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Sol Survivors #1
Knowledge Itself
After solar flares wipe out electrical grids worldwide, a small community survives by selling data recovered from decrepit hard drives and rare books. Nostalgic for the days of big business, the commune's founding members call themselves Corporate and micromanage everyone.
Raised into the hustle, Iris Ecosia's ADHD brain rebels at Corporate's strict structure. It's not all bad though. She attracts the attention of Robert Lycos, the son of one of the Shareholders, but their relationship comes to a crashing end when she loses focus at a critical moment and a vital piece of equipment is destroyed.
The mistake plunges her into debt. Corporate demotes her to an indentured gardener. Her romance with Robert dissolves. Worse, there are no paid sick days in the post apocalypse. So when Iris's whole family falls ill, starvation is soon knocking on their door. Meanwhile, the Shareholders live like tycoons.
Iris and her family are not alone in their poverty or their impotent rage at the corporation who keeps them poor, hungry, and dependent. An underground revolution intent on toppling Corporate wants to recruit her. She can still do big things if she joins them, but if she's caught, the Shareholders won't stop at destroying her. They'll go after her family too.
Raised into the hustle, Iris Ecosia's ADHD brain rebels at Corporate's strict structure. It's not all bad though. She attracts the attention of Robert Lycos, the son of one of the Shareholders, but their relationship comes to a crashing end when she loses focus at a critical moment and a vital piece of equipment is destroyed.
The mistake plunges her into debt. Corporate demotes her to an indentured gardener. Her romance with Robert dissolves. Worse, there are no paid sick days in the post apocalypse. So when Iris's whole family falls ill, starvation is soon knocking on their door. Meanwhile, the Shareholders live like tycoons.
Iris and her family are not alone in their poverty or their impotent rage at the corporation who keeps them poor, hungry, and dependent. An underground revolution intent on toppling Corporate wants to recruit her. She can still do big things if she joins them, but if she's caught, the Shareholders won't stop at destroying her. They'll go after her family too.
- GenresYoung Adult
312 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2022
1 person is currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Campbell
10 books114 followersAt a young age, Shelly Campbell wanted to be an air show pilot or a pirate, possibly a dragon and definitely a writer and artist. She’s piloted a Cessna 172 through spins and stalls, and sailed up the east coast on a tall ship barque—mostly without projectile vomiting. In the end, Shelly found writing stories and drawing dragons to be so much easier on the stomach.
Shelly's tales are speculative fiction, tending toward literary with dollops of oddity. She enjoys the challenge of exploring new techniques and subject matter, and strives to embed inspiring stories in her writing and art.
Shelly's tales are speculative fiction, tending toward literary with dollops of oddity. She enjoys the challenge of exploring new techniques and subject matter, and strives to embed inspiring stories in her writing and art.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 15, 2022
A solid YA dystopian. Iris really makes the book, as she tries to navigate a world that has no place for her ADHD mind. Her journey of growth and discovery felt very real, as she not only finds skills that suit her, but also people who value her as is and people who are manipulative and see her only as another tool. And neither she nor the reader always can recognize who is who. The plot had a number of interesting twists and turns, and though the pace was somewhat slower at the beginning, in the second half it absolutely raced along. I'd recommend this one for adults who like the genre and teens, particularly if they are neurodivergent.
August 15, 2022
Where was this book when I was growing up???
As I noticed in the prequel (On Broken Days), this seems to be written for all of us Neurodivergents trying to be ourselves in a world that wants us ‘in the box”. My heart cried when the authors described Iris and her interest-based focus (yes, that’s a real thing) as opposed to goal-based:
‘If I’d been saddled with a subject that didn’t interest me, there would have been no way I could have forced my brain to focus.’
She’s lectured on finishing what she starts, over-writing, being left-handed. She forgets about food and rest due to timeblindness and Hyperfocusing (which actually are important skills that NT’s don’t usually develop). Her intrusive thoughts take her away from a moment when somebody compliments her on being a risk-taker. When NT’s don’t employ ways of communicating to work around Auditory Processing Issues combined with Immediate Short-term Memory Issues (words going in one ear and out the other then forgetting they were ever heard by the ears), people’s life could be in danger.
Oh, and any sentence beginning with “Just (do) such-and-such” or “TRY to remember… don’t don’t don’t even go there.
