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Reigns Of Utopia: War Of Evolution - I
When chaos reduces your world to rubble, how do you find zen?
Zella Rune, finds herself in a world split down the middle by forced evolution. The CULT in their madness to leave behind Human weaknesses merged Human genomes with animals, giving birth to the anthromorphs. This "superior" species finds itself on the front lines of a battle against humanity, a battle of dominance over earth.
But what happens when the marginalised begin to marginalise? As Zella treads a dangerous tightrope between the anthromorphs and the humans, she must learn to make peace with her true identity. So when tensions between the two species hit an all-time high. Zella must learn how to trust and begin to pick up the pieces that will help her forge her own Utopia.
Zella Rune, finds herself in a world split down the middle by forced evolution. The CULT in their madness to leave behind Human weaknesses merged Human genomes with animals, giving birth to the anthromorphs. This "superior" species finds itself on the front lines of a battle against humanity, a battle of dominance over earth.
But what happens when the marginalised begin to marginalise? As Zella treads a dangerous tightrope between the anthromorphs and the humans, she must learn to make peace with her true identity. So when tensions between the two species hit an all-time high. Zella must learn how to trust and begin to pick up the pieces that will help her forge her own Utopia.
424 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 25, 2021
3 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
September 8, 2023
"Reigns of Utopia" by Elsie Swain is a captivating journey through a world fractured by profound changes. What truly inspired me was the book's exploration of identity and the quest for belonging. Zella Rune's struggle to find her place in a society divided between humans and anthromorphs resonated deeply with me, prompting reflection on our own search for self-discovery amidst societal shifts.
Numerous aspects of the story are highly relatable, particularly the depiction of marginalized groups battling discrimination and the fluidity of power dynamics. These elements mirror the complexities of our own world.
Elsie Swain's writing style is both engaging and immersive, seamlessly blending science fiction with incisive social commentary. The book's setting is a thrilling and emotionally charged backdrop.
"Reigns of Utopia" firmly belongs to the dystopian science fiction genre, enriched with thought-provoking social commentary. It's a narrative about identity, trust, and the pursuit of a brighter future.
My expectations for this book were surpassed. It provided a profound and relevant reading experience, delving deeply into societal issues and the intricate dynamics between humans and anthromorphs. For fans of science fiction with a socially relevant edge, this book is a must-read.
Numerous aspects of the story are highly relatable, particularly the depiction of marginalized groups battling discrimination and the fluidity of power dynamics. These elements mirror the complexities of our own world.
Elsie Swain's writing style is both engaging and immersive, seamlessly blending science fiction with incisive social commentary. The book's setting is a thrilling and emotionally charged backdrop.
"Reigns of Utopia" firmly belongs to the dystopian science fiction genre, enriched with thought-provoking social commentary. It's a narrative about identity, trust, and the pursuit of a brighter future.
My expectations for this book were surpassed. It provided a profound and relevant reading experience, delving deeply into societal issues and the intricate dynamics between humans and anthromorphs. For fans of science fiction with a socially relevant edge, this book is a must-read.
July 1, 2022
Thank you to the author for providing an ebook and physical book in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.
This was fun!
Reigns of Utopia is an urban fantasy where humans and human-animal hybrids, called anthromorphs inhabit Earth. Zella is part of a governmental like agency that is responsible for training and policing anthromorphs. The policy of separate but equal has already failed and anthromorphs want freedom.
I read this one super fast and so much stuff happens, that I have forgotten many events. My memory is basically trash at this point. However, the way this world was set up was so fascinating. There was definitely some spy shit happening in Zella's unit and I want to know more about it. I also want to know more about the anthromorph's training. There is a dodgeball training game which was super fun, but I want more.
I loved how queerness was built into anthromorph society. It was so casual and trans affirming and like more of this in all my fantasy worlds yes please!! The ending did feel a bit choppy and like I had missed some things, but overall I enjoyed this story and I'm not sure if there's going to be more in this series, but I'd read the next one!
Rep: Biracial Siam/white bisexual trans female MC, queer Chinese male side character, demisexual cis male side character, bisexual cis female side character with psychosis and insomnia, various queer side characters.
CWs: Violence, injury/injury detail, death, murder, war themes, kidnapping, torture, body horror, discrimination against anthromorphs.
This was fun!
Reigns of Utopia is an urban fantasy where humans and human-animal hybrids, called anthromorphs inhabit Earth. Zella is part of a governmental like agency that is responsible for training and policing anthromorphs. The policy of separate but equal has already failed and anthromorphs want freedom.
I read this one super fast and so much stuff happens, that I have forgotten many events. My memory is basically trash at this point. However, the way this world was set up was so fascinating. There was definitely some spy shit happening in Zella's unit and I want to know more about it. I also want to know more about the anthromorph's training. There is a dodgeball training game which was super fun, but I want more.
I loved how queerness was built into anthromorph society. It was so casual and trans affirming and like more of this in all my fantasy worlds yes please!! The ending did feel a bit choppy and like I had missed some things, but overall I enjoyed this story and I'm not sure if there's going to be more in this series, but I'd read the next one!
Rep: Biracial Siam/white bisexual trans female MC, queer Chinese male side character, demisexual cis male side character, bisexual cis female side character with psychosis and insomnia, various queer side characters.
CWs: Violence, injury/injury detail, death, murder, war themes, kidnapping, torture, body horror, discrimination against anthromorphs.
November 28, 2021
This is a sci fi book and I enjoyed this book so much more than I was expecting it to. This story got me hooked and this book is action packed and fast paced. This book really felt like a sci fi movie when I was reading it.
I really appreciate the author for thinking about such a unique concept where there are anthromorphs in the world. Anthromorphs are species that are man made which have human DNA along with the DNA of animals. The world building was well done too.
I also liked the protagonist of Zella, she is such a badass. The other characters were interesting and multifaceted as well. Zella and Castiel went through so much in life and I ended up caring so much for them.
Overall I really enjoyed my time reading this book and would definitely recommend it, especially if you are a sci fi fan!
I really appreciate the author for thinking about such a unique concept where there are anthromorphs in the world. Anthromorphs are species that are man made which have human DNA along with the DNA of animals. The world building was well done too.
I also liked the protagonist of Zella, she is such a badass. The other characters were interesting and multifaceted as well. Zella and Castiel went through so much in life and I ended up caring so much for them.
Overall I really enjoyed my time reading this book and would definitely recommend it, especially if you are a sci fi fan!
February 28, 2022
4.5
The year is 2155. The Civilisation of Utopian Lidska by Tost, commonly known as CULT in their madness to leave behind the human weaknesses has merged human genome with animals giving birth to Anthromorph, a highly superior species with hightened senses, power and vigour. But it's far more dangerous to live in a place shared with the dreaded humans. Zella Rune finds herself in the midst of the battle for dominance. It's now upto her to thrive and save the existence of her kind. But things are not as simple as it looks, there's far more secrets and conspiracies lurking inside the facility. She must learn to make peace with her true identity and help regain the balance within the species to coexist.
Reigns of Utopia is the first book to the series War of Evolution. This is a wonderfully crafted YA Sci-fi fantasy book to take a deep dive into and get lost into the realms of a futuristic possibility. The mere mention of recombinant genome and a whole new species just makes it much more believable approach to a sci-fi fantasy. Along with a wonderful concept and nice world building this ya fantasy book comes with a very promising storyline. Although it was hard to get into the story at first, once you get into the story it's never putting down the book for one second. Definitely a page turner.
Coming to the characters, I love the characters mainly for two reasons, each character has myriad shades of emotions portrayed by sudden emotional outbursts, to top it they have very dynamic presence throughout the book. Got to see excellent character sketches. Writing style is good, gives very immersive and absorbing experience to the reading. Plots have a good flow inbetween. Some situations did felt a bit streched but that can be waived as little slack. Enjoyed this book, really looking forward to read the next part.
