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Origins of Thaw #1
The Oasis Trials
Five trials to prove your worth. Two teens with everything to lose. One chance to escape. In a world ravaged by global warming, an unconventional leader plans to sail away and start again in a mythical place known as Tomorrow Land. He’s decided to take one hundred young lives with him…if they pass a series of tests. Fyve’s grown up in the poverty and violence molded by environmental and economic collapse. Passing is his only ticket to escape a life of starvation and struggle. But it also means leaving his family, the ones he’s spent his life protecting.
Halo is the daughter of the leader, and she’s determined to compete in the Trials just like everyone else. As the tests become more deadly with each one that passes, she questions if the future she yearns for is worth it. Especially if Fyve is adamant he won’t set foot on the ship her father has promised will arrive.
As the fight to leave becomes the fight to survive, as passing the tests means leaving behind everything and everyone they love, Fyve and Halo are about to discover that being chosen comes at a price.
From the best-selling authors of The Thaw Chronicles , get ready to be blown away by a breathtaking new series for lovers of Divergent and The Hunger Games .
Scroll up and one-click your copy now! What readers are saying about The Oasis ★★★★★ "Netflix Are You Listening? The Queens of dystopian series books kick ass again. The Thaw Chronicles are by far the best dystopian books I've ever read. Far better than The Hunger Games or Divergent! You will laugh, cry, your heart will beat furiously and you will cheer. I can't state it any plainer - you have to read these books!" ★★★★★ " I need MORE! Oh my gosh! I didn't want this story to end. This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I cried ugly tears. I absolutely can't wait for more!" ★★★★★ " This book deserves way more than 5 stars! It's been a long time since a series has pulled me in so completely! I gasped aloud while reading, and was flipping through the novel so fast if it was a paperback I would be covered in paper cuts! What an awesome introduction to the Thaw Chronicles!" ★★★★★ "Impressive! This story was like nothing I've ever read! A real page-turner! I loved it! The action and characters are unmatched. The imagination, impressive!" ★★★★★ " A fantastic YA dystopian read! This is a fantastic YA dystopian read. It’s a gripping and enthralling read that grabs you from the very start as we enter the incredible world of Terra."
Halo is the daughter of the leader, and she’s determined to compete in the Trials just like everyone else. As the tests become more deadly with each one that passes, she questions if the future she yearns for is worth it. Especially if Fyve is adamant he won’t set foot on the ship her father has promised will arrive.
As the fight to leave becomes the fight to survive, as passing the tests means leaving behind everything and everyone they love, Fyve and Halo are about to discover that being chosen comes at a price.
From the best-selling authors of The Thaw Chronicles , get ready to be blown away by a breathtaking new series for lovers of Divergent and The Hunger Games .
Scroll up and one-click your copy now! What readers are saying about The Oasis ★★★★★ "Netflix Are You Listening? The Queens of dystopian series books kick ass again. The Thaw Chronicles are by far the best dystopian books I've ever read. Far better than The Hunger Games or Divergent! You will laugh, cry, your heart will beat furiously and you will cheer. I can't state it any plainer - you have to read these books!" ★★★★★ " I need MORE! Oh my gosh! I didn't want this story to end. This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I cried ugly tears. I absolutely can't wait for more!" ★★★★★ " This book deserves way more than 5 stars! It's been a long time since a series has pulled me in so completely! I gasped aloud while reading, and was flipping through the novel so fast if it was a paperback I would be covered in paper cuts! What an awesome introduction to the Thaw Chronicles!" ★★★★★ "Impressive! This story was like nothing I've ever read! A real page-turner! I loved it! The action and characters are unmatched. The imagination, impressive!" ★★★★★ " A fantastic YA dystopian read! This is a fantastic YA dystopian read. It’s a gripping and enthralling read that grabs you from the very start as we enter the incredible world of Terra."
- GenresDystopia
304 pages, Paperback
Published May 15, 2022
134 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Catherine
56 books233 followersHeidi Catherine writes fantasy and dystopian novels, which gives her a chance to escape into worlds vastly different to her own life in the burbs. While she quite enjoys killing her characters (especially the awful ones), she promises she’s far better behaved in real life.
Other than writing and reading, Heidi’s current obsessions include watching far too much reality TV with the excuse that it’s research for her books.
You can find out more at www.heidicatherine.com
Other than writing and reading, Heidi’s current obsessions include watching far too much reality TV with the excuse that it’s research for her books.
You can find out more at www.heidicatherine.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 27, 2022
I love the cover of The Oasis Trials, it does its job of catching your eye really well. It also fits in very well with the rest of the series set in the same universe which I am really fond of too. I bet the physical copies of the books look absolutely amazing all together on a book shelf! Upon reading the blurb I knew it was a must read for me. Having read the other books I was certainly super curious to see what this book was going to reveal about how it all began. I wanted to know how people were chosen to go on the great ship, and how things ended up once on the ship, how they coexisted on the ship. Then I was interested to learn the reasons why certain rules were made and imposed on the societies that are revealed in the other books. I can’t wait to discover which characters are descendants from the new characters we are about to be introduced to in this book.
This book is set on “Treasure Island” which is really more like trash island as it is a moving mass of plastic, non-recyclable waste that has melded together. Though characters such as Halo refer to this “trash” as “treasure” to be recycled, reused and given a new life as something other than its first purpose. The inhabitants on the island are led by a man called Elijah, who communicates with a higher, greater, power that goes by the name of Terra. Terra connects with Elijah via dreams or by whispering in his ear. Each evening all the islanders gather together on the beach for “gratitude” which I would describe as a prayer of thanks for all they have. To be totally honest these people do not have a lot. They merely get by day to day with the hope one day Terra will bless them with a chance of a better future. Halo is Elijah’s daughter who has the mind of an engineer and is always building things. Her greatest creation that she is collecting parts for is a motor that she hopes to get working again so that it can be used to move the whole of treasure island and its people across the acidic sea to a more plentiful land and a better existence for all. Both her father Elijah and her older brother, Ajax think what Halo is doing is a waste of time and resources. When Halo builds a tree from old scavenged metal poles & rubbish she finds, they tell her it is a waste of time and materials, but Halo understands looking at something like this gives people hope of seeing real trees again and for a better future.
