The Decemites

The Echelon #1

by Ramona Finn

No one can survive outside the Dome…

Outside of the Dome, the Earth is ravaged by toxic waste and violent mutants, but the Outside also has resources necessary to keep the Dome functioning. Inside, life is split between the rich Sky and the poor Dirt. The Decemites—carefully selected children injected with nanobots and trained to survive the search for resources—have a chance for a better life. But that life comes at a steep price, and few survive long enough to enjoy it.

Myla wasn’t chosen to be a Decemite, but she’s carried a secret in her blood since birth: her parents, a forbidden Decemite match, passed along to her the same nanobots that make the chosen strong. When Myla’s foster sister, Ona, is chosen as a Decemite and goes missing on her first mission, Myla will have to brave the toxic world to find her. She’s determined to go it alone, but when Lock, the Decemite golden boy, finds her he becomes an unlikely companion in her quest. No matter how close they grow, however, she can’t tell him her secret. She’s hidden the truth about her nanobots all her life, and if Lock finds out about her, he’s sure to turn her in.

But Myla is unprepared for the truth of the Outside. No human is supposed to be able to survive, but rebel Outsiders prove everything she’s been taught is a lie. And a rebel boy, Ben, shows her a life she could have never imagined as he draws her deep into the rebel world.

To find Ona she’ll need to infiltrate the rebel Outsiders, where she learns the ugly truth about her home. Can she ever go back to her old life underground or is her only chance at freedom Outside?

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2021

About the author

Ramona Finn writes about courageous characters who fight to live in broken, dystopian worlds. She grew up sitting cross-legged on her town's library floor - completely engrossed in science fiction books. It was always the futuristic world or the universe-on-the-brink-of-extinction plot lines that drew her in, but it was the brave characters who chose to fight back that kept her turning the pages.

Her books create deep, intricate worlds with bold characters determined to fight for their survival in their dystopian worlds - with a little help from their friends. And, of course, romance is never out of the question...

Like young-adult dystopian books? Then you're going to love Ramona Finn's "The Glitch" -- set in a futuristic world where an Artificial Intelligence rules, Lib wakes up in a barren land with one thought lodged in her mind: "Find the Glitches".

Reviews

[J.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myla lives under the Dome with her family. They're part of the "Dirt" people, the ones who spend their entire lives underground working to keep the city running, especially for the "Lofties" who live in the towers above ground. But her sister Ona has been selected to be a Decemite - those who go outside the Dome into the dangerous wasteland where no one can survive in order to get raw materials needed to sustain life in the Dome. But when her sister goes missing after her first mission, Myla goes after her and finds that not all outside the Dome is as they've been told.

4.5 stars for a very interesting and engaging dystopian story. Myla and the others were very compelling characters, and I couldn't help but be drawn into the story. The only part I didn't really buy was the romance that seemingly sprang up between her and a boy on the outside. But otherwise I thought this was a very well-written (and self-published) novel. I'll be looking for the next book in the series to see how it continues.

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a minute to get into this one, but then it was hard to put down. I really liked Myla and thought she was a good character, but I don't know how I felt about her and Ben. I felt like their relationship ended before it started since she hid herself. And with his reaction, I don't know that Myla would be able to completely trust him in the future. It will be exciting to see what happens next in the series.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

[Appi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Ramona Finn for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an absolute pleasure to read and review. This is the first novel of the new Echelon Series and it’s truly made me a fan Ramona Finn’s work. A wonderful YA Dystopian novel with some interesting characters and hierarchy. The novel demonstrates great flow, world-building, and fleshed out characters. Even the care for the side characters hosts some interesting dialogue which I’m sure we’ll see more of throughout the series.

“Why don’t we see what the cards have to say?” Gran handed me a handkerchief and rocked back on her heels. I dabbed at my eyes as she shuffled the cards, the same deck she’d been using since I could remember. The gold foil had worn off their backs, but she said that just made them more magical. They gave up a little of themselves and took in a little of us, and with each generation, grew wiser.”

Myla, the main character, is an orphan who lives with her adopted family including sister Ona and her parents. The family took her in at great potential risk and sought to keep her parents' dangerous secret for many years. Myla is a child of two Decemite parents, something we are told repeatedly is thought to be impossible as these children usually died quickly after birth, if they even made it to full term. This society lived in a society broken up into factions. Myla and her family live in the underground called ‘The Dirt’, the wealthy and lucky elites live above in ‘The Sky’. Lives that couldn’t be more different, one’s who live in The Dirt are stuck in miserable lives, doing repetitive, dangerous work, underpaid, poorly treated, hopeless. Those in The Sky seeming to have a completely carefree life of luxury.