The year is 2155. The Civilisation of Utopian Lidska by Tost, commonly known as CULT in their madness to leave behind the human weaknesses has merged human genome with animals giving birth to Anthromorph, a highly superior species with hightened senses, power and vigour. But it's far more dangerous to live in a place shared with the dreaded humans. Zella Rune finds herself in the midst of the battle for dominance. It's now upto her to thrive and save the existence of her kind. But things are not as simple as it looks, there's far more secrets and conspiracies lurking inside the facility. She must learn to make peace with her true identity and help regain the balance within the species to coexist.
Reigns of Utopia is the first book to the series War of Evolution. This is a wonderfully crafted YA Sci-fi fantasy book to take a deep dive into and get lost into the realms of a futuristic possibility. The mere mention of recombinant genome and a whole new species just makes it much more believable approach to a sci-fi fantasy. Along with a wonderful concept and nice world building this ya fantasy book comes with a very promising storyline. Although it was hard to get into the story at first, once you get into the story it's never putting down the book for one second. Definitely a page turner.
Coming to the characters, I love the characters mainly for two reasons, each character has myriad shades of emotions portrayed by sudden emotional outbursts, to top it they have very dynamic presence throughout the book. Got to see excellent character sketches. Writing style is good, gives very immersive and absorbing experience to the reading. Plots have a good flow inbetween. Some situations did felt a bit streched but that can be waived as little slack. Enjoyed this book, really looking forward to read the next part.
June 9, 2022
This Pride Month, I bring you a fantastic Sci-fi book overflowing with representation - YAY!
You know when you're reading a book, and you're just amazed at how the author came up with this? That's how I felt reading Reins of Utopia. WOW, I could never.
Elsie creates a setting that mixes sci-fi and dystopian fiction with phenomenal worldbuilding. Oh, how I love worldbuilding!
In this book, there is so much to love: diversity, representation, suspense, mystery, the exploration of the meaning of life (What makes life worth living and remembering), and to top it all off, a slow-burn romance that evolves from enemies-to-friends-to-lovers.
This book will keep you engaged, it will be thought-provoking, and it has impressive character development.
Zella, the main character, is MY GURL! It would be my honor to fight for her, with her, I would do anything for her.
This book took me back to my teens when I was discovering my love for sci-fi for the first time, I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi or even beginners that want to explore the genre, you won't be disappointed.
Also, I had a blast annotating this book.
I am eternally grateful to Elsie Swain for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review, and I am thrilled to have been introduced to her work.
You know when you're reading a book, and you're just amazed at how the author came up with this? That's how I felt reading Reins of Utopia. WOW, I could never.
Elsie creates a setting that mixes sci-fi and dystopian fiction with phenomenal worldbuilding. Oh, how I love worldbuilding!
In this book, there is so much to love: diversity, representation, suspense, mystery, the exploration of the meaning of life (What makes life worth living and remembering), and to top it all off, a slow-burn romance that evolves from enemies-to-friends-to-lovers.
This book will keep you engaged, it will be thought-provoking, and it has impressive character development.
Zella, the main character, is MY GURL! It would be my honor to fight for her, with her, I would do anything for her.
This book took me back to my teens when I was discovering my love for sci-fi for the first time, I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi or even beginners that want to explore the genre, you won't be disappointed.
Also, I had a blast annotating this book.
I am eternally grateful to Elsie Swain for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review, and I am thrilled to have been introduced to her work.
February 2, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Where do I even start 😭 this book altered my brain chemistry. It's a dystopian sci-fi, my first ever sci-fi and oh my god, I think I need to explore this genre more.
I'll come to the story later but let me just rave about the characters. Our main character, Zella Rune, she's a baddie through and through. We all wanted to become cool with superpowers in our childhood right? Well Zella is that kind of a character, so strong, so cool and so protective for her loved ones, she has my heart. And Castiel? Omg my poor boy, I love him😭 he's so sweet and caring. The side characters were stealing the limelight every here and there. All the character are hella smart and strong.
Now lemme give you a short introduction to the story. So the story takes place in future, year 2155, when through random mutation and evolution, a new species of humans emerged, named Anthromorphs. They are basically results of animal and human genes' mutation. So in that world, humans are on the verge of extinction.
Zella resides in a facility where these anthromorphs are being trained and sent to missions to execute rogue antromorphs who became wild and beastly during experiment and now are creating havoc. Zella is hiding a secret of her being Bianthromorph, basically someone who has two animal genes, because anthromorphs take her kind as a threat.
Soon enters Castiel who's also a bianthromorph and with whome Zella shares a traumatic past. He enters Zella's team and she soon finds herself a dilemma regarding him. Gradually and eventually they come closer, my fav part about the book🙈💗 their little romance blooms and thus starts the slow burn. I love them!! They are the cutest couple, makes me wanna protect them sm!😤✨️
Zella and Castiel soon finds some secrets about the CULT (the organisation of anthromorphs) and together they begin to save themselves along with their loved ones from the cunning hands of the CULT. Their journey is packed with actions.
Then the plot twist 😶 and the ending, I almost had a heart attack reading the ending but thank god 😭 can't wait for the next book because I'm already missing them.
Where do I even start 😭 this book altered my brain chemistry. It's a dystopian sci-fi, my first ever sci-fi and oh my god, I think I need to explore this genre more.
I'll come to the story later but let me just rave about the characters. Our main character, Zella Rune, she's a baddie through and through. We all wanted to become cool with superpowers in our childhood right? Well Zella is that kind of a character, so strong, so cool and so protective for her loved ones, she has my heart. And Castiel? Omg my poor boy, I love him😭 he's so sweet and caring. The side characters were stealing the limelight every here and there. All the character are hella smart and strong.
Now lemme give you a short introduction to the story. So the story takes place in future, year 2155, when through random mutation and evolution, a new species of humans emerged, named Anthromorphs. They are basically results of animal and human genes' mutation. So in that world, humans are on the verge of extinction.
Zella resides in a facility where these anthromorphs are being trained and sent to missions to execute rogue antromorphs who became wild and beastly during experiment and now are creating havoc. Zella is hiding a secret of her being Bianthromorph, basically someone who has two animal genes, because anthromorphs take her kind as a threat.
Soon enters Castiel who's also a bianthromorph and with whome Zella shares a traumatic past. He enters Zella's team and she soon finds herself a dilemma regarding him. Gradually and eventually they come closer, my fav part about the book🙈💗 their little romance blooms and thus starts the slow burn. I love them!! They are the cutest couple, makes me wanna protect them sm!😤✨️
Zella and Castiel soon finds some secrets about the CULT (the organisation of anthromorphs) and together they begin to save themselves along with their loved ones from the cunning hands of the CULT. Their journey is packed with actions.
Then the plot twist 😶 and the ending, I almost had a heart attack reading the ending but thank god 😭 can't wait for the next book because I'm already missing them.
November 25, 2021
Thanks to Pridebooktours and Elsie Swain for making this book available to me.
A couple things I really enjoyed;
World building (Sci-Fi): you could tell that a lot of thought was put into situations and the concept of anthromorphs (I dare say a lot of research). Research is something that a lot of Science Fiction tend to lack but this book did it quite well. In a dystopian world similar to that of 1984, where power, influence and social status puts you in favourable position in natural selection.
Character development: woah! From the main character Rune to Castiel to Chancellor Cullians, they were all well structured and their continued growth through out the book was just amazing.
The CULT, the convention statements, the documents and convention resolutions were so well thought out. The founding fathers or members sounded so clever and you could feel the presence of the past hanging over the whole book. No one and no where is safe. More interesting in this regard is how well the author blends facts with fiction
Favourite quote "... we are blindfolding ourselves from the illusion that we are the predators of preset judgement that are destroying Homo Sapiens"
A couple things I really enjoyed;
World building (Sci-Fi): you could tell that a lot of thought was put into situations and the concept of anthromorphs (I dare say a lot of research). Research is something that a lot of Science Fiction tend to lack but this book did it quite well. In a dystopian world similar to that of 1984, where power, influence and social status puts you in favourable position in natural selection.
Character development: woah! From the main character Rune to Castiel to Chancellor Cullians, they were all well structured and their continued growth through out the book was just amazing.