ND’s are gaslit all the time. Repeatedly being told from childhood that one is ‘not normal”, has anomalies in the brain, or ‘a virus in my circuitry’ causes psychological trauma. Then comes the internalizing and a downward spiral into depression, eating disorders, etc. If adults are still repressing children & teens in future pot-apocolyptic times, how on Earth do they expect to survive with only NT brains?
Rather than using the word ‘accommodate” in regards to ND’s, it’s well past time to replace it with “optimize”. Change.The Narrative.
And it’s not just Iris who’s mismatched:
Her parapalgeic brother is given a high-risk physical job because it’s prestigious.
Her school project teammate seemed to think that they would both contribute equally rather than by their separate skills set. It’s all about reaching goals and results by staying in lock-step. No creative process.
‘Gardening is where Corporate put people who couldn’t find placement anywhere else.’
Seriously, I’d want the people growing my food to be capable at it, even expert. In times of need, each person should be utilized to the best of their individual abilities. And it’d be relatively easy to manage in a commune of about 200 people.
The authors were creative in using terms from the Wire Age such as Firewalls (police), Browsers (hunters), Search Engines (technical office workers), etc. It really provided a feel for what they lost and what they are trying to build. Is holding on to a past that didn’t help humanity with survival skills going to help it survive? Would their efforts be better engaged by creating anew based on their current environment? How will their future look when their metal building deteriorate if they’re not looking into alternatives?
I wrote all this when I still had over two hundred pages more to read! And it just kept getting better…
As I noticed in the prequel (On Broken Days), this seems to be written for all of us Neurodivergents trying to be ourselves in a world that wants us ‘in the box”. My heart cried when the authors described Iris and her interest-based focus (yes, that’s a real thing) as opposed to goal-based:
‘If I’d been saddled with a subject that didn’t interest me, there would have been no way I could have forced my brain to focus.’
She’s lectured on finishing what she starts, over-writing, being left-handed. She forgets about food and rest due to timeblindness and Hyperfocusing (which actually are important skills that NT’s don’t usually develop). Her intrusive thoughts take her away from a moment when somebody compliments her on being a risk-taker. When NT’s don’t employ ways of communicating to work around Auditory Processing Issues combined with Immediate Short-term Memory Issues (words going in one ear and out the other then forgetting they were ever heard by the ears), people’s life could be in danger.
Oh, and any sentence beginning with “Just (do) such-and-such” or “TRY to remember… don’t don’t don’t even go there.
ND’s are gaslit all the time. Repeatedly being told from childhood that one is ‘not normal”, has anomalies in the brain, or ‘a virus in my circuitry’ causes psychological trauma. Then comes the internalizing and a downward spiral into depression, eating disorders, etc. If adults are still repressing children & teens in future pot-apocolyptic times, how on Earth do they expect to survive with only NT brains?
Rather than using the word ‘accommodate” in regards to ND’s, it’s well past time to replace it with “optimize”. Change.The Narrative.
And it’s not just Iris who’s mismatched:
Her parapalgeic brother is given a high-risk physical job because it’s prestigious.
Her school project teammate seemed to think that they would both contribute equally rather than by their separate skills set. It’s all about reaching goals and results by staying in lock-step. No creative process.
‘Gardening is where Corporate put people who couldn’t find placement anywhere else.’
Seriously, I’d want the people growing my food to be capable at it, even expert. In times of need, each person should be utilized to the best of their individual abilities. And it’d be relatively easy to manage in a commune of about 200 people.
The authors were creative in using terms from the Wire Age such as Firewalls (police), Browsers (hunters), Search Engines (technical office workers), etc. It really provided a feel for what they lost and what they are trying to build. Is holding on to a past that didn’t help humanity with survival skills going to help it survive? Would their efforts be better engaged by creating anew based on their current environment? How will their future look when their metal building deteriorate if they’re not looking into alternatives?
I wrote all this when I still had over two hundred pages more to read! And it just kept getting better…
July 16, 2022
No matter how hard she tries, Iris doesn't fit into the corporate machine of her post-collapse community. But if she can't fulfill her role in her tech-obsessed society, her family could lose their status, she could be demoted to the despised role of Gardener, or worst of all, she could be banished to the Outside, a vast wasteland wilderness where the plants are poison and the sun means death. As Iris learns more about the corporate greed that rules her town and the violence brewing Outside, she discovers that everything she believes may be a lie.