Elijah soon announces that Terra is sending a large ship that can be used to go find Tomorrow Land. At first there is excitement and relief they will all be going to Tomorrow Land, until Elijah reveals, not everyone will be going. Terra has spoken to him, and told him just 100 inhabitants of the island will be allowed on board ship. To reassure everyone e goes on to say that once this new plentiful place called Tomorrow Land is found, some will settle there and others will return to Treasure Island to transport everyone else, to reunite their community. Elijah also reveals that there will be five trials to be undertaken but only those aged 13 to 19 can take part. These trials are to be judged by only Terra who will tell Elijah who has passed and who has failed. There will also be deaths during these trials, so entering them should not be taken lightly. Elijah constantly re-iterates that it is Terra who will decide who is wanted on the ship when it arrives. Terra see’s everyone and everything they say or do. As Terra gives, Terra also takes. Should anyone speak or act in any way they shouldn’t Terra takes them in a rather gruesome way referred to as a “claiming.” Naturally those on Treasure Island do not want to be on the wrong side of Terra and be claimed so it is rare for someone to speak out in against anything decreed by Elijah on behalf of Terra.
As you can imagine, almost everyone wants to compete for the chance of being on the ship that will travel to Tomorrow Land. Some are much more deserving of a place than others. Some characters want to gain their chance fairly where as others don’t care who they trample on or leave behind in their efforts to get a place on the ship. Some of the characters are torn not wanting to leave behind their family members not eligible for a chance to go on the ship, they worry how those left behind will fare without their protection, and without them to scavenge for the already scarce food source. Then on the other hand some of them need to go searching for Tomorrow Land, to find a better future for everyone, then once it has been found they can proudly return for those they had to leave behind initially and lead them to a much better existence.
I adored Halo, the daughter of Elijah who knows she will be judged the same as anyone taking part in the trials. Halo knows she will not be shown any favouritism or be given any clues on how to pass the trials just because Elijah is her father. Having said that both Elijah’s children, Halo and Ajax are equally determined to take part in each and every trial and do their very best to earn a place on the great ship that Terra is going to send them.
Another family determined to have representatives on the great ship are the eligible children of sisters Cee and Dee, both are widows and the “heads” of their families are their eldest sons. In Cee’s case that is Coal who is eager to be on the great ship, to sail away and find Tomorrow Land then return for his mother and his younger siblings Jett, Bloo and Rubee. In Dee’s case her eldest son Fyve is determined not to enter the trials, how he looks at the situation is, if Coal gets onto the ship, he will be needed more at home on Treasure Island to care for his Aunt Cee, Jett, Bloo & Rubee as well as his own younger sibling Sevin. Fyve’s mother Dee, regularly takes off alone on a raft in search of a new more plentiful land, so Fyve looks upon her as unreliable. Other characters I want to mention that I really grew quickly attached to were Coal, Fyve, Sevin and Justice. I also grew to like Striker.
There were, other characters I really enjoyed being irritated with too, starting with Elijah himself! You do get the feeling many times during the book that he is withholding information or choosing not to reveal all the details he could do. Looking back at his character having finished the whole book I do still have that inkling that he may have had more say in the decisions of who did or didn’t pass the trials, that perhaps it wasn’t 100% Terra’s decision. I wasn’t all that keen on Ajax either as I don’t think he or his father Elijah, treat Halo very well. Another brother sister interactions during the trials that I went through a whole range of emotions about was Zake and Justice. Zake is so confident that he will be on the great ship, yet at the same time so unsupportive of his sister Justice more than once. He does occasionally seem to redeem himself but I couldn’t help feeling deep down he wasn’t neither the best brother or candidate for Tomorrow Land and the future generations.
I thoroughly enjoyed the subtle things that are mentioned or occur within this book that were referenced or affect characters, ways of living and plot lines in the other books in the series. I think the trials in this book were certainly the precursors to the testing for whom would be bound and unbound in the later books. I also felt like I was perhaps picking up on certain ancestor traits for some of the character I have “met” in the other books I have read in this series and I really loved that aspect too.
I definitely adored finding out more about Treasure Island and its residents. So many young people enter the trials only to have their hopes dashed or even worse lose their lives. There are a lot of things hinted at in this book that we won’t find out until further on in this series. I am excited for all the potential story lines to come in the forthcoming books, to find out where the characters in the latter Chronicles Of Thaw books are descendant from. I am already trying to work some of these out, I am eager to see if I am right or not. It will be interesting to see if they have the traits of their ancestors. I truly feel I could talk forever about this book and in fact, the whole book series so far and have had to make a firm, conscious effort not to reveal any type of spoiler.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were Wow, these characters really do go through some gruelling tests and trials for a chance to get on the Oasis.
Summing up, if you have read the other Chronicles Of The Thaw books then this is a must read! If you haven’t read any of the books yet, I recommend you start reading them! The characters in this book really do go through both gruelling and gruesome trials just for the chance of a place on a ship that has yet to arrive, to go in search of a place Tomorrow Land that they don’t really have an idea where it is.
This book is set on “Treasure Island” which is really more like trash island as it is a moving mass of plastic, non-recyclable waste that has melded together. Though characters such as Halo refer to this “trash” as “treasure” to be recycled, reused and given a new life as something other than its first purpose. The inhabitants on the island are led by a man called Elijah, who communicates with a higher, greater, power that goes by the name of Terra. Terra connects with Elijah via dreams or by whispering in his ear. Each evening all the islanders gather together on the beach for “gratitude” which I would describe as a prayer of thanks for all they have. To be totally honest these people do not have a lot. They merely get by day to day with the hope one day Terra will bless them with a chance of a better future. Halo is Elijah’s daughter who has the mind of an engineer and is always building things. Her greatest creation that she is collecting parts for is a motor that she hopes to get working again so that it can be used to move the whole of treasure island and its people across the acidic sea to a more plentiful land and a better existence for all. Both her father Elijah and her older brother, Ajax think what Halo is doing is a waste of time and resources. When Halo builds a tree from old scavenged metal poles & rubbish she finds, they tell her it is a waste of time and materials, but Halo understands looking at something like this gives people hope of seeing real trees again and for a better future.