The CULT, the convention statements, the documents and convention resolutions were so well thought out. The founding fathers or members sounded so clever and you could feel the presence of the past hanging over the whole book. No one and no where is safe. More interesting in this regard is how well the author blends facts with fiction
Favourite quote "... we are blindfolding ourselves from the illusion that we are the predators of preset judgement that are destroying Homo Sapiens"
February 12, 2022
Reigns of Utopia has been a wild ride from beginning to end. I don’t think I’ve read anything like it, but it is definitely reminiscent of some of my fave Sci-Fi books and felt as if Disney’s Zootopia, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, and Renegades by Marissa Meyer had a baby.
In this world, humans have been spliced with animal DNA. They are the Anthromorphs. All at once, they’re both here to save humans and also at war. The MC, Zella Rune was a Bianthromorph. She’s been combined with more than one animal’s DNA and is such a strong character that I loved reading about.
I looooooooved the world building in ROU!! I haven’t read a book quite like this one. I love picking up Indie books and being completely surprised by how great they are.
Thank You to Elsie Swain for sending me a copy of the book in return for my honest review.
In this world, humans have been spliced with animal DNA. They are the Anthromorphs. All at once, they’re both here to save humans and also at war. The MC, Zella Rune was a Bianthromorph. She’s been combined with more than one animal’s DNA and is such a strong character that I loved reading about.
I looooooooved the world building in ROU!! I haven’t read a book quite like this one. I love picking up Indie books and being completely surprised by how great they are.
Thank You to Elsie Swain for sending me a copy of the book in return for my honest review.
November 28, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
In a dystopian future, select humans have been forcibly evolved through gene splicing by a group called CULT to remove human’s inherent weaknesses. CULT incorporated animal DNA into their test subjects’ genomes which resulted in the creation of anthromorphs. However, some ended up as hybrids who were animal in appearance and had violent tendencies while some ended up with two animal traits called bianthromorphs. The fallout generated distrust between the anthromorphs and humans and conflict ensued for dominance and control of Earth.
Zella Rune is a bianthromorph but keeps this secret from everyone around her because even among other anthromorphs her dual abilities are seen as a threat. She lives in a facility that trains anthromorphs to control their abilities to protect all mankind by hunting down rogue anthromorphs and tracking the whereabouts of hybrids.
As tensions among the different human species escalate, clashes between the warring sides mount. Zella meets a fellow bianthromorph that turns her world upside down by revealing secret plots that run deep and makes her question whether she is fighting on the right side. Zella must navigate the traitorous world she lives in where each human faction will stop at nothing to exert their will over others and eradicate their enemies.
🌟🌟🌟🌟. An interesting story that explored the ‘what ifs’ of human experimentation and the devastating consequences of scientific advancement when its motivations are purely selfish. The author explains the science behind the plot and the anthromorphs' creation thoroughly while maintaining a gripping narrative that added depth to the story. Zella was a compelling character who was strong, forthright and strived to do the right thing. I liked how gender was explored among the anthromorphs - it wasn't inert and affixed at birth but could evolve allowing individuals to self-identify. Overall, an intriguing, action-filled and thought-provoking fantasy novel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
In a dystopian future, select humans have been forcibly evolved through gene splicing by a group called CULT to remove human’s inherent weaknesses. CULT incorporated animal DNA into their test subjects’ genomes which resulted in the creation of anthromorphs. However, some ended up as hybrids who were animal in appearance and had violent tendencies while some ended up with two animal traits called bianthromorphs. The fallout generated distrust between the anthromorphs and humans and conflict ensued for dominance and control of Earth.
Zella Rune is a bianthromorph but keeps this secret from everyone around her because even among other anthromorphs her dual abilities are seen as a threat. She lives in a facility that trains anthromorphs to control their abilities to protect all mankind by hunting down rogue anthromorphs and tracking the whereabouts of hybrids.
As tensions among the different human species escalate, clashes between the warring sides mount. Zella meets a fellow bianthromorph that turns her world upside down by revealing secret plots that run deep and makes her question whether she is fighting on the right side. Zella must navigate the traitorous world she lives in where each human faction will stop at nothing to exert their will over others and eradicate their enemies.
🌟🌟🌟🌟. An interesting story that explored the ‘what ifs’ of human experimentation and the devastating consequences of scientific advancement when its motivations are purely selfish. The author explains the science behind the plot and the anthromorphs' creation thoroughly while maintaining a gripping narrative that added depth to the story. Zella was a compelling character who was strong, forthright and strived to do the right thing. I liked how gender was explored among the anthromorphs - it wasn't inert and affixed at birth but could evolve allowing individuals to self-identify. Overall, an intriguing, action-filled and thought-provoking fantasy novel.
January 9, 2022
Reigns of Utopia teaches you to find solace even when the world around seems to crumble. It’s placed within the borders of the dystopian UN-ECA and follows Zella and her friends in their quest to achieve freedom. The author carefully constructed the entire plot to make sure that at no point do you feel you know what’s going to unfold.
The general premise is that the world faces turmoil after a new species, Homo Anthromorphisis, challenges humanity for the top spot on the food chain. With humanity rapidly advancing and shunning Anthromorphs, who are humans with the genes of various animals fused with their DNA, Zella finds herself on earth’s most dilapidated area; Europe.
Through careful dialogue and extensive world-building, Swain guides you perfectly as you take the plunge into this world of 2154. Zella is an independent, strong character with unparalleled ambition and just enough flaws to remind you she’s human. She plays the roles forced upon her with the skill of an A-List actor but can make sure that she gets what she wants and undermine her controllers with a careful veil and extreme precision. On the other hand, Castiel perfectly compliments her while holding his own. His story is definitely one that will move you, and I don’t want to say more out of fear of spoiling the read.
All in all, the book leaves you itching for the next instalment in the series and with your eyes opened to the nuances in the racism and discrimination you see in everyday society. A must-read, I would highly recommend it!
The general premise is that the world faces turmoil after a new species, Homo Anthromorphisis, challenges humanity for the top spot on the food chain. With humanity rapidly advancing and shunning Anthromorphs, who are humans with the genes of various animals fused with their DNA, Zella finds herself on earth’s most dilapidated area; Europe.
Through careful dialogue and extensive world-building, Swain guides you perfectly as you take the plunge into this world of 2154. Zella is an independent, strong character with unparalleled ambition and just enough flaws to remind you she’s human. She plays the roles forced upon her with the skill of an A-List actor but can make sure that she gets what she wants and undermine her controllers with a careful veil and extreme precision. On the other hand, Castiel perfectly compliments her while holding his own. His story is definitely one that will move you, and I don’t want to say more out of fear of spoiling the read.
All in all, the book leaves you itching for the next instalment in the series and with your eyes opened to the nuances in the racism and discrimination you see in everyday society. A must-read, I would highly recommend it!
January 9, 2022
Reigns of Utopia teaches you to find solace even when the world around seems to crumble. It’s placed within the borders of the dystopian UN-ECA and follows Zella and her friends in their quest to achieve freedom. The author carefully constructed the entire plot to make sure that at no point do you feel you know what’s going to unfold.
The general premise is that the world faces turmoil after a new species, Homo Anthromorphisis, challenges humanity for the top spot on the food chain. With humanity rapidly advancing and shunning Anthromorphs, who are humans with the genes of various animals fused with their DNA, Zella finds herself on earth’s most dilapidated area; Europe.
Through careful dialogue and extensive world-building, Swain guides you perfectly as you take the plunge into this world of 2154. Zella is an independent, strong character with unparalleled ambition and just enough flaws to remind you she’s human. She plays the roles forced upon her with the skill of an A-List actor but can make sure that she gets what she wants and undermine her controllers with a careful veil and extreme precision. On the other hand, Castiel perfectly compliments her while holding his own. His story is definitely one that will move you, and I don’t want to say more out of fear of spoiling the read.
All in all, the book leaves you itching for the next instalment in the series and with your eyes opened to the nuances in the racism and discrimination you see in everyday society. A must-read, I would highly recommend it!