With exceptional prose and vibrant world-building, Campbell and King have crafted a post-apocalyptic world that challenges social structures based on class division, corporate greed, and rigid systems of obedience. It's a book that acknowledges the extra obstacles facing people who are considered "different" while also showing just how badass they can be. If you're looking for the next big thing in post-apocalyptic fiction, this is it!
With exceptional prose and vibrant world-building, Campbell and King have crafted a post-apocalyptic world that challenges social structures based on class division, corporate greed, and rigid systems of obedience. It's a book that acknowledges the extra obstacles facing people who are considered "different" while also showing just how badass they can be. If you're looking for the next big thing in post-apocalyptic fiction, this is it!
May 30, 2024
A chilling, futuristic society where the fight for resources and survival is paramount. I loved Iris' character, both flawed and brave at the same time. The secondary cast of characters also had a purpose and distinctive personalities of their own. The Canadian setting and the world-building are amazing and having been to a lot of these places, I could picture the story unfolding. I highly recommend this book for fans of YA and dystopian storylines.
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July 10, 2022I edited this book and I can say it's incredible. The best depiction of an ADHD mind I've ever read and she's the hero, as well she should be. However, I can't really rank it since I'm obviously not unbiased.
August 21, 2023
Challenging, dark, emotional, mysterious, reflective, sad, and tense.
Slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75 ⭐
It took a while for me to "get into" this story. I usually love dystopian stories, but for some reason...this one was TOO depressing.
In some ways, it reminded me of The Hunger Games (but inverted) and the Silo trilogy by Hugh Howey.
The ruling body (government) is unreasonable...and once you are on the outs, there's NO way of getting back on your feet.
In some ways, it reminded me of a Dickens or Dostoyevski novel. The dispair was real.
I felt for Iris, but there really wasn't ANYTHING that she could do. In fact, most everything that happened to her...happen TO her. She blames herself for all the bad that happens, but really...bad things kept happening to her and she was incapable to change it.
The end changed that, sort of...but this story isn't finished. I'd pick up the next story...for I do want to know what happens to Iris and Robert, and Vinton...and that's about all.
I wish that Iris had had more ways of changing her situation, but each time the reader thought she was actually changing her situation...it was a dupe/ruse that the author did to fake us out...and string us along. In some stories it works, but for me (and I say this truthfully, for me), for others might feel differently.
Slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75 ⭐
It took a while for me to "get into" this story. I usually love dystopian stories, but for some reason...this one was TOO depressing.
In some ways, it reminded me of The Hunger Games (but inverted) and the Silo trilogy by Hugh Howey.
The ruling body (government) is unreasonable...and once you are on the outs, there's NO way of getting back on your feet.
In some ways, it reminded me of a Dickens or Dostoyevski novel. The dispair was real.
I felt for Iris, but there really wasn't ANYTHING that she could do. In fact, most everything that happened to her...happen TO her. She blames herself for all the bad that happens, but really...bad things kept happening to her and she was incapable to change it.
The end changed that, sort of...but this story isn't finished. I'd pick up the next story...for I do want to know what happens to Iris and Robert, and Vinton...and that's about all.
I wish that Iris had had more ways of changing her situation, but each time the reader thought she was actually changing her situation...it was a dupe/ruse that the author did to fake us out...and string us along. In some stories it works, but for me (and I say this truthfully, for me), for others might feel differently.
September 8, 2022
Set in the near future, after solar flares have knocked out Earth's power grid and communication systems, our heroine, Iris, lives in a city that harvests old hard drives to try to rebuild the internet.
Iris grows up sheltered, living in a small community that only come out at night, because it's no longer safe to be exposed for long to sunlight. Everything is very structured, very rigid and controlled, and Iris's brain isn't wired for that kind of environment. She makes some critical mistakes and finds herself demoted to the lowest level in her society, and eventually banished from her city.
Outside, she discovers a plot that spells disaster for her former home, and she must risk everything to save the place and people she loves. Luckily, her out-of-the-box-thinking brain is just what's needed.
The writing is gorgeous and you are going to love Iris...she's very ADHD but in the best way.