Elijah soon announces that Terra is sending a large ship that can be used to go find Tomorrow Land. At first there is excitement and relief they will all be going to Tomorrow Land, until Elijah reveals, not everyone will be going. Terra has spoken to him, and told him just 100 inhabitants of the island will be allowed on board ship. To reassure everyone e goes on to say that once this new plentiful place called Tomorrow Land is found, some will settle there and others will return to Treasure Island to transport everyone else, to reunite their community. Elijah also reveals that there will be five trials to be undertaken but only those aged 13 to 19 can take part. These trials are to be judged by only Terra who will tell Elijah who has passed and who has failed. There will also be deaths during these trials, so entering them should not be taken lightly. Elijah constantly re-iterates that it is Terra who will decide who is wanted on the ship when it arrives. Terra see’s everyone and everything they say or do. As Terra gives, Terra also takes. Should anyone speak or act in any way they shouldn’t Terra takes them in a rather gruesome way referred to as a “claiming.” Naturally those on Treasure Island do not want to be on the wrong side of Terra and be claimed so it is rare for someone to speak out in against anything decreed by Elijah on behalf of Terra.
As you can imagine, almost everyone wants to compete for the chance of being on the ship that will travel to Tomorrow Land. Some are much more deserving of a place than others. Some characters want to gain their chance fairly where as others don’t care who they trample on or leave behind in their efforts to get a place on the ship. Some of the characters are torn not wanting to leave behind their family members not eligible for a chance to go on the ship, they worry how those left behind will fare without their protection, and without them to scavenge for the already scarce food source. Then on the other hand some of them need to go searching for Tomorrow Land, to find a better future for everyone, then once it has been found they can proudly return for those they had to leave behind initially and lead them to a much better existence.
I adored Halo, the daughter of Elijah who knows she will be judged the same as anyone taking part in the trials. Halo knows she will not be shown any favouritism or be given any clues on how to pass the trials just because Elijah is her father. Having said that both Elijah’s children, Halo and Ajax are equally determined to take part in each and every trial and do their very best to earn a place on the great ship that Terra is going to send them.
Another family determined to have representatives on the great ship are the eligible children of sisters Cee and Dee, both are widows and the “heads” of their families are their eldest sons. In Cee’s case that is Coal who is eager to be on the great ship, to sail away and find Tomorrow Land then return for his mother and his younger siblings Jett, Bloo and Rubee. In Dee’s case her eldest son Fyve is determined not to enter the trials, how he looks at the situation is, if Coal gets onto the ship, he will be needed more at home on Treasure Island to care for his Aunt Cee, Jett, Bloo & Rubee as well as his own younger sibling Sevin. Fyve’s mother Dee, regularly takes off alone on a raft in search of a new more plentiful land, so Fyve looks upon her as unreliable. Other characters I want to mention that I really grew quickly attached to were Coal, Fyve, Sevin and Justice. I also grew to like Striker.
There were, other characters I really enjoyed being irritated with too, starting with Elijah himself! You do get the feeling many times during the book that he is withholding information or choosing not to reveal all the details he could do. Looking back at his character having finished the whole book I do still have that inkling that he may have had more say in the decisions of who did or didn’t pass the trials, that perhaps it wasn’t 100% Terra’s decision. I wasn’t all that keen on Ajax either as I don’t think he or his father Elijah, treat Halo very well. Another brother sister interactions during the trials that I went through a whole range of emotions about was Zake and Justice. Zake is so confident that he will be on the great ship, yet at the same time so unsupportive of his sister Justice more than once. He does occasionally seem to redeem himself but I couldn’t help feeling deep down he wasn’t neither the best brother or candidate for Tomorrow Land and the future generations.
I thoroughly enjoyed the subtle things that are mentioned or occur within this book that were referenced or affect characters, ways of living and plot lines in the other books in the series. I think the trials in this book were certainly the precursors to the testing for whom would be bound and unbound in the later books. I also felt like I was perhaps picking up on certain ancestor traits for some of the character I have “met” in the other books I have read in this series and I really loved that aspect too.
I definitely adored finding out more about Treasure Island and its residents. So many young people enter the trials only to have their hopes dashed or even worse lose their lives. There are a lot of things hinted at in this book that we won’t find out until further on in this series. I am excited for all the potential story lines to come in the forthcoming books, to find out where the characters in the latter Chronicles Of Thaw books are descendant from. I am already trying to work some of these out, I am eager to see if I am right or not. It will be interesting to see if they have the traits of their ancestors. I truly feel I could talk forever about this book and in fact, the whole book series so far and have had to make a firm, conscious effort not to reveal any type of spoiler.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were Wow, these characters really do go through some gruelling tests and trials for a chance to get on the Oasis.
Summing up, if you have read the other Chronicles Of The Thaw books then this is a must read! If you haven’t read any of the books yet, I recommend you start reading them! The characters in this book really do go through both gruelling and gruesome trials just for the chance of a place on a ship that has yet to arrive, to go in search of a place Tomorrow Land that they don’t really have an idea where it is.
May 17, 2022
The Oasis Trials
Origins of Thaw #1
Dystopian, YA
Tamar Sloan & Heidi Catherine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Firstly I want to say a huge thank you to Heidi Catherine for gifting me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book had me gripped from the very beginning. I like a good dystopian book and this certainly didn’t disappoint.
Halo is such an interesting character: she follows her father's teachings and the word of Terra (their religious idol) but has her own dreams and ambitions that create conflict and turmoil within her. Fyve was a little frustrating with how stubborn he was but that only drew me in more.
The pacing is great, there was never a dull or boring moment and while we don't really get much world building outside of the island, I don't think there needs to be.
There were moments that made me so frustrated with certain characters, moments where I felt sympathy and empathised with certain characters but there were a few characters I wanted to just slap 😂.
