wanted to enjoy it, but sometimes, the writing got in the way of the story. Does that make sense?

There is plenty to enjoy and admire in Bray’s debut novel. The novel’s premise promises a new and unique take on the afterlife. It is refreshing, albeit sometimes a little confusing.
It’s a story about family, love, loss, and grief. There are many purposeful conversations between characters on the “meaning of life”, which are fascinating.

The plot is action-packed, and overall, the pacing is quite good.

The descriptions are spot on. As a reader, you feel you are immersed in the book. You almost forget you are reading at times.

However, a lot is going on. Perhaps a little too much, especially when the reader has to understand the Drift. I feel I don’t understand the point of the Drift. But perhaps it is better explained in the subsequent novels. Maybe the author could have focused a little more on world-building?

The only problem I have with the pacing is the ending. The reveal at the end is slow. Towards the end, the book seemed to drag, as though the author didn’t want to finish it. It felt like the author was trying to find any possible excuse to keep writing the book, meaning loads of flashbacks are thrown in that don’t always help the plot move forward.
The purpose of Kerri’s (and Kitty’s) mission seems a little too farfetched to me. I was left thinking, “What? Is that it?”. It’s rather messed up thinking. They ruin a guy’s life, and for what? I felt the reasoning behind Kerri’s actions was flawed and downright selfish.
The ending, for me, spoiled the read.

The characters are well built, although I struggled to sympathise with or become attached to any of them. You don't need to like a character for them to be well-crafted.
Kitty felt a bit like a spoilt brat, always blaming everyone else but herself. And as mentioned, I found Kerri to be unbelievably selfish.
Ali is still trying to come to terms with realising he is dead. I get that. And with that comes a little character growth. Especially in trying to understand the mechanics of the world he now “lives” in. But I felt he was the most forgettable character in the book.
Danny… I don’t know what to make of him. I sometimes pitied him as he had a hard life; his upbringing wasn’t easy, but at the same time, he grated on my nerves. In the beginning, I started to grow attached to him, but as the story progressed, I found myself disliking him more and more. I didn't care what happened to him. I somehow felt it was karma for his attitude towards some other characters. He was far too quick to judge others. He's very stuck-up and rather righteous. Yes, not everyone has been through the same hurdles he has, but does that give him the right to mock other people’s hardships? No. And people can have worse lives than his. You can’t judge someone’s life unless you’ve lived in their shoes.

Another point that I didn't particularly like was the way women were portrayed. Overall, I felt the author focused too much on the female body. All the female characters are described in a very sexual manner. There are constant mentions of breasts, bums, sexiness, etc. Women have other attributes. It was too much at times. Unintentional male gaze?

The novel delves into some challenging topics, such as rape, child abuse, and abuse (in all shapes and forms), but I’m not sure why. I'm not sure what the reader is meant to take away from some of the topics this book addresses.

Lots of the violence in the book seems gratuitous. I understand what the author was trying to achieve: the more broken a character is, the more sympathy a reader should have for them. But it somehow lost its credibility. I believe this book could have achieved the same message with less violence. I’m not saying take it all away, just the parts that bring nothing to the narrative. There is one rather dark scene, which I distinctly remember being very disturbing, other than being included for shock value; I don’t know what it brings to the novel.

As a debut novel, I think there is a lot to admire. And I am curious to see where he takes the Drift in the next book in the series Leaving the Drift. I downloaded the whole series on my Kindle, but I might wait a little before starting the second novel.

[Kristiane Weeks-Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merging the Drift by Tom Bray is the first book of a trilogy set around a fictional space known as the Drift. The Drift itself is a setting similar to limbo, where the deceased maintain a consciousness that mirrors life on Earth with some additional multidimensional capabilities. The majority of the plot stays within this liminal space. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, however maintains a third-person omniscient narration. Most occupants focused on in this book are people who have died under the age of 18. Their additional capability is being able to witness a possible how-life-would-have-been space called The Viewing. Those who tap into The Viewing don’t appear to find it a positive experience. For those who have died, the what-if of living does not bring joy. How the deaths of most of the characters happened are revealed throughout the novel.