Children are tested at 10 years old through to assessed as to how they could potentially be molded into becoming Decemites, most who apply are rejected. Those deemed as worthy injected with nanobots that make them stronger, allow them to heal, and enable them to work outside of the Dome, which both The Dirt and The Sky live under. Precious resources are outside of the Dome that their society needs to survive. This story has loads of twists and turns and I’m very much looking forward to the next installment of the series.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one of The Echelon series and the main character if a young woman called Myla, who lives with Ona and her parents, who took her in and kept her secret all these years. You see, Myla is an aberration, a child born of two Decemites, something thought to be impossible, as normally any child born to a Decemite died at birth. They live in the Dirt, underground, doing all the menial and repetitive jobs that those who live in the Sky high above them would never consider doing. There is a massive discrepancy in the lives of these two factions of society, with the wealthy elites living in the Sky having fun and getting themselves drunk, and those in the Dirt having a miserable life and short ones at that due to the damp conditions and rampant illness. Each child in the Dirt is tested at the age of ten, to see if they are suitable to become Decemites, injected with nanobots to make them stronger and able to heal quickly, to then work on the Outside of the Dome everyone else lives under. They are trained for five years and at the tender age of fifteen are thought ready to collect resources from the Outside.

The Outside is a world of danger and land ravaged by radiation and toxins. There are also violent mutants and other dangers out there. The enhancements these called Decemites gain from their nanobots, allows them to survive long enough to collect resources to ensure the Dome and all the people in it can continue to survive. Ona was chosen as a Decemite and has her first mission coming up. Myla has to work a mindless job down on an assembly line, checking containers and putting stickers on dependant on whether they are safe enough to use or need more cleaning. She wanted to also be recruited as a Decemite, but failed the tests. Few Decemites live long enough to Ascend to the Sky levels, as the job is so dangerous. Myla has to hide the fact she was born with nanobots, as if she is ever uncovered, her sister Ona and her second parents would all be exiled and die in the Outside. The normal punishment for all who do anything wrong in their society or are got rid of or disappear.

When Ona goes out for her first mission, Myla waits for containers from her team to reach her conveyor belt and then runs up to greet her on her return, not something she should be doing and an area she is not authorised to be in! But Ona doesn’t return with her team and none of them will tell her what happened, keeping whatever happened a secret between the members of the team. A rule that is ingrained on them all during their training, what happens in the Outside is never talked about to others! Ona’s parents are heartbroken and her mother takes it really badly. Myla wants to do something, but her father tells her to speak to her grandmother, who does tarot readings and is her only true relative. The cards reveal that Myla has some big choices to make! She knows she can survive outside without an air tank and mask, but has never been on the surface, nor even seen the sun. She sets off to find Ona, camouflaged as one of the drone type workers who work on the outside of the Dome. She follows the buggy tracks to one of the vents, where the teams collect resources, but all she finds is a dead body of a young man, dressed very differently than anyone she knows. She then sees her first mutant, but it is someone she used to know who had disappeared, so this is where he got put!

As this boy, Jacob, attacks her, one of the Decemites called Lock, who is close to reaching his end of service time and then ascending, races up behind her and ends up having to rescue her from a large number of other mutants attracted by the noise. He has a buggy and was out alone, something he shouldn’t have been, but he was also looking for Ona. They end up being followed by a group of what Lock calls rebels, people who have lived in the Outside all of their lives! Something that the Dirt dwellers were told was impossible. Lock also knows a lot about what goes on in the Outside, and Decemites regularly trade with these people for food and other supplies. What other lies the leader of the Dome had been telling her people, is open for questions, that someone like Myla would never be given. They are taken prisoner by a young man called Ben and his group of people who were out on patrol. They are taken back to a larger group of people just like Ben, who have always lived in the Outside and survives by trading between all the different groups and mining for a metal called rigur, which they traded for gretha which helped them to breathe in the Outside!

She finds out her sister has been taken by another group and gets Ben to take her there, but finds none of them treat any Decemites well, nor they any Outsiders they come across. Even the Decemites are lied to, with some teams sent to eliminate Outsiders who fail to meet the rigur quotas, for whatever reason, and those quotas are always being raised to almost impossible levels. Ben lost his father when his mine couldn’t produce enough rigur and the Decemites left them without the agreed gretha, leaving them all to suffocate and die! The Dome’s elderly leader has new plans for mining rigur, which would bypass the Outsiders, leaving them all to die a painful death. Among all these groups of Outsiders, are families with children, who would be condemned by the actions of one person and her Decemites! Myla begins to come to realise that the life Ben and the others live, is nothing like what she has been brought up to believe in. Her only problem is that she begins to realise how brainwashed and regimentally trained Ona has become, trained to only believe in loyalty to her team and their leader, with very defined ideas about all those in the Outside and not believing anything any of them say to her, too ingrained in her training, to be able to think for herself, even when she sees the evidence of killings of innocents for herself.