The ending was perfect, it was a cliff hanger done in just the right way so that I can't wait to read the second book!
My only complaint is that I have to wait until September to read the next book. I need answers and I need them now 😂
Origins of Thaw #1
Dystopian, YA
Tamar Sloan & Heidi Catherine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Firstly I want to say a huge thank you to Heidi Catherine for gifting me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book had me gripped from the very beginning. I like a good dystopian book and this certainly didn’t disappoint.
Halo is such an interesting character: she follows her father's teachings and the word of Terra (their religious idol) but has her own dreams and ambitions that create conflict and turmoil within her. Fyve was a little frustrating with how stubborn he was but that only drew me in more.
The pacing is great, there was never a dull or boring moment and while we don't really get much world building outside of the island, I don't think there needs to be.
There were moments that made me so frustrated with certain characters, moments where I felt sympathy and empathised with certain characters but there were a few characters I wanted to just slap 😂.
The ending was perfect, it was a cliff hanger done in just the right way so that I can't wait to read the second book!
My only complaint is that I have to wait until September to read the next book. I need answers and I need them now 😂
June 2, 2022
YA Dystopian that reminded me of Maze Runner! Lots of mystery built into traditions of these people living on an island. The island is a trash pile. It has virtually no resources and the residents live a life of constantly fighting for survival. They compete in a series of tournaments to hope they will have the option of a better future. The characters were well written and you either loved the heros or hated the villains. There are a few grey characters too and I'm ready to learn more about them! There is a little love story but no spice. Great middle grade or up! I got sucked in and had to stay up late for those last few chapters! Nail bitters! Book two needs to get here fast!
August 2, 2022
This is book one of the Origins of Thaw and the main characters are Fyve and Halo. Halo has grown up as the daughter of Treasure Island’s leader, Elijah, who somehow hears the voice of Terra, a godlike figure they show gratitude to daily. Anyone who speaks out against Terra usually ends up dying soon after, with blood pouring out of every orifice and in extreme pain. Treasure Island is all most of them have known and it is an island built entirely out of rubbish, floating in the ocean. The ocean itself is red in colour and acidic, eating away at skin if left exposed to it for too long. The only thing that seems to live in the water are leatherskins, a sort of shark. They have to catch rainwater to drink and catch rats or insects as their main food source. There is no other wildlife or even a scrap of vegetation or habitat left in their small plane of existence. Halo has an older brother Ajax, who can be nice one minute, but then ignore her the next, and has a girlfriend Cloud, who is heavily pregnant. Every night, the whole population of the island gather to give gratitude to Terra, as the sun sets. Fyve has to look after his little sister Sevin, he and his siblings were all named after numbers by their mother, who disappears for months at a time on her small raft, to search for land. They have lost six of their siblings, Won, Too, Threy, Fore, Syx and Ate, something not too unusual in the harsh conditions they all live in, with a severe lack of food and no real medicine or doctors.
Halo is a dreamer and a scientifically minded person, always tinkering with scraps and things she finds washed up on the beaches or in the piles of rubbish. Her latest invention was an artificial tree, made from a heavy metal pole and lots of plastic pieces to represent the leaves of the tree. When her father sees it, he is not happy and any mention of making more of them is shot down straight away, as something frivolous and that Terra would not appreciate! She soon finds that Sevin has been following her around for ages and is of a similar mindset as Halo, loving to tinker and experiment, with a very logical mind and able to work out puzzles. Hopes of finding Tomorrow Land, a place of supposed salvation and a promised land with plenty to eat and drink and a place to survive. When Elijah tells everyone that he has had a message from Terra, promising a ship to the Tomorrow Land, with one hundred young people aged thirteen to nineteen only, being able to take part in a series of five trials to win a place on the ship! Lots of others who cannot take part start to voice their discord and Terra soon makes others think before thinking or saying anything else. It is assumed that Halo and Ajax will automatically get a place on the ship because of who their father is, but both will have to take part in the trials anyway.
Fyve’s cousin Coal is desperate to win a place on the ship, even though he has problems with his eyesight, as does Sevin, something that runs in both of their families. Sevin is only twelve, so can’t take place, and so Fyve also doesn’t want to take part, as he won’t leave her all alone to try and survive on their island of rubbish, especially with her failing sight. Supposedly, the ship will return for the rest of the inhabitants of Treasure Island, but there is no definitive time frame or even certainty that will happen. Coal has a number of younger siblings and a mother who stays at home, so this is his chance to make a better life for them all, as he sees it. But when Sevin steps up to enter the trials and his own mother speaks up to confirm the lie that she is in fact thirteen, Fyve is left with no choice but to take part as well, so they won’t be split apart. Each of the trials becomes harder for all the participants, with little food, water or even rest for all, and each trial getting more dangerous. Passing each trial is the only guarantee to get out of a life of starvation and strife, with little hope of full lives for all. With Fyve and Halo getting closer and a possible romance beginning between them, they either both will end up on the ship, or they will have a hard decision to make. In each trial, someone dies and questions are asked as to why Terra would allow that to happen, when all of them are trying so hard to please them! Halo questions whether everything they are going through will truly be worth it, especially since no one has ever seen this Terra being, nor heard from them, apart from her father. Being chosen comes with a serious price, as many will do all they can to win their place and others will sabotage their efforts. The Trials become a fight of desperation, using up all the strength each of them have, but also testing their stamina, brains, and teamwork. What has to be done to pass each test is never quite clear and makes wondering if each has passed, so much harder to figure out. The ship does finally appear, but brings its own mysteries as everyone wonders why everyone can’t be taken as it is so huge, but also where the crew are and who or where Terra is! A hard hitting series of trials for the teens to overcome and lots of loss along the way makes the decision whether to get on the ship, so much harder! I can’t wait to see what happens next, as there are so many questions still to be answered. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Halo is a dreamer and a scientifically minded person, always tinkering with scraps and things she finds washed up on the beaches or in the piles of rubbish. Her latest invention was an artificial tree, made from a heavy metal pole and lots of plastic pieces to represent the leaves of the tree. When her father sees it, he is not happy and any mention of making more of them is shot down straight away, as something frivolous and that Terra would not appreciate! She soon finds that Sevin has been following her around for ages and is of a similar mindset as Halo, loving to tinker and experiment, with a very logical mind and able to work out puzzles. Hopes of finding Tomorrow Land, a place of supposed salvation and a promised land with plenty to eat and drink and a place to survive. When Elijah tells everyone that he has had a message from Terra, promising a ship to the Tomorrow Land, with one hundred young people aged thirteen to nineteen only, being able to take part in a series of five trials to win a place on the ship! Lots of others who cannot take part start to voice their discord and Terra soon makes others think before thinking or saying anything else. It is assumed that Halo and Ajax will automatically get a place on the ship because of who their father is, but both will have to take part in the trials anyway.