The general premise is that the world faces turmoil after a new species, Homo Anthromorphisis, challenges humanity for the top spot on the food chain. With humanity rapidly advancing and shunning Anthromorphs, who are humans with the genes of various animals fused with their DNA, Zella finds herself on earth’s most dilapidated area; Europe.
Through careful dialogue and extensive world-building, Swain guides you perfectly as you take the plunge into this world of 2154. Zella is an independent, strong character with unparalleled ambition and just enough flaws to remind you she’s human. She plays the roles forced upon her with the skill of an A-List actor but can make sure that she gets what she wants and undermine her controllers with a careful veil and extreme precision. On the other hand, Castiel perfectly compliments her while holding his own. His story is definitely one that will move you, and I don’t want to say more out of fear of spoiling the read.
All in all, the book leaves you itching for the next instalment in the series and with your eyes opened to the nuances in the racism and discrimination you see in everyday society. A must-read, I would highly recommend it!
November 19, 2021
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW YA Scifi recommendation?? Look no further cus I gotchu .. I've read one other book by this author and adored it so My expectations for this book were pretty high and it surpassed all of them😗👍🏻😂 when I read the blurb I knew I was gonna love it. This book is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and I didn't expect anything less from @elsie.iyle. Their mind, their imagination, The way they write🙌🏻 my new favorite author.
Had me hooked from the very first page and I read it in one sitting 😳 This book was a reminder that I really need to start reading more Scifi. The concept of this book is very different and interesting. I've never read about anthromorphs before and it was honestly so so entertaining. I did a bit more research about them while reading the book because I was so curious.
The protagonist Zella is such a confident, powerful, bad ass character. I really loved how she handled difficult situations with such boldness AHH my fave.
A fast paced action packed Sci fi read with incredible world building and plot 😍👌🏼
Had me hooked from the very first page and I read it in one sitting 😳 This book was a reminder that I really need to start reading more Scifi. The concept of this book is very different and interesting. I've never read about anthromorphs before and it was honestly so so entertaining. I did a bit more research about them while reading the book because I was so curious.
The protagonist Zella is such a confident, powerful, bad ass character. I really loved how she handled difficult situations with such boldness AHH my fave.
A fast paced action packed Sci fi read with incredible world building and plot 😍👌🏼
November 27, 2021
If you're looking for a sci-fi book that's worth reading, this is it! The world-building and character development was brilliant. This is one of the few sci-fi books that I didn't struggle with on the world-building, actually. You could tell that the author put a lot of thought in this book, which is amazing. It was so easy to lose myself in this book. Overall, this was a great read! I really enjoyed the author's writing style. I can't wait to read the other book I have by her!
Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book via the author and Pride Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book via the author and Pride Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2021
BOOK TOUR
Thank you so much @pridebooktours for sending across a copy and having me on this tour!
BOOK REVIEW
“Reigns of Utopia” by Elsie Swain is a science-fiction novel about a future era, where "anthomorphs" are in war with humans.
The book has really nailed the element of adventure. The writing style was beautiful and kept the readers engaged. The author has a magnificent way of bringing their characters to life. The protagonist, Zella, is powerful and crafty and also quite lovable.
The author's vision is one to applaud.
Thank you so much @pridebooktours for sending across a copy and having me on this tour!
BOOK REVIEW
“Reigns of Utopia” by Elsie Swain is a science-fiction novel about a future era, where "anthomorphs" are in war with humans.
The book has really nailed the element of adventure. The writing style was beautiful and kept the readers engaged. The author has a magnificent way of bringing their characters to life. The protagonist, Zella, is powerful and crafty and also quite lovable.
The author's vision is one to applaud.
November 24, 2021
I haven’t read a lot of sci-fi, but this one I can tell from the first page that I’m going to love it. This is such a well written book with great world building and character development. I can see that the author did a lot of research in writing this book with unique concept. There are supernatural power, witty banter, and moral values are taught through this book. Also it’s fast paced and I love the maps included. Overall I highly recommend this one❤️
March 13, 2022
Huge thank you to Elsie Swain for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review!
TW: Graphic violence, death, mentions of torture, anxiety.
"The existence of harmony could only exist in Utopia, and a Utopian society could only be created by eliminating humans."
I would like to preface by saying that I am a huge fan of Elsie's writing style. This is the second book of hers that I've read, and I am always in awe of the maturity in her writing. Sure, it can be heavy for some people, but I enjoy the depth and the thought-provoking prose that never fails to get me annotating. Some of the best quotes that I've ever read have come from her works; her ability to tie the entire story back to the title is something I will never tire of. And when I found out that Elsie wrote this literary masterpiece in 20 DAYS? Calling this an impressive feat is an understatement.
Reigns of Utopia has everything that I love - a dystopian world where anthromorphs are at war with bianthromorphs, an exploration of gender and sexuality, smashing archaic laws, and the downfall of a corrupt system. Power play and grey morality are also some of my favourite things to read about, and this book did it so well.
Let me start with my favourite part of the book, the main characters. Zella Rune is the fierce bisexual protagonist, as strong and steady as a mountain, always levelheaded and ready to finish things as efficiently as possible. She is a transgender half-Siamese woman who knows what she wants and will do anything to get it (except in the love life department, in which she plays an infuriating yet entertaining game of denial), and she is the one that everyone relies on to make sure nothing goes sideways. I thought that I would love her the most, until Castiel Sylvain showed up.
Castiel, the Brazilian demisexual bianthromorph who is the only one who can keep up with Zella. He is the quintessential broody badboy, but somewhere along the lines, he turns into the group's anchor. Zella and Castiel are the dream team, and their banter only made things better. Castiel is often the voice of reason, giving logical opinions to both counter and fuel Zella's fire. He is so protective of the ever-tough Zella, which was a light amidst the dark themes of this book. Likewise, Zella's hardened armour cracks around Castiel, and she surprises herself with the lengths she would go for him. Their tension and character development was undeniably one of the best parts of the book for me.
We also have the fun supporting characters like Charm, the Allyson twins and Maia, who each had their own significant contribution to the book. I specifically love how Caledon's friendship with Zella turned into something stronger - Caledon took on an older brother role, and watching the indomitable Zella have someone to support her and give her advice made my heart very happy. It goes to show that no matter how strong a person is, they are not indestructible.
The worldbuilding did get a bit heavy at times, but once I got through the initial comprehension phase, everything fell into place so well. I love how the epic world was designed and how the ruthless power system was set up. The fight scenes were also visceral, emotive, and I learnt something knew about each character through each fight. The tone of the book felt very nostalgic, and I found myself wishing I could watch this as a movie.
Though I will not spoil anything, I will say... Elsie, I will not forgive you for that ending.
I leave you with one of the many intriguing quotes from this book:
"That beanstalk never feels full."
No, I'm kidding. There is some humour in this book, in case you were wondering otherwise. THIS is the actual quote I want to share.
"Don't we all keep running away from life and live in fear until we stop trying so hard to take the easy way out?"
4/5 stars!
TW: Graphic violence, death, mentions of torture, anxiety.
"The existence of harmony could only exist in Utopia, and a Utopian society could only be created by eliminating humans."
I would like to preface by saying that I am a huge fan of Elsie's writing style. This is the second book of hers that I've read, and I am always in awe of the maturity in her writing. Sure, it can be heavy for some people, but I enjoy the depth and the thought-provoking prose that never fails to get me annotating. Some of the best quotes that I've ever read have come from her works; her ability to tie the entire story back to the title is something I will never tire of. And when I found out that Elsie wrote this literary masterpiece in 20 DAYS? Calling this an impressive feat is an understatement.
Reigns of Utopia has everything that I love - a dystopian world where anthromorphs are at war with bianthromorphs, an exploration of gender and sexuality, smashing archaic laws, and the downfall of a corrupt system. Power play and grey morality are also some of my favourite things to read about, and this book did it so well.