Myla sacrificed her future, to save the person she has always regarded as her little sister, but has come to realise she can’t persuade her of the truth of what the Doe leader is having them do. Ona only wants to get back to her parents, by whatever means necessary. But now the secret is out about Myla and her nanobots, she will be in danger if she tries to return to the Dome. She has grown close to Ben and the others in the camp and enjoys the freedom of the Outside. She would love to stay with them, but the leaders plan will only increase and bring about all of their deaths, if she is allowed to carry on as she is. Myla believes her only choice is to return to the Dome and help from there. She will have to hope that none of the surviving Decemites recognize her, and that Lock, who now knows her secret, will keep her safe on her return. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next instalment of this series, as the fight for survival will continue and the truth about the nanobots put into the Decemites will come out. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a pretty good coming of age story. Where the main character, Myla has been raised to see the world 1 way and not to question things or to rock the boat. But when her sister goes missing Myla can not just let things be and feels a sense of duty and loyalty to bring her sister back.

So she goes searching for her sister only to find that things away from home are really different than she thought. She encounters one person, Lock, she knows from home who knows a lot more about the outside world than Myla but what he tells her doesn’t mesh with what she is seeing. Enter another boy who is supposed to be her enemy, but what Ben tells her makes sense.

So Mylas growth is in taking what she is learning from people she’s known her whole life and trying to make sense of that along with what her new friend, an enemy of her people is telling her. Needless to say she’s got a lot on her mind.

I like how Myla is portrayed as someone who thinks, and doesn’t just believe what she is told. She seeks out the truth, she also has a lot of loyalty to her past. Which makes her choices a lot harder, because they affect those she loves. Having a main teen character who thinks and doesn’t just react made this a book I really enjoyed.

[BP34 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the The Echelon Series. If you like YA Dystopian novels, this books for you. It was well written and had a good flow. The characters were well developed and the story was engaging. I read an arc via Bad Boy Update and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ramona Finn’s dystopian series “The Echelon” already promises to be one of the most interesting upcoming series in the genre. Featuring a destitute future, in which due to toxic waste, humanity has relegated to live in the Dome, under an artificial sky that protect humans from the deadly environment and the mutants ravaging the lands. Live inside the Dome is separate by class, with a huge social gap between the Sky and the Dirt, the former the rich elite that hold all the power, while the later barely are able to survive. Somewhere in between, the Decemites exist, they are children, who have been deliberate selected and trained to survive the outside after been injected with nanobots that make them somehow impervious to the toxic climate, it a dangerous procedure that many don’t survive.

Myla have, in spite of not have been chosen for the Decemite program, a natural immunity to the environment: her parents were Decemites themselves and have passed the nanobots to their offspring, a fact that should remain secret at all cost, the union is forbidden and considered an abomination. But as her foster sister goes missing in her first mission as a Decemite, Myla decides to risk exposure, go outside and find her sister, with the help of Lock, a high regarded Decemite, from which she has to hide her secret at all cost. The world outside the Dome turns out not to be what the official propaganda had make them believe, the rebel Outsiders have a very different story to tell.

The book is very well-written, fast-paced, action-packed with a good balance between action/adventure elements and world-building description. The world of Echelon is hard, dangerous, captivating and credible, that encourage the reader to reflect on events and social structures without by any means decreasing the entertainment provided by the story.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read to a new dystopian series by Ms. Finn. The main character, Myla, loves her family and would do anything for them, for they took her in and kept the secret of her blood. Myla is a strong character and is objective, unlike her sister, Ona, who was chosen to receive Decemites and has been trained in their teachings. Myla has to keep the truth about herself hidden otherwise those she loves will pay the price. When her sister goes missing, Myla discovers its every person for themselves and she is determined to find her sister, for she knows Ona is alive. Myla gets help from Lock, who is more than he appears. They get caught by the rebels and Myla gets a different perspective, where she begins to see the truth about what the Dome and its leader have been doing. Myla starts questioning the true motives of the Dome and see the destruction for herself. She begins to get closer to Ben, a rebel, but cannot share her secret for fear of rejection. Myla, Lock, and Ona will have to chose to between the life they have always known and the realities seen. It is hard to break what you have been taught and trained for. To save those she cares for Myla will have to make hard choices and sacrifices. I look forward to the next novel in the series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Her freedom was all she had. It’s all any of us have. Why would I take that from her?”