Fyve’s cousin Coal is desperate to win a place on the ship, even though he has problems with his eyesight, as does Sevin, something that runs in both of their families. Sevin is only twelve, so can’t take place, and so Fyve also doesn’t want to take part, as he won’t leave her all alone to try and survive on their island of rubbish, especially with her failing sight. Supposedly, the ship will return for the rest of the inhabitants of Treasure Island, but there is no definitive time frame or even certainty that will happen. Coal has a number of younger siblings and a mother who stays at home, so this is his chance to make a better life for them all, as he sees it. But when Sevin steps up to enter the trials and his own mother speaks up to confirm the lie that she is in fact thirteen, Fyve is left with no choice but to take part as well, so they won’t be split apart. Each of the trials becomes harder for all the participants, with little food, water or even rest for all, and each trial getting more dangerous. Passing each trial is the only guarantee to get out of a life of starvation and strife, with little hope of full lives for all. With Fyve and Halo getting closer and a possible romance beginning between them, they either both will end up on the ship, or they will have a hard decision to make. In each trial, someone dies and questions are asked as to why Terra would allow that to happen, when all of them are trying so hard to please them! Halo questions whether everything they are going through will truly be worth it, especially since no one has ever seen this Terra being, nor heard from them, apart from her father. Being chosen comes with a serious price, as many will do all they can to win their place and others will sabotage their efforts. The Trials become a fight of desperation, using up all the strength each of them have, but also testing their stamina, brains, and teamwork. What has to be done to pass each test is never quite clear and makes wondering if each has passed, so much harder to figure out. The ship does finally appear, but brings its own mysteries as everyone wonders why everyone can’t be taken as it is so huge, but also where the crew are and who or where Terra is! A hard hitting series of trials for the teens to overcome and lots of loss along the way makes the decision whether to get on the ship, so much harder! I can’t wait to see what happens next, as there are so many questions still to be answered. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
May 22, 2022
“The Thaw Chronicles” is not only great YA dystopian series, but certainly the very best! Sloan & Catherine’s enthralling new verse captivated the readers from the very first page book, and have kept the fires burning ever since 😉 showing us Askala, as a (maybe not so) distant future version of our own, and succeeding in mixing fictional and realistic tropes into a fully satisfying story, that is first and foremost entertaining, as every timeless story has to be. The Thaw Chronicles are not mere books series, they are a verse on its own, that encompasses, including the present addition - storylines: ‘After the Thaw’, ‘Beyond the Thaw’, ‘Tournaments of Thaw’ and the present ‘The Origins of Thaw’.
Reading “Burning: After the Thaw Prequel” back in December 2019, I immediately realized that it will become “One of the best YA dystopian series of all times”, I corrected myself immediately - after reading the first full-length book in which will eventually become the “After the Thaw” Tetralogy - to coin this series “without any doubt the best YA dystopian series ever”, an opinion that has been proven right over and over again which any new addition to the verse. “The Oasis Trials” is not exception, moreover, it’s exactly the story I longed to read since the very first installment in the series, and the answer to my question “how did it really began”. I will do the story no disservice by summarizing the plot right her, that what the blurb above is for. I will just tell you that you don’t want to miss any of it. Whatever you are already acquainted to the verse or you are just a newcomer discovering “The Thaw Chronicles” through this book - I almost envy you, to get to enjoy the verse for the very first time… but to be honest I don’t envy you that much 😉, this is the kind of series you’ll read over and over again, becomes a part of you 😊, and still feels as fresh as the very first time – every witch way this is the book you were looking for,
Sloan & Catherine’s wonderful dystopian world, foreign yet familiar, both beautiful and terrifying captivates the reader at first read. Their fluid and nuanced writing conveys a powerful message, whose actuality is plainly apparent. The extraordinary thoroughly created world is populated by well developed and multifaceted characters, credible and relatable at all times. The story of the Oasis Trials aligns perfectly into “The Thaw Chronicles”-Verse, a fast-paced story, that provides action non-stop, an intelligent plot, and very satisfactory developments, a real page-turner, a great adventure that leaves a lasting impression without disregarding the level of pure entertainment every good story should provide.
I’ve already stated it in numerous occasions, but is always worth repeating... for the people in the back 😉 and those new to the verse: “The Thaw Chronicles” is without any doubt the best YA dystopian series ever, it not only lines up effortlessly with “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent”, it surpass them effortlessly, confronting the reader with a very carefully crafted world, the right amount of dystopia and social critique, and a constantly questioning of the values and drawbacks of that given society and its organization, allowing the reader to understand the strengths and flaws of the system and to find unsettling similarities to our own social shortcomings.