The story's conclusion is satisfying and yet leaves you wanting more...can't wait for the sequel!!!
Iris grows up sheltered, living in a small community that only come out at night, because it's no longer safe to be exposed for long to sunlight. Everything is very structured, very rigid and controlled, and Iris's brain isn't wired for that kind of environment. She makes some critical mistakes and finds herself demoted to the lowest level in her society, and eventually banished from her city.
Outside, she discovers a plot that spells disaster for her former home, and she must risk everything to save the place and people she loves. Luckily, her out-of-the-box-thinking brain is just what's needed.
The writing is gorgeous and you are going to love Iris...she's very ADHD but in the best way.
The story's conclusion is satisfying and yet leaves you wanting more...can't wait for the sequel!!!
August 13, 2022
memorable characters, plenty of twists and turns, emotions and action, an interesting take on a possible future where everything is rationed.
Knowledge is Power.
In a world where the power grids have been wiped out and everything is scarce, the most valuable thing to trade is information, and that also shows. In the Corporate world digging up lost information from any discovered archives is considered one of the most desirable posts, and at best one can bring valuable changes/contribution to the community. What used to be common knowledge was trusted all too much to be looked up on the Internet whenever the need arises, and without it ... well, a poignant reminder for many of even modern generations who have neglected the wisdom passed on by our elders and who rely on online search engines instead, out of touch with nature and much of the reality in general. It wouldn't hurt to have a physical copy of the most important stuff and/or a good memory for the essentials. Some day your survival might depend on it. (Also food.)
"I know that feeling, being pulled a hundred different directions at once. My mind always does that. It never slows down. I always feel unanchored and drifting, and people think that I'm not paying attention or I'm lazy or I don't care, but I do care. ---"
With the main character considering herself "wired all wrong", yet starving to finish her education and trying her best to attain a desirable position in the Corporate system as a Search Engine, everything seems set for a glorious future with a well-paid job, but nothing ever turns out as planned, does it? She used to dream of life Outside the community, but as nothing is supposed to survive out in the sun, at least not for long (and she has the burnt scars on her face from her early youth as a reminder of the harsh conditions out there) she has been focused on making the best out of their secluded life in a sheltered environment. Turns out, it's a constant struggle. Things keeps getting worse every time they seem to get a bit better. As if struggling with herself hasn't been enough of a challenge so far... Is nothing what it seemed back then? Has she been lied to all her life? She ends up far from what her future had seemed to hold.
I hurt everyone I try to help...
I'd fragged it all up, again. Everything I touched. Everything.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of the story is the rich use of imaginative (and sensibly related) use of expressions and euphenisms instead of modern vernacular. The job descriptions, for example - Firewalls, Browsers, Search Engines, URLs mean something (or rather -ones) else here than what we're used to. Also, sending p-mail (read the book to figure that one out!) or the likes of "Oh my Sol, Nate. This is meg. This is gigabyte." I can see the use of those spreading... Representation of both physical and mental challenges is done well, the main character's brother with his wheelchair and her own mind constantly on the move for example. And now I feel like starting a garden for future necessities and stocking up on heritage seeds...
There are memorable characters (Sasquatch and Beetle moments, anyone?), emotional encounters, learning moments, and a lot of action as well. The world is crafted in an interesting way and it is easy to visualize the different surroundings and grasp the new (takes on) concepts. There seems to be a lot to cover yet in the future as well, since though there is a lot included in this first book, there is also a lot of backstory hinted at and plenty of fascinating turns on the road ahead. Easy to read, the story keeps in its hold, something of a rollercoaster at times, enjoyable and yet frustrating because you would want the characters you've started rooting for to get a peaceful, happy moment for once without something lurking in the background just waiting to fry the circuits again. Well, we'll see when the next book comes out... Intrigued to find out where this is all going.
Knowledge is Power.
In a world where the power grids have been wiped out and everything is scarce, the most valuable thing to trade is information, and that also shows. In the Corporate world digging up lost information from any discovered archives is considered one of the most desirable posts, and at best one can bring valuable changes/contribution to the community. What used to be common knowledge was trusted all too much to be looked up on the Internet whenever the need arises, and without it ... well, a poignant reminder for many of even modern generations who have neglected the wisdom passed on by our elders and who rely on online search engines instead, out of touch with nature and much of the reality in general. It wouldn't hurt to have a physical copy of the most important stuff and/or a good memory for the essentials. Some day your survival might depend on it. (Also food.)