This first book primarily follows a character named Ali, a figure in The Drift who is newer to the space, as in, not decades or hundreds of years. Ali is comfortable in The Drift enough and understands most of the parameters of creation and The Viewing. However, he is not entirely satisfied with the space. Ali questions, “‘About the Drift, creation, the Viewing, and no control, no’ ...Of course he believed in the Drift, there was no reason not to. It was beyond the Drift what he also believed, wanted to believe in”. Ali’s, and a few others’, prodding help the plot along to discovering how other possibilities of space can happen. This is how the characters discover the possibility of reaching through The Drift and connecting with “the real world.”

A few characters Ali tries to interact with don’t carry the same curiosity about the space their consciousness occupies. Some are fine just accepting that The Dirft is where they are, such as the humorous jeste-kind of character, Gil, who says explicitly, “fuck the Viewin’ an’ everythin’ that it stands for. Give me the Drift an’ the realness of its unreality any day of the week’. Whoever designed this whole soddin’ concept had no idea of human necessities, or the future, only the past, an’ t’me that fuckin’ stinks.”

Merging The Drift also follows the viewpoint of several other characters. These viewpoints are divided into chapters and make it easier to keep up with who is who and also who is doing what as the storylines progress. Following these characters along does get muddy if you are not keeping track. Two characters’ names are similar, Kitty and Kerri, and their paths closely aligned, so pay attention!

While the subject of death and this dark tone of the past do thread under the storyline, most of the tone more closely mirrors a sense of discovery. And the book ends with much to be discovered, which is expected from a trilogy. You will have to keep reading to find out how these worlds end up intertwining, or if they ultimately can maintain stability between The Drift and the real world at all.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens to those who tragically die as children? How would their lives have played out if they had continued living, continued making choices within the real world? Welcome to "The Drift," an afterlife specifically dedicated to these children that picks up on their 18th birthdays. The Drift also hosts a "Viewing" that allows the residents to see their lives as they could have been in a sort of parallel universe.

Centered around four main characters, Ali, Danny, Kitty and Kerri, Merging the Drift flips between reality and the Drift, as well as between each main character's points of view. Normally changing perspectives doesn't bother me at all, but in this case there were times when the writing became muddled and difficult to follow. There were places where I had to reread to fully follow what was going on, especially when it came to actual dialogue vs. narrated thoughts.

I felt that the final third of the book really tied everything and everyone together though, and the twist at the end was very unexpected! I appreciated how Bray was able to bring each character arc together in a way that made sense and really authenticated each one of their motivations throughout.

Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for a fresh and creative perspective on trauma and death. It's a gritty and unique take on the afterlife.

*As a note, there is quite a bit of swearing, real-life trauma, and male sexualization of the female body. While these things often accurately portrayed the gritty nature of life, they may not be suitable for some readers.

**Thanks to Bray for providing me with a copy of this book to review!

[Electra Nanou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating web of individual stories, most marked by trauma, that crosses the boundaries of reality, including a unique plane where children who died can "live" out a life they missed. This book mixes the real and surreal in a moving, if disturbing, mystery.

The downside is the over-sexualization of the narrative, with the male gaze playing a big part in it. Descriptions of abuse, harassment, and predatory mindsets are also very explicit, so this book isn't easy to get through without cringing.

Overall, a striking story to dive into, but not for everyone.

[Violet Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a highly unique and compelling novel. There is so much to enjoy as a reader — including the uplifting portrayal of premature death and the rekindling of family relationships. There are many dark moments, as explored with all of the characters, but this demonstrates the strength of these narrators. I enjoyed being inside the heads of multiple characters and how the connection between them was gradually explored.

The concept of the Drift is so original that you naturally feel drawn to it. Despite creating such complex and original characters, I feel that this multi narration technique wasn’t as successful as it could have been. I found myself frequently getting lost and struggling to connect the dots throughout the novel, but I hope with the sequel and the extension of the series, this will be explained better.

Merging the Drift has so much potential, but sometimes the plot gets lost as the connection between characters isn’t entirely self-explanatory. Despite this, I loved how original this story was and how uplifting its portrayal of death and suffering was. I’m excited to see where the series goes and how this afterlife world develops.