4.5 Stars - The Decemites is a great YA Dystopian novel, with so many incredible plot points and a unique take on a future where the world is virtually unlivable. From the very first chapter, I was hooked, so intrigued by what was happening and genuinely wanting to find out more about the characters.

Myla has hidden the truth about who she is her entire life, and that makes many choices difficult for her. This book makes you consider what you would do in her place, and also gives a strong perspective on choices and freedom to make those choices. The story for me was absolutely astounding, and I am really excited to see what the future holds in this world.

My biggest critique is the world building. By the end of the book, I feel like I had a decent picture in my mind of how the characters and setting appear, but many of the details come throughout the story, so there wasn’t a clear picture in my mind early on. This is absolutely forgivable based on the plot, as the story was so encapsulating, I could hardly put the book down!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am providing an honest review voluntarily.

[Ashley Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟
The Decemites by Ramona Finn
The Echelon series book l
Another great dystopian world by Ramona Finn. I haven’t been reading much dystopian but this book has dragged me right back into my love of them.
The main character Myla is fun and interesting. She’s hiding a secret that could cost her and her family their lives. When events unfold and she finds herself outside the dirt she was born into, she’s the only hope some have. I love stories with dynamic protagonists, Myla is definitely that. The story follows Myla on her hunt to find her sister, what she learns on her journey forever changes the way she sees everything she’s been told. Time after time she is confronted with lies and she has to overcome them and find the truth for herself. A story where a girl is free to find her own way and make her own choices.
I found this story fast paced and addicting. The world was described so vividly at times I found my self there smelling sulfer and feeling the heat on my skin. Ramona Finns writing is exceptional and I will definitely be back for more when book 2 is released.

[Hailey Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Myla’s home was supposed to be the sole haven on a toxic, mutant-ridden Earth - Until she ran away from the domed city of Echelon to rescue her sister. She never imagined there could be humans living in the Outside. Now that Echelon is proven to be the real danger, Myla and the Outsiders must fight.
•
This book started off with a bang. It felt like a good combination of The Hunger Games, The 100, and Divergent, but fell a little flat. I feel like this book could have been really really good, had the author not been pushing for it to be part of a series. Despite that, I did enjoy reading it, and I know some of my dystopian loving students would enjoy reading it too. I would definitely read the next book in the series because I want to see the Dome being opened up to everyone again. Most importantly, I want to see Lazard go down. Thank you to NetGalley, Ramona Finn, and Relay Publishing for the e-ARC in return for an honest review.
•
Favorite Quote:
“What use is freedom if we don’t look out for each other?”

[Paranormal Kiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars - The Decimates is the first book in a young adult dystopian series. I liked the main character Myla. She was born from two Decimate parents and was raised by her aunt and uncle. She has hidden the fact that she was born with nanobots, unlike the Decimates who are chosen as children and injected with nanobots.

When Myla's sister Ona, a Decimate, goes missing Myla herself goes after her. It's her first trip from the "dirt", the underground, to the outside. It's there she learns truths about the colony that she grew up in and truths about what goes on outside the domes.

The story was an interesting one that held my attention. I liked most of the characters but I was frustrated by Ona's inability to see the facts that were right in front of her. Lock struggled with that as well.

The Decimites ends with more story to be told. I would recommend The Decimites to fans of young adult dystopian books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denice Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different view of life after.......after Earth's inhabitants have finally done so much damage that life outside a protective "dome" is considered impossible. After the few people left have divided the remaining living spaces and broken civilization into levels based on the haves and have nots.
The first book in the series is responsible for the introduction of the principal characters and the surrounding community/ background. Ramona Finn has done a great job of setting up a world that none of us would like to live in and populated it with people that we'd like to see get ahead in their lives. THE DECEMITES may not be the most fascinating dystopian fiction I have read, but it's pretty good. Good enough I'll read the next one as soon as it comes out.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt as though this was similar to other books I had read - the rich and poor were divided harshly into different categories, people were stuck inside a certain area for their so-called safety, and it was near impossible to rise above their station or learn the truth. Then, of course one person finally risks it all and does so.
There are differences to the other books I've read of course, but with how many I've read, I was hoping for something unusual and surprising, at least more so than this. It was fairly well written so I was happy to see that.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing beginning to a new series.

I've never read a book by Ramona Flynn before and this one hooked me from the first chapter and I read it in one sitting.