"I know that feeling, being pulled a hundred different directions at once. My mind always does that. It never slows down. I always feel unanchored and drifting, and people think that I'm not paying attention or I'm lazy or I don't care, but I do care. ---"
With the main character considering herself "wired all wrong", yet starving to finish her education and trying her best to attain a desirable position in the Corporate system as a Search Engine, everything seems set for a glorious future with a well-paid job, but nothing ever turns out as planned, does it? She used to dream of life Outside the community, but as nothing is supposed to survive out in the sun, at least not for long (and she has the burnt scars on her face from her early youth as a reminder of the harsh conditions out there) she has been focused on making the best out of their secluded life in a sheltered environment. Turns out, it's a constant struggle. Things keeps getting worse every time they seem to get a bit better. As if struggling with herself hasn't been enough of a challenge so far... Is nothing what it seemed back then? Has she been lied to all her life? She ends up far from what her future had seemed to hold.
I hurt everyone I try to help...
I'd fragged it all up, again. Everything I touched. Everything.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of the story is the rich use of imaginative (and sensibly related) use of expressions and euphenisms instead of modern vernacular. The job descriptions, for example - Firewalls, Browsers, Search Engines, URLs mean something (or rather -ones) else here than what we're used to. Also, sending p-mail (read the book to figure that one out!) or the likes of "Oh my Sol, Nate. This is meg. This is gigabyte." I can see the use of those spreading... Representation of both physical and mental challenges is done well, the main character's brother with his wheelchair and her own mind constantly on the move for example. And now I feel like starting a garden for future necessities and stocking up on heritage seeds...
There are memorable characters (Sasquatch and Beetle moments, anyone?), emotional encounters, learning moments, and a lot of action as well. The world is crafted in an interesting way and it is easy to visualize the different surroundings and grasp the new (takes on) concepts. There seems to be a lot to cover yet in the future as well, since though there is a lot included in this first book, there is also a lot of backstory hinted at and plenty of fascinating turns on the road ahead. Easy to read, the story keeps in its hold, something of a rollercoaster at times, enjoyable and yet frustrating because you would want the characters you've started rooting for to get a peaceful, happy moment for once without something lurking in the background just waiting to fry the circuits again. Well, we'll see when the next book comes out... Intrigued to find out where this is all going.
June 25, 2022
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
This was a fun read. Despite it being dystopian, and the characters going through harrowing events. I enjoyed that the characters were flawed and often led astray by preconceived notions and ideas. the wordbuilding is interesting, many things in this world are as told by the protagonist and therefore unreliable. It was a quick read and if you are looking for a female character, making her way in a world ravaged by Solar Storms and lost tech, you will surely have a good time. The books ends on a cliffhanger. But I was told a second book is in the works.
This was a fun read. Despite it being dystopian, and the characters going through harrowing events. I enjoyed that the characters were flawed and often led astray by preconceived notions and ideas. the wordbuilding is interesting, many things in this world are as told by the protagonist and therefore unreliable. It was a quick read and if you are looking for a female character, making her way in a world ravaged by Solar Storms and lost tech, you will surely have a good time. The books ends on a cliffhanger. But I was told a second book is in the works.
September 21, 2022
♥️💙😲 A big crush !
Iris was nine years old when she dragged her big brother out of the safe house.
Her big brother slipped and then fell into a ravine and almost died.
At fifteen now, this story kept haunting her...
-----------------
A big crush for this excellent post-apocalyptic dystopia in which we follow the evolution of a young teenager in dangerous adventures.
I liked everything: the characters, the background plot and the unexpected.
I would not have guessed the ending.
I hope there will be a sequel!
I recommend to lovers of eventful and moving youth dystopia.
Well done to the authors!
Iris was nine years old when she dragged her big brother out of the safe house.
Her big brother slipped and then fell into a ravine and almost died.
At fifteen now, this story kept haunting her...
-----------------
A big crush for this excellent post-apocalyptic dystopia in which we follow the evolution of a young teenager in dangerous adventures.
I liked everything: the characters, the background plot and the unexpected.
I would not have guessed the ending.
I hope there will be a sequel!