To read my full review go to: https://medium.com/coffee-time-review...

[Aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also on Snow White Hates Apples.

A genre-bending book that utilises an unflinching, multilayered approach to tackle its themes, Merging the Drift is perhaps the most complex read I’ve had this year.

The story revolves around four main characters and is told in a non-linear manner as it takes place in parallel worlds — one that’s the ‘reality’ and the other that’s the ‘afterlife’. Here, those who’ve died young can view how their life could’ve been in a parallel world, but despite the blurred boundaries between both worlds, they have no power over this ‘could’ve been’ life.

This setting and the characters allow for an intricate exploration of a multitude of themes that range from those of existence, abuse and trauma to family and grief. However, it was difficult to read some parts of the book, particularly when it came to the girls’ POV. They were clearly viewed in the typical male gaze and had a surplus of overtly sexualised descriptions. There were also a bunch of gratuitous scenes which just made everything feel too much.

That aside, I did like how the main characters were linked together in the end. It was really clever and I didn’t see it coming at all. Even so, I feel that everything else leading up to this point could’ve been slimmed down. The story is too dense for my preference so it was a struggle for me to keep my attention on it for long periods. The denseness also made it tough to keep track of everything taking place, especially since the plot itself is already complex and there are jumps between different times.

All in all, Merging the Drift is a unique indie read. It requires quite a bit of concentration and provides a lot of food for thought, but it’s a worthwhile read nonetheless.

Thank you so much to the author for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

[Andrea Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the story begins we meet Ali and Gil. He's asking Ali about his death. He doesn't like to talk about it. Ali was murdered at three years old. They're in the Drift a place where the dead live as their adult selves. Then there's Kitty and Kerry they are a club looking for someone. They aren't stopping until they complete their mission. And what do the pair have in common? They both have to come to terms with their existence. Kitty is a teen with a stumped left hand but that doesn't mean she won't assert herself. There's friction between Kitty and her mum Kirsty. Kerry has a hard time moving on, but it's because she has the weight of the natural world on her shoulders. She must use her powers to protect Kitty from rapists and molesters. What's extraordinary is when she disrupts a serial offender's plan to violate Kitty.

This is when I started to pick up on things. There's much confidence in Kerry as Kitty's plus one. Here is when you read about her capabilities. I got a vicarious thrill. I ate it up and I wanted more on a regular basis.
I think it was a bold and worthy effort to write a story about a parallel universe. The most interesting /surprising thing is even though it's quite a journey, Bray leaves an opening for hope and light.

It's a change of pace for me. Without spoiling anything it's more science fiction than fantasy. Readers who are comfortable reading about dark and disturbing topics will like Merging the Drift.

[Miriam Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Merging the Drift is the first in a trilogy by Tom Bray and is equal parts drama, thriller and mystery. The novel alternates between four central characters – Ali, Danny, Kitty, Kerri – who are each trying to understand their own existence and place in the world.

Mystery is a key element of the story; with all four of the main characters either keeping secrets or having strange events occurring to or following them.

One word building feature I did sometimes find confusing was The Viewing. The Viewing is where members of the Drift can watch an alternative reality of how their lives could have been had they lived. Even though I knew early on that Ali had died as a young child, many of his chapters are set, at least partially, in his Viewing. Ali has such a strong belief in and feelings towards what he is seeing/experiencing that I wasn’t always sure if The Viewing world was fictional or not.

To be fair, I sensed when reading Merging the Drift that Bray intentionally enjoyed making his readers theorise about where the boundary between realities and truth lay. Although I personally would have preferred more build up to Ali entering his Viewing (to allay some of my confusion) I do appreciate that we, the reader, are invited to work out the mysteries along with the characters and therefore cannot have all the information revealed too quickly.

My favourite part of the plot was the final reveal in the last few chapters. It was satisfying to see the characters lives and the various narrative threads being woven together as the final full picture was built up and unveiled. Bray also includes a couple of excellent plot twists in his novel’s conclusion. One I managed to guess a few of chapters before the reveal but the other genuinely took me by surprise.

For the full version of my review visit Lair of Reviews

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.