Let me start with my favourite part of the book, the main characters. Zella Rune is the fierce bisexual protagonist, as strong and steady as a mountain, always levelheaded and ready to finish things as efficiently as possible. She is a transgender half-Siamese woman who knows what she wants and will do anything to get it (except in the love life department, in which she plays an infuriating yet entertaining game of denial), and she is the one that everyone relies on to make sure nothing goes sideways. I thought that I would love her the most, until Castiel Sylvain showed up.
Castiel, the Brazilian demisexual bianthromorph who is the only one who can keep up with Zella. He is the quintessential broody badboy, but somewhere along the lines, he turns into the group's anchor. Zella and Castiel are the dream team, and their banter only made things better. Castiel is often the voice of reason, giving logical opinions to both counter and fuel Zella's fire. He is so protective of the ever-tough Zella, which was a light amidst the dark themes of this book. Likewise, Zella's hardened armour cracks around Castiel, and she surprises herself with the lengths she would go for him. Their tension and character development was undeniably one of the best parts of the book for me.
We also have the fun supporting characters like Charm, the Allyson twins and Maia, who each had their own significant contribution to the book. I specifically love how Caledon's friendship with Zella turned into something stronger - Caledon took on an older brother role, and watching the indomitable Zella have someone to support her and give her advice made my heart very happy. It goes to show that no matter how strong a person is, they are not indestructible.
The worldbuilding did get a bit heavy at times, but once I got through the initial comprehension phase, everything fell into place so well. I love how the epic world was designed and how the ruthless power system was set up. The fight scenes were also visceral, emotive, and I learnt something knew about each character through each fight. The tone of the book felt very nostalgic, and I found myself wishing I could watch this as a movie.
Though I will not spoil anything, I will say... Elsie, I will not forgive you for that ending.
I leave you with one of the many intriguing quotes from this book:
"That beanstalk never feels full."
No, I'm kidding. There is some humour in this book, in case you were wondering otherwise. THIS is the actual quote I want to share.
"Don't we all keep running away from life and live in fear until we stop trying so hard to take the easy way out?"
4/5 stars!
May 10, 2022
The ending, like how dare you Elsie Swain. The story entered my mind like a swift blow of wind, took home in my veins and left my heart ripped open.
Okay let's talk about we see badass women in action. Story is based in post-dystopian world where anthromorphs and human struggle to find the balance for co-existing. The anthromorphs go through discrimination, prejudiced while having their own share of hardships.
Our protagonist, Zella Rune, is a bianthromorph, which is a species that goes through discrimination even in their own community. They're feared, shunned out, even their own relationships are cut off. Zella along with a fellow bianthromorph hustle through this life, while fighting in a post-dystopian world, where they're assigned with several tasks by their facility to keep the ecology stable.
I've always highly appreciated author's commentary not only on the story but also on things outside it. Like i especially adored how she tackled the issue of binary wired society of ours, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia etc.
Now how can I not talk about the amount of representation in the book! YOU! CAN! HAVE! REPRESENTATION! IN! YOUR! BOOK! WITHOUT! FORCING! IT! I've seen (loads) of books where representation was forced, put there just for the sake of it. But nope, not here. The story grips the pace from the first page itself, loads of sci-fi stuff, with adorable platonic relationships (Celadon&Zella pls <3) and swoon worthy romance. I CANNOT wait for the next book, when?
Okay let's talk about we see badass women in action. Story is based in post-dystopian world where anthromorphs and human struggle to find the balance for co-existing. The anthromorphs go through discrimination, prejudiced while having their own share of hardships.
Our protagonist, Zella Rune, is a bianthromorph, which is a species that goes through discrimination even in their own community. They're feared, shunned out, even their own relationships are cut off. Zella along with a fellow bianthromorph hustle through this life, while fighting in a post-dystopian world, where they're assigned with several tasks by their facility to keep the ecology stable.
I've always highly appreciated author's commentary not only on the story but also on things outside it. Like i especially adored how she tackled the issue of binary wired society of ours, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia etc.
Now how can I not talk about the amount of representation in the book! YOU! CAN! HAVE! REPRESENTATION! IN! YOUR! BOOK! WITHOUT! FORCING! IT! I've seen (loads) of books where representation was forced, put there just for the sake of it. But nope, not here. The story grips the pace from the first page itself, loads of sci-fi stuff, with adorable platonic relationships (Celadon&Zella pls <3) and swoon worthy romance. I CANNOT wait for the next book, when?
January 13, 2025
You know when you read a book, and you are flabbergasted at how author came up with this world building? That’s how I felt reading my first dystopian sci-fi book, Reigns of Utopia.
This book have all the things you would expect from a YA sci-fi book. The extensive world building, the amount of research and knowledge put into exploring all the concepts and terminologies, character arcs, slow-burn romance and the whole found family vibes was immaculate. It’s safe to say that I HAVE NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE THIS!!!
It’s the story of Zella rune in year 2155, when experiments have crossed all limits, creating a new species called anthromorphs, who are created through the bonding of animal genes with humans and this have created chaos in the world because some anthromorphs are prying on Innocent humans and they are on verge of extinction.
Zella rune is such a fierce character, she is beautiful inside and out. I love her so much. Her loyalty towards her friends is commendable.
Then we have Castiel who perfectly compliments Zella, Their bond and past is something so moving and heartwarming and I can’t wait to read how their relationship is going to unfurl in the 2nd book.
This book was a ride from the first page till the end and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So well written with unique concept(I felt dumb reading some of the parts😂💀) like the supernatural powers(related with different forms of energy) and banter between characters just made everything about this book very appealing.
Just go read the book already!!
This book have all the things you would expect from a YA sci-fi book. The extensive world building, the amount of research and knowledge put into exploring all the concepts and terminologies, character arcs, slow-burn romance and the whole found family vibes was immaculate. It’s safe to say that I HAVE NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE THIS!!!
It’s the story of Zella rune in year 2155, when experiments have crossed all limits, creating a new species called anthromorphs, who are created through the bonding of animal genes with humans and this have created chaos in the world because some anthromorphs are prying on Innocent humans and they are on verge of extinction.
Zella rune is such a fierce character, she is beautiful inside and out. I love her so much. Her loyalty towards her friends is commendable.
Then we have Castiel who perfectly compliments Zella, Their bond and past is something so moving and heartwarming and I can’t wait to read how their relationship is going to unfurl in the 2nd book.
This book was a ride from the first page till the end and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So well written with unique concept(I felt dumb reading some of the parts😂💀) like the supernatural powers(related with different forms of energy) and banter between characters just made everything about this book very appealing.
Just go read the book already!!
March 11, 2022
Change is the constant need.
The book is set in future where the society is divided into humans and a new genre which is the result of forced genetic experiments on human. The genre was created in hope to eradicate the mere weakness of human being unexpectedly turns out to be opposite to its aim. The tension starts to grow as the war of supremacy between both the genres begins.
There are exceptionals too and our protagonist belongs to the same. Zella knows herself and what power she holds within herself yet she decides to play with the tune of the time. The book has the blend of reality with sci-fi genre, the background of the plot is quite rich and the author has definitely used the imagination to the fullest which indeed made this book a treat to read.
There are a variety of character involved in the book and each has been given sufficient scope to contribute to the plot. Each bears their own unique characteristics and it shines through out the book.
The book is set in future where the society is divided into humans and a new genre which is the result of forced genetic experiments on human. The genre was created in hope to eradicate the mere weakness of human being unexpectedly turns out to be opposite to its aim. The tension starts to grow as the war of supremacy between both the genres begins.
There are exceptionals too and our protagonist belongs to the same. Zella knows herself and what power she holds within herself yet she decides to play with the tune of the time. The book has the blend of reality with sci-fi genre, the background of the plot is quite rich and the author has definitely used the imagination to the fullest which indeed made this book a treat to read.
There are a variety of character involved in the book and each has been given sufficient scope to contribute to the plot. Each bears their own unique characteristics and it shines through out the book.
February 23, 2022
"I don’t think people change. They can either modify themselves to recognize their truth or get tired of lying and shed the facade to be their true selves. When we accept that, that’s when people don’t have to try to hide from each other but rather try harder to not keep running away"
The year is 2155. A lot of testing has been done on humans in hopes of eradicating all 'weaknesses', which led to the creation of anthromorphs. But this creation gave the world an unwelcome gift of imbalance, creating a fight for power and dominance. The world is now at the verge of crumbling, facing a strong war between humans and anthromorphs.