I recommend to lovers of eventful and moving youth dystopia.
Well done to the authors!
October 13, 2022
I received a free copy of this audiobook and I have to say I LOVED IT. I am a sucker for post apocalyptic books-I cannot get enough of them. This one was different from the others I have read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I asked the author if there was another in the series because I am eager to find out what happens next but it has not been released yet. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next one in this series. The narration was great as well-I felt like I was there with the characters.
June 19, 2022
This was excellent! I truly loved it! A great dystopian, adventure story with a super, main character that struggles through this unfair world & yet comes out beautifully in the end! A little bit of everything, laughter, tears & excitement! A really emotional read! Well for me anyway! I do hope there will be more in this very enjoyable story & hopefully a series! Be warned a little teenage angst though! I do recommend! I will also look for more by these writers!
May 22, 2024
This dystopian tale will likely call to neurodivergent folks. Misstepping through the world just enough to think you are broken but really are the change we all may need. The main character is easily relatable as she navigates through a world not structured to value her way of thinking. There is no solid evil or glorious hood, just flawed people somewhere on that spectrum or both ends at the same time. A good escapist tale!
October 3, 2022
An awesome post-apocalyptic YA novel I am hoping to see (or in my case hear) more of!
I listened to the audio book narrated by Sarah Kisko who did a great job narrating the story. This book has everything I could wish for. Good world-building, phasing, character development, and most important of all an interesting and compelling story. I can definitely recommend this book if you are into this genre!
Hopefully the authors decide to continue Sol Survivors :)
I listened to the audio book narrated by Sarah Kisko who did a great job narrating the story. This book has everything I could wish for. Good world-building, phasing, character development, and most important of all an interesting and compelling story. I can definitely recommend this book if you are into this genre!
Hopefully the authors decide to continue Sol Survivors :)
August 11, 2022
Excellent two-for-one Post-Apocalyptic stories!
Knowledge Itself is a post-apocalyptic tale with a unique twist by a pair of authors that were new to me – Shelly Campbell and Megan King. Along with painting an detailed picture of the world Iris and her family live in, the character development is just as detailed. By the second chapter you feel like you have started on a journey with friends you grew up with. Hopefully there will be a second episode in the Sol Survivor’s series, but if not, this book is resolved in such a way that it ties up most of the unanswered questions from the story. If you are a post-apocalyptic story fan, grab a copy and I’m positive you will find this a very enjoyable story. I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the authors and chose to provide my review.
Along with Knowledge Itself a link is included for a free copy of On Broken Days a prequel to Knowledge Itself. As the prequel to Knowledge Itself this story gives the reader considerable insight into the relationship between Iris, Vinton, and Nate not to mention Iris’s mother. While this is a short story it doesn’t lack detail or character development and is action-packed. A must read before or after reading Knowledge Itself.
Knowledge Itself is a post-apocalyptic tale with a unique twist by a pair of authors that were new to me – Shelly Campbell and Megan King. Along with painting an detailed picture of the world Iris and her family live in, the character development is just as detailed. By the second chapter you feel like you have started on a journey with friends you grew up with. Hopefully there will be a second episode in the Sol Survivor’s series, but if not, this book is resolved in such a way that it ties up most of the unanswered questions from the story. If you are a post-apocalyptic story fan, grab a copy and I’m positive you will find this a very enjoyable story. I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the authors and chose to provide my review.
Along with Knowledge Itself a link is included for a free copy of On Broken Days a prequel to Knowledge Itself. As the prequel to Knowledge Itself this story gives the reader considerable insight into the relationship between Iris, Vinton, and Nate not to mention Iris’s mother. While this is a short story it doesn’t lack detail or character development and is action-packed. A must read before or after reading Knowledge Itself.
April 10, 2024
This is the first novel I read by Shelly and Megan. I absolutely loved this book. Iris, the young protagonist, is trying to survive in a world wiped almost clean by solar flares, and she lives in a community strictly controlled down to the last scoop of beans, until her life is put in peril, and she flees. Iris has ADHD which makes her adventures more unique and perilous as her mind never stops working. We follow the her as she struggles to survive and help those she loves, and learns not everyone can be trusted.