Reading “Burning: After the Thaw Prequel” back in December 2019, I immediately realized that it will become “One of the best YA dystopian series of all times”, I corrected myself immediately - after reading the first full-length book in which will eventually become the “After the Thaw” Tetralogy - to coin this series “without any doubt the best YA dystopian series ever”, an opinion that has been proven right over and over again which any new addition to the verse. “The Oasis Trials” is not exception, moreover, it’s exactly the story I longed to read since the very first installment in the series, and the answer to my question “how did it really began”. I will do the story no disservice by summarizing the plot right her, that what the blurb above is for. I will just tell you that you don’t want to miss any of it. Whatever you are already acquainted to the verse or you are just a newcomer discovering “The Thaw Chronicles” through this book - I almost envy you, to get to enjoy the verse for the very first time… but to be honest I don’t envy you that much 😉, this is the kind of series you’ll read over and over again, becomes a part of you 😊, and still feels as fresh as the very first time – every witch way this is the book you were looking for,
Sloan & Catherine’s wonderful dystopian world, foreign yet familiar, both beautiful and terrifying captivates the reader at first read. Their fluid and nuanced writing conveys a powerful message, whose actuality is plainly apparent. The extraordinary thoroughly created world is populated by well developed and multifaceted characters, credible and relatable at all times. The story of the Oasis Trials aligns perfectly into “The Thaw Chronicles”-Verse, a fast-paced story, that provides action non-stop, an intelligent plot, and very satisfactory developments, a real page-turner, a great adventure that leaves a lasting impression without disregarding the level of pure entertainment every good story should provide.
I’ve already stated it in numerous occasions, but is always worth repeating... for the people in the back 😉 and those new to the verse: “The Thaw Chronicles” is without any doubt the best YA dystopian series ever, it not only lines up effortlessly with “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent”, it surpass them effortlessly, confronting the reader with a very carefully crafted world, the right amount of dystopia and social critique, and a constantly questioning of the values and drawbacks of that given society and its organization, allowing the reader to understand the strengths and flaws of the system and to find unsettling similarities to our own social shortcomings.
January 30, 2023
Tragically underdeveloped
I feel like this story (and inevitably the entire series) was meant to be read by those who are already familiar with the Thaw series. Once I placed where in the timeline this series belongs, the lack of crucial details of this world that will inevitably lead to The Thaw Chronicles was glaringly obvious. If this was my first exposure to the Thaw series, I likely may not have even bothered to read beyond this first entry. But since I AM familiar with the Thaw series, I'm obligated to ride it out in its entirety because my curiosity is unkillable. It's still an origin tale, after all, just not a nicely embellished one.
That being said, despite my intending to ride this entire series out, (and I will) it doesn't mean this was a good entry. I wanted to give it 3-stars for at least maintaining my interest, but alas...the underdeveloped world and characters did more harm than good. I wanted more flesh to things. More substance. But that didn't exist. The trials themselves were painfully corny and did nothing to capture my interest. It was nice getting to know Halo and Fyve, but their relationship was poorly rushed and difficult to believe. Side characters are even worse, often feeling like fillers. However, I did enjoy many interactions between characters at least.
All in all, this was simply an okay read. Mostly meh. But given how it ended, I have a feeling that the second entry may likely deliver to me what this one lacked. We shall see.
I feel like this story (and inevitably the entire series) was meant to be read by those who are already familiar with the Thaw series. Once I placed where in the timeline this series belongs, the lack of crucial details of this world that will inevitably lead to The Thaw Chronicles was glaringly obvious. If this was my first exposure to the Thaw series, I likely may not have even bothered to read beyond this first entry. But since I AM familiar with the Thaw series, I'm obligated to ride it out in its entirety because my curiosity is unkillable. It's still an origin tale, after all, just not a nicely embellished one.
That being said, despite my intending to ride this entire series out, (and I will) it doesn't mean this was a good entry. I wanted to give it 3-stars for at least maintaining my interest, but alas...the underdeveloped world and characters did more harm than good. I wanted more flesh to things. More substance. But that didn't exist. The trials themselves were painfully corny and did nothing to capture my interest. It was nice getting to know Halo and Fyve, but their relationship was poorly rushed and difficult to believe. Side characters are even worse, often feeling like fillers. However, I did enjoy many interactions between characters at least.
All in all, this was simply an okay read. Mostly meh. But given how it ended, I have a feeling that the second entry may likely deliver to me what this one lacked. We shall see.
May 31, 2022
This is the first book that I e read by this author and I am completely hooked. This is the first book in the Origins of Thaw series. Character development and world building was amazing! I was a fan of Divergent and Hunger Games and this gives me those vibes.
In the world of Terra, being lost to global warming, the leader promises 100 teens a new life heading to Tomorrow Land. But these teens must pass 5 tests which will prove to be both trying and deadly. Fyve had had a hard life but if he passes is bittersweet as he will have a better life but at the cost of leaving his family and sister Sevin behind.
Halo is the leaders daughter, determined to fight her way and earn her spot. This journey these two are about to take will leave you shocked, in love and cheering for Halo and Fyve.
A perfect mixture of suspense, drama, laughs, crying, action, love, lord and so much more. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!
I received this arc and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
In the world of Terra, being lost to global warming, the leader promises 100 teens a new life heading to Tomorrow Land. But these teens must pass 5 tests which will prove to be both trying and deadly. Fyve had had a hard life but if he passes is bittersweet as he will have a better life but at the cost of leaving his family and sister Sevin behind.
Halo is the leaders daughter, determined to fight her way and earn her spot. This journey these two are about to take will leave you shocked, in love and cheering for Halo and Fyve.
A perfect mixture of suspense, drama, laughs, crying, action, love, lord and so much more. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!
I received this arc and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
May 31, 2022
Honestly there are so many things to love about this series. Halo, Fyve, Sevin, etc are a phenomenal cast of characters (and just because I didn't list them doesn't mean I love them any less) who are real and flawed and determined. None of them fit the mold of what much of YA has become and neither does the plot of this book.
This takes place on an island made of trash after much of the earth was destroyed by acidic water in the ocean. Everyone has to fight to survive until their leader (Halo's father) declares a boat is coming and 100 young men and women will board it to find land. Chaos ensues in the form of the five trials.
What I love most about this book is that it doesn't gloss over the violence and death and pain like most YA books do, while also not overdoing it like GoT (which, I know, is not YA in any sense). Just be warned - your heart will break in this book for so many characters.
Go and read this. For real. Stop reading this review and start reading The Oasis Trials.
This takes place on an island made of trash after much of the earth was destroyed by acidic water in the ocean. Everyone has to fight to survive until their leader (Halo's father) declares a boat is coming and 100 young men and women will board it to find land. Chaos ensues in the form of the five trials.