This is the setting we find ourselves in when we read 'Reigns of Utopia'. I've never really read a sci-fi book before, but trust me when I tell you, I ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED this one! I didn't know what to expect tbh, but this book was wayy beyond whatever I thought it would be!
"Ignorance is bliss whilst cowardice is easier to cope with"
Zella Rune, our protagonist, is a very strong character. I loved all the characters but I loved her the most for her strength. The relationship between Zella and Castiel, one formed on trust and respect, was beautiful to read 😭
I felt like the book drew parellels to the current world. The domination of a unipower, the wars and power struggles, the unacceptence of who one is and othering, the looking down upon one class for reasons unacceptable, the bigotry, the hurt one feels because of one isn't accepted to the society for injust reasons - we can see this all in our society and our world's current situations. This book unapologetically reveals the ugliness of our realities blended with eloquent writing and a dystopian sci-fi world.
This book also shows how words hurt, actions hurt, and how important it is for us to atleast try to understand our fellow human beings. And kudos to the author for adding a Demisexual character. I have read books with heterosexual, homosexual and even asexual MCs, but this is the first time I'm reading a book with a demisexual MC, and I appreciate the author for always trying to give more representation in her books!
And the part I loved the most - THE ENDING! It was so good, it left me in awe for a long time! I was so sure I was going to have my heart broken 🥺 I can NOT wait for the sequel!!
Bottom Line : Go pick this underrated gem up! A total 5/5 star read for me! :)
The year is 2155. A lot of testing has been done on humans in hopes of eradicating all 'weaknesses', which led to the creation of anthromorphs. But this creation gave the world an unwelcome gift of imbalance, creating a fight for power and dominance. The world is now at the verge of crumbling, facing a strong war between humans and anthromorphs.
This is the setting we find ourselves in when we read 'Reigns of Utopia'. I've never really read a sci-fi book before, but trust me when I tell you, I ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED this one! I didn't know what to expect tbh, but this book was wayy beyond whatever I thought it would be!
"Ignorance is bliss whilst cowardice is easier to cope with"
Zella Rune, our protagonist, is a very strong character. I loved all the characters but I loved her the most for her strength. The relationship between Zella and Castiel, one formed on trust and respect, was beautiful to read 😭
I felt like the book drew parellels to the current world. The domination of a unipower, the wars and power struggles, the unacceptence of who one is and othering, the looking down upon one class for reasons unacceptable, the bigotry, the hurt one feels because of one isn't accepted to the society for injust reasons - we can see this all in our society and our world's current situations. This book unapologetically reveals the ugliness of our realities blended with eloquent writing and a dystopian sci-fi world.
This book also shows how words hurt, actions hurt, and how important it is for us to atleast try to understand our fellow human beings. And kudos to the author for adding a Demisexual character. I have read books with heterosexual, homosexual and even asexual MCs, but this is the first time I'm reading a book with a demisexual MC, and I appreciate the author for always trying to give more representation in her books!
And the part I loved the most - THE ENDING! It was so good, it left me in awe for a long time! I was so sure I was going to have my heart broken 🥺 I can NOT wait for the sequel!!
Bottom Line : Go pick this underrated gem up! A total 5/5 star read for me! :)
December 16, 2024
Reigns of Utopia is set in 2155, a time when humanity’s experiments have pushed boundaries, creating anthromorphs and throwing the world into chaos. The story follows the quest to restore balance and find peace amidst power struggles and unrest. It tackles big themes like dominance, societal divides, prejudice, and the pain of being excluded, all wrapped up in a gripping dystopian sci-fi world. The book doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff, but it also encourages empathy and understanding, making it feel both thought-provoking and deeply relevant.
The characters are what really made this story for me. Zella is such a badass—strong, compassionate, and everything you’d want in a lead. Elsie has a real knack for writing bold, relatable female characters. Castiel is another favorite. He’s been through so much, yet he holds onto hope, and his connection with Zella is beautifully written—built on trust, respect, and real emotions. I also loved seeing a demisexual protagonist in the mix; it’s refreshing and adds a layer of diversity that feels natural and meaningful. Overall, this book is an amazing mix of great characters, powerful themes, and a story that keeps you hooked until the end.
The characters are what really made this story for me. Zella is such a badass—strong, compassionate, and everything you’d want in a lead. Elsie has a real knack for writing bold, relatable female characters. Castiel is another favorite. He’s been through so much, yet he holds onto hope, and his connection with Zella is beautifully written—built on trust, respect, and real emotions. I also loved seeing a demisexual protagonist in the mix; it’s refreshing and adds a layer of diversity that feels natural and meaningful. Overall, this book is an amazing mix of great characters, powerful themes, and a story that keeps you hooked until the end.
November 7, 2021
*I was sent this book in return for a honest review* this was a great sci-fi novel with great, in depth world building and character development! It was thought provoking and made exciting through lots of twists and turns and I had a lot of fun reading it. I really liked how you could tell just how much scientific research went into this and made the experience of reading it all the more special. There were some minor grammatical mistakes in my copy that I noticed when reading but it didn’t take away my enjoyment of the story.
April 20, 2022
Representation-bisexual rep, trans mc, biracial rep, demisexual rep, Latin mc
This book was amazing! There was a lot of attention to detail and I don't read much sci-fi but this was still
great. If you like complex sci-fi books or even world building in high fantasy you will like this book. All the characters are amazing and very well written but my favourites are definitely Caledon and Maia. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who like sci-fi and dystopian books.
Thank you to the author for sending me this book to read!!
This book was amazing! There was a lot of attention to detail and I don't read much sci-fi but this was still
great. If you like complex sci-fi books or even world building in high fantasy you will like this book. All the characters are amazing and very well written but my favourites are definitely Caledon and Maia. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who like sci-fi and dystopian books.
Thank you to the author for sending me this book to read!!
April 12, 2022
Reigns of Utopia is a science fiction book based in the world where a human organization CULT morphs human genes with animal genes to create anthromorphs. These anthromorphs are smarter, stronger, and more volatile than humans. This has caused a rift between the humans and the anthromorphs and a whole new debate about each other’s safety. The result was that there were constant clashes between the cult anthromorphs and the anthromorphs living in government-protected sanctuaries. The situation however is worse than it seems at first view.
The book is based on the experiences of one such anthromorph, Zella Rune, residing and working in a government facility. Without any fault of hers, she is faced with difficulties that are not easy to explain or choose. the whole world is colored in grey and there are no right or wrong choices anymore. The writing and narration shift swiftly between characters, sometimes confusing the readers to re-read the paragraphs. The timeline in the story also skips ahead without any warning, causing me to reread some paragraphs more than once to get the sense.
The debate between the protagonists Zella and Castiel sent shivers down my spine. Sometimes it is absolutely beautiful but there are instances where the ornamentation and allusions overpower the writing, confusing the story. They diverted in their talks just as the story narrative diverted from one character to another. the secret that Zella seemed hell-bent on protecting wasn’t even a secret.
The support characters are also beautifully constructed, with their backstory related to the story plot. The slow-burn romance that occurs between Zella and Castiel is something worth rereading in this book. The tension between these two tops everything else in this book. (or maybe I just have a soft spot for any kind of romance).
The sci-fi aspect of the story is explored in detail with descriptions of the physical features as well as advanced pieces of equipment used by the anthromorphs during fights. The action seems to dominate this story, and I liked that. In the volatile world that is explained, this kind of action seems normal. the description made me witness the fight with super clarity. However, the details of the anthromorphs using their features and too much description regarding the anatomy and chips left me bored. There were some unexpected turns in the story that was a delight to read and there were some excessive details with a lack of proper context that were equally infuriating to read.
I would give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. This is because the plot was beautiful, the elements of the story well balanced, the action scenes placed in the right places, the characters were also bending according to the story, but there were sudden changes in narrations, the main story, and the musings merged. Sometimes, there were too many details in some places without proper context.