The action is non stop in this book and I love the main character Myla. She is strong views on what's right and what's wrong. Including when to keep or spill a secret that could affect the lives of everyone around her.

The writing style of this book was easy to follow and the plot was fantastic.

I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series. A little slow at the start but it soon picks up the pace.
This dystopian world is well thought out. It is a hopeless existence for most as they live a life of servitude and drudgery yet things are not as their leader says. Decemites have a hidden secret, as does one slightly built teenage girl.
I'm totally looking forward to finding out what happens in Book 2
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Myra, the main character, has a hero complex. She is willing to disregard how her actions will affect anyone else. And if someone does not want to be a hero like her, she begs and pleads, not caring that they might die helping her. She does not care that their death would cause all of their family to starve.

Myra relies on luck to get her out of every dangerous situation. She has no training. Everything just works out. I felt that she had no empathy for anyone who did not agree with her. She was very hard for me to like.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world building is unique.

Class systems are popular among this genre, but I felt like this took it even further with the Decemites. I went with 4 stars for two reasons. First I feel like we need more background on why things are they way they are, but maybe that’s part of the mystery? Second it was a little too insta love with too little signs of attraction. You know, the noticing that their eyes are so beautiful or admiring their spunk or wit or whatever. There was nothing; just going along like friend zone then, wham kissing.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping tale of a dystopian society. A page turner, with twists and turns in each chapter, it will make young (and not so young) readers question how they would respond to difficult moral dilemmas. Loyalty to country or doing what’s ethically right? Abandoning relative comfort and privilege in a warped society, or seeking happiness in a poor, but free community? A delightful read in what promises to be a thought-provoking series.

[Shannon Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love YA dystopian stories and this one is plenty different from others I have read. I thought the main character, Myla, had great depth and seemed to be wrestling with choice, which was so new to her. I think this makes a great first book in a series. I want to know more about the world, about the characters, and about the secrets that run throughout the story. I can't wait to read more!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rukshy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ramona Finn is a master of dystopian fiction as she depicts a world ravaged by toxic waste. The main character Myla has a hidden past and bloodlines that she needs to keep hidden in order to keep her adopted family safe. Myla is highly likeable - strong and sacrificial at times. The story is well written and well plotted. I highly recommend this and to be honest any tale written by Ramona Finn.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a different story! I really enjoyed the way this world was built and all the different levels of characters. It has a dystopian feel but it is so much more. It is full of action. I loved that! There is always something happening to keep this a fast paced novel. This story would be great for teens as the characters are all that age.

I did listen to this on audio. Amanda Davidson is the narrator. She does a good job and is easy to listen to.

I look forward to seeing what happens next.

[Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did. The beginning felt slow. I probably wouldn't have given it 3 stars if it kept that pace but I liked how the last half of the story came together. I did feel like the author could have explained some of the elements of the world a little better. Like...I still have no idea what gretha is??? And how did earth become like this???

Overall not bad but just missing some components that could have elevated it a little bit more.

[Tina Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. The characters are really great and interesting. The intensity is very good and the story really pulls you into it. The end leaves room for the story to continue but not in a frustrating unfulfilled way. I would recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caroline McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual Ramona once again pulls me into the pages of the book. I was pulled into the pages from the very first page. She is an amazing author and I am waiting for book 2 of this series. Great story telling. I have enjoyed all her
books and this one certainly will not disappoint.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Decemites by Ramona Finn is an awesome story that I have loved reading. This is book number one in this awesome start to a brand new series that I am so hooked on and can not wait to read the rest. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about YA Dystopian novel.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lexy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original idea, pretty good

I came into this with low expectations, but it was surprisingly good. I’m shocked it doesn’t have more reviews. I didn’t really have a problem with the female lead. I adored most of the characters. The world building is good so far, and I’m hoping for more of it in the next book. Give this book a try!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, it took me a minute to get into this book. Ramona Finn writes amazing dystopian YA books, but I didn't love the way this one began so I was a bit nervous about how this one would be. Fortunately, it picked up fast and I ended up loving it! I love the characters, the personalities, the plot, everything! I'm so excited to find out what happens next!

[LauraAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well well okay then

Well hello book. This was a lovely surprise. Great story. Wonderful characters. The story moved along at a perfect pace. I would have like just a wee bit more back story on how the world came to be the way it is but that’s okay.
Can’t wait to see what happens here.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is one beginning to a new series. A futuristic story that has people having a difficult time of it. Danger all around and no one knows how to deal with it. Don’t miss out once it’s released.