This book was absolutely fantastic. I couldn't put it down, wanting to know what comes next. I absolutely love books with twist and turns, and this book has lots of this. Highly, highly recommend for fans of dystopian, YA books looking for a nice read with lots of plot-twists, peril, love, loss and finding who you are and standing up for yourself. I am excited for more adventures from Shelly and Megan, and I can highly, highly recommend this book. This book is exactly the kind of book I love. I am excited for more adventures from this author, and will be reading more of anything she (and Megan) writes. A true classic that you won't be able to put down. Do yourselves a favor and read this book. It's one you will want to read over and over again.
This book was absolutely fantastic. I couldn't put it down, wanting to know what comes next. I absolutely love books with twist and turns, and this book has lots of this. Highly, highly recommend for fans of dystopian, YA books looking for a nice read with lots of plot-twists, peril, love, loss and finding who you are and standing up for yourself. I am excited for more adventures from Shelly and Megan, and I can highly, highly recommend this book. This book is exactly the kind of book I love. I am excited for more adventures from this author, and will be reading more of anything she (and Megan) writes. A true classic that you won't be able to put down. Do yourselves a favor and read this book. It's one you will want to read over and over again.
September 20, 2022
Received as an audio review copy from the narrator Sarah Kisko, this is an honest review. A gorgeous, great dystopian book that wondrously delivered by Sarah Kisko. After solar destroyed modern life across the globe, one gritty community works to salvage knowledge from warn out computer drives and precious paper books. Knowledge as power... especially when it's secrets certain people rather keep buried. For Iris Ecosia, the strict rules imposed by the corporate elite wreck her unique ADHD brain; but despite the setback Iris is close to achieving a prominent position within her community. When things go sideways that forces her family into desperate need, Iris learns valuable lessons as a Gardner that will be here community's saving grace once an enemy forces Iris out of the city completely. Saved by family she thought lost, secrets becomes exposed of showing much people of her community have been lied to. But when a great crisis could determine the fate of her home, Iris discovers just how strong she is to fight back. Realistic, poignant and vividly intense, Knowledge Itself is the series you can invest your time in. Highly recommended.
December 10, 2022
Good premises and some good ideas but poor execution. I almost DNFed several times. Either the MC is ridiculously overly dramatic, or there is not enough context, worldbuilding, explanations or whatever for me to understand her extreme reactions. Iris' character is centered around the fact that she's not normal, or perceived as not normal by others, but nothing gave me any clue to understand what was different about her. Some other characters are stereotyped and two-dimensional (the deep and total hatred some characters felt towards Iris was totally gratuitous). As for the plot, it could have been good if the world building had been a little more developed and if there had not been some inconsistencies.
August 17, 2022
The author has done a superb job of world building here. From the premise of a world struggling to continue on after the disastrous damage to the electrical grid to the split existence of the Shareholders and the rest of humanity. I was particularly glad to see the author carefully depicting Iris as an individual with her own version of ADHD an not implying that everyone has the same experience with that and the way she allowed Iris to find ways to cope with things that she couldn't change and use her different abilities to change the things she could. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this series goes forward as the revolution develops and strengthens.
September 13, 2022
Shelly Campbell has a way of making you fall for her lovable characters, then absolutely ripping your heart out with their grim situations. You can't help but turn the pages faster and faster in the hopes that everything will work out in the end. So I was delighted to discover a new Campbell book in my favorite genre (post-apocalyptic!) and was even more honored when asked to provide an endorsement for it.
Campbell has such immersive, gorgeous prose, and each chapter in the story turns up the tension to another degree.
As a ND person with ADHD, I related very hard to Iris' struggles to focus, her forgetfulness, and constant need for music. I also loved seeing the gay rep by way of
Despite the utter rock-and-a-hard-place situation Iris finds herself in, this is not your typical gory and depressing post-apoc a la The Road or Swan Song. It's character-driven, full of heart, and will have you cheering by the end.
Campbell has such immersive, gorgeous prose, and each chapter in the story turns up the tension to another degree.
As a ND person with ADHD, I related very hard to Iris' struggles to focus, her forgetfulness, and constant need for music. I also loved seeing the gay rep by way of
Despite the utter rock-and-a-hard-place situation Iris finds herself in, this is not your typical gory and depressing post-apoc a la The Road or Swan Song. It's character-driven, full of heart, and will have you cheering by the end.
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