However, these were issues that were easily ignored when the plot thickened. I enjoyed reading the story and would read the next book too in this series.
The book is based on the experiences of one such anthromorph, Zella Rune, residing and working in a government facility. Without any fault of hers, she is faced with difficulties that are not easy to explain or choose. the whole world is colored in grey and there are no right or wrong choices anymore. The writing and narration shift swiftly between characters, sometimes confusing the readers to re-read the paragraphs. The timeline in the story also skips ahead without any warning, causing me to reread some paragraphs more than once to get the sense.
The debate between the protagonists Zella and Castiel sent shivers down my spine. Sometimes it is absolutely beautiful but there are instances where the ornamentation and allusions overpower the writing, confusing the story. They diverted in their talks just as the story narrative diverted from one character to another. the secret that Zella seemed hell-bent on protecting wasn’t even a secret.
The support characters are also beautifully constructed, with their backstory related to the story plot. The slow-burn romance that occurs between Zella and Castiel is something worth rereading in this book. The tension between these two tops everything else in this book. (or maybe I just have a soft spot for any kind of romance).
The sci-fi aspect of the story is explored in detail with descriptions of the physical features as well as advanced pieces of equipment used by the anthromorphs during fights. The action seems to dominate this story, and I liked that. In the volatile world that is explained, this kind of action seems normal. the description made me witness the fight with super clarity. However, the details of the anthromorphs using their features and too much description regarding the anatomy and chips left me bored. There were some unexpected turns in the story that was a delight to read and there were some excessive details with a lack of proper context that were equally infuriating to read.
I would give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. This is because the plot was beautiful, the elements of the story well balanced, the action scenes placed in the right places, the characters were also bending according to the story, but there were sudden changes in narrations, the main story, and the musings merged. Sometimes, there were too many details in some places without proper context.
However, these were issues that were easily ignored when the plot thickened. I enjoyed reading the story and would read the next book too in this series.
Read
February 14, 2022A short and sweet review for you today for this book : if you’re a fan of marvel you NEED to read this! it includes teens + young adults with supernatural powers + abilities plus witty banter & insight into found family relationships. It was a sweet and addictive read; combining fantasy and humour really well. I’d recommend 🤍
November 12, 2024
A frightening glimpse of what could happen. Maybe? Or Maybe not?!!
From the moment I started reading it, I was sitting on the edge of my bed with a pounding heart not wanting to put the book down, I didn't wanna miss anything! I felt so connected to the characters and involved with their lives, as the plot goes on. It's gonna be another best book I've read this year!
I really enjoyed the strong female character, Elsie created Zella as a survivor, but also a compassionate one. Castiel is another powerful character (Touch her I'll kill you kinda man). Both Zella and Castiel had a traumatic childhood, and fought their ways through everything. My heart just breaks for Castiel. Several times throughout the book I would go, "No, don't treat him like that!just tell him that you care for him! Confess!!!!", I'm literally screaming through the book. He can just pop out of the book and be my boyfriend! The author developed the side characters really well, I appreciate the banter and conflicts between them! Other than Zella & Castiel, I think I felt something deep for Caledon. I have to say I cared a lot for the romantic element the author worked into the book, which is obviously slow-burn.
Elsie's world building here is very well done as well, she knows just how much detail to offer to make it fascinating and leave you wanting to know just a little more. Best of all, her details fit together like puzzle pieces as you discover them. The pacing in this was great, it deals with some interesting issues, and of course I'm always a big fan of ya authoritarian-government-dystopias! There are gutsy characters who rebel and refuse to be quiet at all.
From the moment I started reading it, I was sitting on the edge of my bed with a pounding heart not wanting to put the book down, I didn't wanna miss anything! I felt so connected to the characters and involved with their lives, as the plot goes on. It's gonna be another best book I've read this year!
I really enjoyed the strong female character, Elsie created Zella as a survivor, but also a compassionate one. Castiel is another powerful character (Touch her I'll kill you kinda man). Both Zella and Castiel had a traumatic childhood, and fought their ways through everything. My heart just breaks for Castiel. Several times throughout the book I would go, "No, don't treat him like that!just tell him that you care for him! Confess!!!!", I'm literally screaming through the book. He can just pop out of the book and be my boyfriend! The author developed the side characters really well, I appreciate the banter and conflicts between them! Other than Zella & Castiel, I think I felt something deep for Caledon. I have to say I cared a lot for the romantic element the author worked into the book, which is obviously slow-burn.
Elsie's world building here is very well done as well, she knows just how much detail to offer to make it fascinating and leave you wanting to know just a little more. Best of all, her details fit together like puzzle pieces as you discover them. The pacing in this was great, it deals with some interesting issues, and of course I'm always a big fan of ya authoritarian-government-dystopias! There are gutsy characters who rebel and refuse to be quiet at all.
February 20, 2022
"I don’t think people change. They can either modify themselves to recognize their truth or get tired of lying and shed the facade to be their true selves. When we accept that, that’s when people don’t have to try to hide from each other but rather try harder to not keep running away"
The year is 2155. A lot of testing has been done on humans in hopes of eradicating all 'weaknesses', which led to the creation of anthromorphs. But this creation gave the world an unwelcome gift of imbalance, creating a fight for power and dominance. The world is now at the verge of crumbling, facing a strong war between humans and anthromorphs.
This is the setting we find ourselves in when we read 'Reigns of Utopia'. I've never really read a sci-fi book before, but trust me when I tell you, I ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED this one! I didn't know what to expect tbh, but this book was wayy beyond whatever I thought it would be!
"Ignorance is bliss whilst cowardice is easier to cope with"
Zella Rune, our protagonist, is a very strong character. I loved all the characters but I loved her the most for her strength. The relationship between Zella and Castiel, one formed on trust and respect, was beautiful to read 😭
I felt like the book drew parellels to the current world. The domination of a unipower, the wars and power struggles, the unacceptence of who one is and othering, the looking down upon one class for reasons unacceptable, the bigotry, the hurt one feels because of one isn't accepted to the society for injust reasons - we can see this all in our society and our world's current situations. This book unapologetically reveals the ugliness of our realities blended with eloquent writing and a dystopian sci-fi world.
This book also shows how words hurt, actions hurt, and how important it is for us to atleast try to understand our fellow human beings. And kudos to the author for adding a Demisexual character. I have read books with heterosexual, homosexual and even asexual MCs, but this is the first time I'm reading a book with a demisexual MC, and I appreciate the author for always trying to give more representation in her books!
And the part I loved the most - THE ENDING! It was so good, it left me in awe for a long time! I was so sure I was going to have my heart broken 🥺 I can NOT wait for the sequel!!
Bottom Line : Go pick this underrated gem up! A total 5/5 star read for me! :)
The year is 2155. A lot of testing has been done on humans in hopes of eradicating all 'weaknesses', which led to the creation of anthromorphs. But this creation gave the world an unwelcome gift of imbalance, creating a fight for power and dominance. The world is now at the verge of crumbling, facing a strong war between humans and anthromorphs.
This is the setting we find ourselves in when we read 'Reigns of Utopia'. I've never really read a sci-fi book before, but trust me when I tell you, I ABSOLUTELY DEVOURED this one! I didn't know what to expect tbh, but this book was wayy beyond whatever I thought it would be!
"Ignorance is bliss whilst cowardice is easier to cope with"
Zella Rune, our protagonist, is a very strong character. I loved all the characters but I loved her the most for her strength. The relationship between Zella and Castiel, one formed on trust and respect, was beautiful to read 😭
I felt like the book drew parellels to the current world. The domination of a unipower, the wars and power struggles, the unacceptence of who one is and othering, the looking down upon one class for reasons unacceptable, the bigotry, the hurt one feels because of one isn't accepted to the society for injust reasons - we can see this all in our society and our world's current situations. This book unapologetically reveals the ugliness of our realities blended with eloquent writing and a dystopian sci-fi world.