What I love most about this book is that it doesn't gloss over the violence and death and pain like most YA books do, while also not overdoing it like GoT (which, I know, is not YA in any sense). Just be warned - your heart will break in this book for so many characters.
Go and read this. For real. Stop reading this review and start reading The Oasis Trials.
May 28, 2022
Not only the cover of the book is interesting, but the content as well! It is well-written, and the authors have been building up the story making it hard for me to put it down.
I like the development of Halo's character on how she originally had faith but experienced a crisis when she began doubting the motives and actions of Terra. On the other hand, Fyve's character was steadfast in his lack of faith in Terra. It is heartbreaking though to see good people die. I wanted Coal and Striker to join them in their adventure toward Tomorrow Land. I'm also curious as to what lies ahead for Sevin. I'm also interested in how Terra scientifically makes her "claims": is it really supernatural or something was priorly done that can be triggered for "claiming"? I can't wait for the next book!
Thanks, Ms. Heidi Catherine for giving me the opportunity of reading your book! It's a great book and I enjoyed reading it.
I like the development of Halo's character on how she originally had faith but experienced a crisis when she began doubting the motives and actions of Terra. On the other hand, Fyve's character was steadfast in his lack of faith in Terra. It is heartbreaking though to see good people die. I wanted Coal and Striker to join them in their adventure toward Tomorrow Land. I'm also curious as to what lies ahead for Sevin. I'm also interested in how Terra scientifically makes her "claims": is it really supernatural or something was priorly done that can be triggered for "claiming"? I can't wait for the next book!
Thanks, Ms. Heidi Catherine for giving me the opportunity of reading your book! It's a great book and I enjoyed reading it.
May 25, 2022
Wow, Tamar Storm really puts her characters through the ringer. Set on a tropical island made of discarded rubbish on a planet flooded by acidic oceans, teenagers compete for 100 places on a ship their God is apparently sending to take them to safety on Tomorrow Land. The island is not a nice place, the main food is rat, every day is a struggle to survive. Five trials each more gruelling and dangerous, people die. The characters are wonderful, flawed, courageous, intelligent and resourceful. The story is stunning, the world building intelligent and detailed. The book has a climax but not an ending and I really look forward to the next book. I could not out it down and cannot rate it highly enough.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 30, 2022
I just finished this book a few minutes ago and I’m still a bit in awe of how much I enjoyed it. It was very well written and I especially liked the main characters we got to follow throughout it. Even though romance was a part of this story, I was so glad that it didn’t end up being the center of my attention. Sure, the main characters had to think about how they could possibly get through these trials with or without each other, but seeing them still act independently was so refreshing. I will admit that I was a bit bored by the sheer similarity of this book to other YA dystopian novels, but that didn’t ruin the fun for me. It had its fair share of similarities, but the authors also did a great job of making it a unique story and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! I received a free copy of this story from Hidden Gems and am choosing to leave an honest review.
May 31, 2022
An unknown entity named Terra is the provider for Treasure Island, a floating mass of trash that sits in an ocean of acidic water. Most of the people who live on the island have a hard life. Dying of starvation is normal. Fyve and Sevin are the only siblings left of the original eight. Won, Too, Threy, Fore, Syx, and Ate all died of starvation. Halo is the daughter of the leader, the one who talks to Terra. When a contest is used as the means to decide which hundred teens will be traveling to Tomorrow Land, Fyve, Sevin, and Halo all work hard to make the cut. This story is full of enough action to keep readers spellbound plus includes some romance and ends with a cliffhanger. Very highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 14, 2023
Soooo many questions. The timeline of this final set has thrown me for a loop. It feels like these should have been the first books in the series, rather than the last. The entire time, I've been trying to figure out which characters are being set up for being the ancestors of characters in previous books. I have some ideas, but who knows if I'll ever find out. This is definitely an interesting way to end the series.....all the way back to the very beginning of it all. It kind of reminds me of the movie Momento, but not quite, since the entire series isn't written chronologically backwards. Only two books left in the series.......I hope I will be left with more answered questions than unanswered.
May 21, 2022
I just can't get over this book. it's raw, eery, brutal and yet, there's love and hope.
The book plays on a tropical island, but without shade, made up of trash and sand, surrounded by an acidic ocean. Water is hard to get. The island moves with the currents over the sea. Food is few and consists of the odd insects and rats.
What would you do for hope? For a chance to escape?
The writers did an amazing job where I sometimes wanted to put the book down... but couldn't. The story will take you in and will not let go. Can't wait to read the rest of the series, as I have a suspicion, it's not going to be smooth sailing from here on.
The book plays on a tropical island, but without shade, made up of trash and sand, surrounded by an acidic ocean. Water is hard to get. The island moves with the currents over the sea. Food is few and consists of the odd insects and rats.
What would you do for hope? For a chance to escape?
The writers did an amazing job where I sometimes wanted to put the book down... but couldn't. The story will take you in and will not let go. Can't wait to read the rest of the series, as I have a suspicion, it's not going to be smooth sailing from here on.
May 26, 2022
This book started interesting, I felt like I knew the characters just from their descriptions. However the pain and suffering they live through daily brought me to tears several times. This book make me think of what will happen to our world if we continue to waste resources, disregard the environment and trust just a few people to make decisions for us all.
I couldn’t put the book down when I got to the end I was devastated because I need to know if they make it Ms what happens to the people they left on Treasure Island. I highly recommend this book.
I couldn’t put the book down when I got to the end I was devastated because I need to know if they make it Ms what happens to the people they left on Treasure Island. I highly recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2022
This is a fantastic YA dystopian read. It’s a gripping and enthralling read that grabs you from the very start as we enter the incredible world of Terra. We meet Halo who is an interesting and intriguing character and then there’s Fyve whose stubborn and a little annoying. It’s an intense storyline, entertaining and intriguing with a dash of romance. It’s complex at times, frustrating in others, it’s made me laugh, it’s made my tear up and it’s had me on the edge of my seat. Full of drama, suspense and surprises I am anxious to read the next book.