This book also shows how words hurt, actions hurt, and how important it is for us to atleast try to understand our fellow human beings. And kudos to the author for adding a Demisexual character. I have read books with heterosexual, homosexual and even asexual MCs, but this is the first time I'm reading a book with a demisexual MC, and I appreciate the author for always trying to give more representation in her books!
And the part I loved the most - THE ENDING! It was so good, it left me in awe for a long time! I was so sure I was going to have my heart broken 🥺 I can NOT wait for the sequel!!
Bottom Line : Go pick this underrated gem up! A total 5/5 star read for me! :)
Read
April 18, 2022{AD|GIFTED} I was kindly sent a copy of this title by the author in exchange for an honest review.
THE POSITIVES
- Fantastic diversity and rep: trans and biracial MC, bisexual and demisexual rep, Latin MC.
- Inventive world-building and dystopian setting
- Anthromorphs!
- Slow-burn romance
- Well-written action scenes; high stakes and fast-paced
- Some instances of beautiful prose and thoughtful musings
- Interesting scientific knowledge as background
THE NEGATIVES
- Complicated and unclear at times; some sentences didn't make sense and the syntax was wrong
- Needed clearer breaks in the text as it was difficult to follow changing perspectives
Overall, this ambitious book was full of potential but was hampered by a lack of editing and proofreading.
THE POSITIVES
- Fantastic diversity and rep: trans and biracial MC, bisexual and demisexual rep, Latin MC.
- Inventive world-building and dystopian setting
- Anthromorphs!
- Slow-burn romance
- Well-written action scenes; high stakes and fast-paced
- Some instances of beautiful prose and thoughtful musings
- Interesting scientific knowledge as background
THE NEGATIVES
- Complicated and unclear at times; some sentences didn't make sense and the syntax was wrong
- Needed clearer breaks in the text as it was difficult to follow changing perspectives
Overall, this ambitious book was full of potential but was hampered by a lack of editing and proofreading.
December 10, 2020
AUTHOR: Elsie Swain
BOOK: Trial of Identity
PAGES: 511
.
INTRODUCTION : Elsie Swain's Trial Of Identity, a science fiction work set in a dystopia, explores the operation of human emotive responses and its manifestation in the form of actions driven by emotive impulses. Similar to most others works in the dystopian genre, like George Orwell's 1984, which was published in 1949 but takes place in the year-1984, Swain positions the timeline of her work in the future, a century and a half later, in 2154. Swain's prose delves into the psyche of her protagonist, Kate Parker, in a world where the laws of nature have been transcended by advances made in the realm of science which allowed the human race to control the natural mechanism of evolution and natural selection, largely thanks to the endeavours of an outlawed scientific institution known as The Cult. The Cult, through a series of experiments on human beings, successfully created a population of genetically altered human beings with exponentially greater physical and other capabilities, known as the Anthromorphs. Such a scientific triumph is expected to be a story of prosperity and harmony, but Swain's narrative shows the reader how such triumphs only create large schisms amongst the denizens of the planet.
About the book: It was smart, original and very engrossing. Even better, I feel like I have learned something after finishing it. It comes with many twists and turns but never falls into farce. A great, thought-provoking read that has renewed my enthusiasm for the science fiction genre.
However, Swain's characterisation of James and Kate is as humanly as they can be, despite the visceral effects of a prevalent evolutionary biology that is synthetic.
Her characters aptly portray the idea that despite their genomic mechanics being far from natural, the range of human emotions and errors committed as a result is as human-like as they come.The narrative doesn’t hold as tight as you want it, throughout the book. But I could look past all that for a storyline that is mind blowing, thoughtful and original. Hence, the five stars.
Highly recommended.
BOOK: Trial of Identity
PAGES: 511
.
INTRODUCTION : Elsie Swain's Trial Of Identity, a science fiction work set in a dystopia, explores the operation of human emotive responses and its manifestation in the form of actions driven by emotive impulses. Similar to most others works in the dystopian genre, like George Orwell's 1984, which was published in 1949 but takes place in the year-1984, Swain positions the timeline of her work in the future, a century and a half later, in 2154. Swain's prose delves into the psyche of her protagonist, Kate Parker, in a world where the laws of nature have been transcended by advances made in the realm of science which allowed the human race to control the natural mechanism of evolution and natural selection, largely thanks to the endeavours of an outlawed scientific institution known as The Cult. The Cult, through a series of experiments on human beings, successfully created a population of genetically altered human beings with exponentially greater physical and other capabilities, known as the Anthromorphs. Such a scientific triumph is expected to be a story of prosperity and harmony, but Swain's narrative shows the reader how such triumphs only create large schisms amongst the denizens of the planet.
About the book: It was smart, original and very engrossing. Even better, I feel like I have learned something after finishing it. It comes with many twists and turns but never falls into farce. A great, thought-provoking read that has renewed my enthusiasm for the science fiction genre.
However, Swain's characterisation of James and Kate is as humanly as they can be, despite the visceral effects of a prevalent evolutionary biology that is synthetic.
Her characters aptly portray the idea that despite their genomic mechanics being far from natural, the range of human emotions and errors committed as a result is as human-like as they come.The narrative doesn’t hold as tight as you want it, throughout the book. But I could look past all that for a storyline that is mind blowing, thoughtful and original. Hence, the five stars.
Highly recommended.
January 20, 2025
Book Name- “Reigns Of Utopia: War Of Evolution:One”
Author- @elsie.iyle
Publisher- @ukiyotopublishinghouse
Genre- Science Fiction
.
“Society always had a desperate desire to define everything and confine its limits because if someone didn’t fit those confinements, their chapters are pretty much doomed in existence.”
It’s one of the best science fiction with lots of characters portrayed very well synchronised with the story. It is the first part of the series. Reigns of Utopia is set in 2155, where humanity’s investigations have led to the formations of anthromorphs, occurring in disorder and dissatisfaction. The story follows a hunt to reinstate balance in a faltering world, while traverse themes like social divisions, prejudice, and the struggles of being different. It’s a very stimulating and engaging dystopian sci-fi tale that also showcases the importance of empathy and understanding. I loved the character of Zella, a strong and compassionate lead, loved how her pliability stood out. The other character Castiel whose journey was equally enthralling despite of his challenges, hope and strength were just so motivating. The connection these two hold is beautifully written, based on trust and mutual respect.The pensive representation of various identities, which felt natural and added intensity to the narrative. The story has an engaging plot and relatable characters. The book is not just a tale of survival but it’s a story on societal divides, power struggles, and personal evolution. Swain’s writing convinces us to think deeply about humanity’s role and the price of “superiority.” It will make you curious on how we define strength and where truly power lies in a divided world. It’s a must-read for lovers of sci-fi with a coating of philosophy.
Review- 4.5
Author- @elsie.iyle
Publisher- @ukiyotopublishinghouse
Genre- Science Fiction
.
“Society always had a desperate desire to define everything and confine its limits because if someone didn’t fit those confinements, their chapters are pretty much doomed in existence.”
It’s one of the best science fiction with lots of characters portrayed very well synchronised with the story. It is the first part of the series. Reigns of Utopia is set in 2155, where humanity’s investigations have led to the formations of anthromorphs, occurring in disorder and dissatisfaction. The story follows a hunt to reinstate balance in a faltering world, while traverse themes like social divisions, prejudice, and the struggles of being different. It’s a very stimulating and engaging dystopian sci-fi tale that also showcases the importance of empathy and understanding. I loved the character of Zella, a strong and compassionate lead, loved how her pliability stood out. The other character Castiel whose journey was equally enthralling despite of his challenges, hope and strength were just so motivating. The connection these two hold is beautifully written, based on trust and mutual respect.The pensive representation of various identities, which felt natural and added intensity to the narrative. The story has an engaging plot and relatable characters. The book is not just a tale of survival but it’s a story on societal divides, power struggles, and personal evolution. Swain’s writing convinces us to think deeply about humanity’s role and the price of “superiority.” It will make you curious on how we define strength and where truly power lies in a divided world. It’s a must-read for lovers of sci-fi with a coating of philosophy.
Review- 4.5
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