May 28, 2022
I had a hard time getting into this book at the beginning. After I pushed through it grabbed my attention and I was totally immersed in in it. The dystopian world the authors created is so desolate!
Fyve, Sevin and Halo really grow on you and it is heart stopping in some parts of the trials. The climatic ending chapters are draining! Just wow!
I am very interested in seeing what happens next. Who is Terra and how can she cause the Claiming death?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fyve, Sevin and Halo really grow on you and it is heart stopping in some parts of the trials. The climatic ending chapters are draining! Just wow!
I am very interested in seeing what happens next. Who is Terra and how can she cause the Claiming death?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2022
Netflix Are You Listening?
The Queens of dystopian series books kick ass again with a new series of books. The Thaw Chronicles are by far the best dystopian books I've ever read. Far better than The Hunger Games or Divergent! You become quickly engaged with the characters and the storyline and it latches on you like the leatherskin sharks (pun intended) and never lets go. You will laugh, cry, your heart will beat furiously and you will cheer. I can't state it any planner - you have to read these books!!!!
The Queens of dystopian series books kick ass again with a new series of books. The Thaw Chronicles are by far the best dystopian books I've ever read. Far better than The Hunger Games or Divergent! You become quickly engaged with the characters and the storyline and it latches on you like the leatherskin sharks (pun intended) and never lets go. You will laugh, cry, your heart will beat furiously and you will cheer. I can't state it any planner - you have to read these books!!!!
May 29, 2022
A wonderful journey!
Full of angst, danger, hope, anger….
A lot of emotions, and a complex story.
Becouse nothing is as it seems!
With a lot of twists and turns, this story will keep you breathless.
And offen on the brink of despair.
A lot of wonderful characters: Halo, Fyve, Sevin, Coal.
I’m anxious to read about the adventures of Halo and Fyve, but I will love to know more about the Treasure lsland and the ones left behind. About Sevin, Cee, ad the rest of the family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Full of angst, danger, hope, anger….
A lot of emotions, and a complex story.
Becouse nothing is as it seems!
With a lot of twists and turns, this story will keep you breathless.
And offen on the brink of despair.
A lot of wonderful characters: Halo, Fyve, Sevin, Coal.
I’m anxious to read about the adventures of Halo and Fyve, but I will love to know more about the Treasure lsland and the ones left behind. About Sevin, Cee, ad the rest of the family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 3, 2023
Having read books by these authors before I had really high expectations on this series, and I truly was not disappointed. This was without a doubt, the best book to start off the new year. So much tension and suspense, as well as great characters and a seductive plot line that got me reaching for book 2 at 2 in the morning on a workday! I honestly cannot wait to see what the series has in store. Although I miss Askala, from the previous series, this is one of those stories that will keep you up at night wanting more and more.
May 22, 2022
I don’t usually read dystopia book series but I loved the cover on this book.
This storyline was intense and exciting at time and other times just utterly frustrating at other character choices.
The characters were strong and the storyline I still can’t get over. I cried and laughed at times and also was frustrated but I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This storyline was intense and exciting at time and other times just utterly frustrating at other character choices.
The characters were strong and the storyline I still can’t get over. I cried and laughed at times and also was frustrated but I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 22, 2022
The authors sets the reader up with a new dystopian world. The characters have to compete in different trials in order to escape their current environment. Tomorrow World sounds promising, but as the trials move along the promise of a new world doesn’t seem so great. A fantastic plot and characters, the author’s did a great job. Hopefully, this series becomes a movie, I would definitely watch it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 24, 2022
This was a fantastic world builder with an intriguing storyline and incredible characters. That took you on a roller coaster of emotions and was filled with suspense, drama, chemistry and twists. A captivating read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 27, 2022
I really enjoy dystopian style reads, so I was all on board for all of that. Love the competition aspect to the story; good intensity and interesting action. These characters are put through the ringer! Liked the dynamic between Fyve and Halo, and that they are both strong characters. Totally entertaining read! Looking forward to reading the next one with that cliffhanger ending!
May 27, 2022
This book deserves way more than 5 stars! It's been a long time since a series has pulled me in so completely! I gasped aloud while reading, and was flipping through the novel so fast if it was a paperback I would be covered in paper cuts! What an awesome introduction to the Thaw Chronicles! I am so happy I still have 6 more of those queued up on my Kindle app!
May 28, 2022
This needs to be a movie!
The Oasis trials is one of the best dystopian stories I have read in a long time! Solid world building and amazing characters. You will feel their struggle, pain, and hope with every page you turn! This is an adventure I would love to watch in the movies!
The Oasis trials is one of the best dystopian stories I have read in a long time! Solid world building and amazing characters. You will feel their struggle, pain, and hope with every page you turn! This is an adventure I would love to watch in the movies!
July 1, 2022
This book had a lot of interesting points. I just think it was all developed very rapidly and awkwardly. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and when something would happen it wouldn’t be too shocked. Honestly the build up wasn’t there and it felt very random at time. The only character I think I liked ended up leaving.
January 4, 2023
TRIALS & TREASURES & TRAGEDIES & TIMELESS ROMANCE!!:-)
The trials were INTENSE & CONFUSING for sure!! The romance that blossoms amongst the tragedies that transpire is SOOO BEAUTIFUL!!! Breathtaking beginning to this FANTASTIC Dystopian Series!! Cannot WAIT to read the next one!!:-). LOVED IT!!!:-)
The trials were INTENSE & CONFUSING for sure!! The romance that blossoms amongst the tragedies that transpire is SOOO BEAUTIFUL!!! Breathtaking beginning to this FANTASTIC Dystopian Series!! Cannot WAIT to read the next one!!:-). LOVED IT!!!:-)
May 20, 2022
This book was intense and exciting. The characters were strong and the storyline was great. I cried and laughed at times and also was frustrated but I couldn’t put it down. I loved it and can’t wait for more.
May 26, 2022
A brilliant first story in this amazing new fantasy series! A really enjoyable book; so well written as always, amazing ideas & interesting characters! I will really look forward to the next part, can't wait to read what happens! I do recommend!
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