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The Way of the Cicadas
An amnesiac survivor proves the outside’s survivability and spurs a group of “bunker-borns” on gritty journey through an irradiated wasteland—perfect for fans of The 100 and Station Eleven.
Ten years after nuclear war devastated the United States, Hayden is used to the meager rations, recycled air, and sterile light of the bunker he’s called home since childhood. But when the administration rejects a years-in-the-making plan to emerge as supplies plummet, Hayden itches to leave.
Brita, a mysterious girl with no long-term memory, stumbles upon the bunker, proving to Hayden and the other 200 residents that the outside isn’t as hostile as the administrators let on. Hayden, Brita, and a handful of other residents sneak out in the dead of night to scavenge for supplies.
The outside world holds more life, and more danger, than they prepared for. After an outside survivor betrays them, they’re imprisoned by a military faction with the key to Brita’s identity. For Hayden to save his friends, he must uncover a past Brita would rather never remember—along with secrets the administration has sheltered them from all these years.
A lyrical near-future post-apocalyptic novel with an ensemble cast featuring government conspiracies and secret military technology set in the Nevada desert.
Ten years after nuclear war devastated the United States, Hayden is used to the meager rations, recycled air, and sterile light of the bunker he’s called home since childhood. But when the administration rejects a years-in-the-making plan to emerge as supplies plummet, Hayden itches to leave.
Brita, a mysterious girl with no long-term memory, stumbles upon the bunker, proving to Hayden and the other 200 residents that the outside isn’t as hostile as the administrators let on. Hayden, Brita, and a handful of other residents sneak out in the dead of night to scavenge for supplies.
The outside world holds more life, and more danger, than they prepared for. After an outside survivor betrays them, they’re imprisoned by a military faction with the key to Brita’s identity. For Hayden to save his friends, he must uncover a past Brita would rather never remember—along with secrets the administration has sheltered them from all these years.
A lyrical near-future post-apocalyptic novel with an ensemble cast featuring government conspiracies and secret military technology set in the Nevada desert.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2023
113 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 12, 2023
i was so excited to read this book but unfortunately it wasn't what i was expecting.
i loved the idea of a group of people escaping the underground city the government had created to protect them from the radiation outside and realizing everything was a lie. but that didn't happen. i was expecting the government to be the evil force of the book but it didn't feel like that at all, they were too bland to be actually evil.
and then we have the main characters, we get to see different povs and they are definitely different but i still didn't like any of them. i think the reactions to different situations and the way they behaved were unrealistic and not well flashed out. their personalities would change from scene to scene depending on what was happening.
the last couple of chapters were definitely the most interesting ones so that was a nice way to finish the book but i was bored throughout most of it so those couple of chapters couldn't really change my mind about the entire book.
also, i was expecting a queer relationship and there was an undertone of one but not really which was saddening and disappointing.
i loved the idea of a group of people escaping the underground city the government had created to protect them from the radiation outside and realizing everything was a lie. but that didn't happen. i was expecting the government to be the evil force of the book but it didn't feel like that at all, they were too bland to be actually evil.
and then we have the main characters, we get to see different povs and they are definitely different but i still didn't like any of them. i think the reactions to different situations and the way they behaved were unrealistic and not well flashed out. their personalities would change from scene to scene depending on what was happening.
the last couple of chapters were definitely the most interesting ones so that was a nice way to finish the book but i was bored throughout most of it so those couple of chapters couldn't really change my mind about the entire book.
also, i was expecting a queer relationship and there was an undertone of one but not really which was saddening and disappointing.
January 28, 2023
This book had an interesting premise but I am extremely disappointed by the execution. The first 75% of the book drags on and on and on and when you finally get to a part that drags you in, it just wraps up so quickly. I thought this was a stand-alone and I guess it technically could be but the ending leaves a lot of unanswered questions that feels like it’s setting up for a sequel.
I think my biggest issue was just how similar all the povs were? Every character felt the same yet somehow they all did things that felt extremely out of character?? Like how is that possible for the most boring people to ever exist in a dystopian novel?? The dialogue was just rough all around. The friendships were extremely unbelievable and the relationships that were obviously supposed to be romantic were flat and the characters had no chemistry. The whole super soldier thing def felt very Bucky barnes/winter soldier but like the generic version of the generic brand. And don’t get me started on the names.
I think this could potentially be a good book but this version is not it at all. Thanks, NetGalley (even though I’m very disappointed).
Edit: I originally gave this two stars but the more I think about this book, the more I just don’t want to. Again, there’s potential in the idea but the execution was just very very very rough.
I think my biggest issue was just how similar all the povs were? Every character felt the same yet somehow they all did things that felt extremely out of character?? Like how is that possible for the most boring people to ever exist in a dystopian novel?? The dialogue was just rough all around. The friendships were extremely unbelievable and the relationships that were obviously supposed to be romantic were flat and the characters had no chemistry. The whole super soldier thing def felt very Bucky barnes/winter soldier but like the generic version of the generic brand. And don’t get me started on the names.
I think this could potentially be a good book but this version is not it at all. Thanks, NetGalley (even though I’m very disappointed).
Edit: I originally gave this two stars but the more I think about this book, the more I just don’t want to. Again, there’s potential in the idea but the execution was just very very very rough.
December 12, 2022
I do like a post apocalypse book, so jumped right into this one.
I think I mostly enjoyed the first part the setting the scenes and relationships between characters, before sending them out into the wild world.
The bigger picture then comes to light on how people may or may not be surviving, and how they survived the fall out.
At times I felt like it just read like a teen drama, but not too often.
It would be interesting to see where this could go next.
I think I mostly enjoyed the first part the setting the scenes and relationships between characters, before sending them out into the wild world.
The bigger picture then comes to light on how people may or may not be surviving, and how they survived the fall out.
At times I felt like it just read like a teen drama, but not too often.
It would be interesting to see where this could go next.
February 4, 2023
“the way of the cicadas” is marketed as an adult dystopian novel with lgbtqia+ characters. I’d argue that it is a YA dystopian novel with a very, very teeny tiny minor queer romance — if you can even call it that. it is most certainly YA, if it were for adults, there would be a lot more imagery of radiation burns and poisoning. this novel is great for a YA audience, not someone like me who wants the nitty gritty details of fallout.
we follow several young people throughout this novel, most of them have lived in a bunker for most of their lives and do not know anything of the outside world. when brita, an amnesiac, wanders into their territory and is taken into the underground bunker, life radically changes for everyone. when rations are announced, they all decide to escape and see the world for what it is.
this novel doesn’t have a strong anti-authoritarian or anti-government theme. it was interesting, but felt a bit shallow. it is written as if it will be the first book of a series, not a stand alone, and that was not advertised either. if it is a stand alone, the ending leaves a lot more questions than answers. there were too many POVs for my preference and most of the characters sounded the same. great for YA lovers, not great for people with more literary tastes.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
we follow several young people throughout this novel, most of them have lived in a bunker for most of their lives and do not know anything of the outside world. when brita, an amnesiac, wanders into their territory and is taken into the underground bunker, life radically changes for everyone. when rations are announced, they all decide to escape and see the world for what it is.
this novel doesn’t have a strong anti-authoritarian or anti-government theme. it was interesting, but felt a bit shallow. it is written as if it will be the first book of a series, not a stand alone, and that was not advertised either. if it is a stand alone, the ending leaves a lot more questions than answers. there were too many POVs for my preference and most of the characters sounded the same. great for YA lovers, not great for people with more literary tastes.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2023
The Way of the Cicadas is a book about survival—in the face of war, of suffering, and of loss. Four young adults risk everything they’ve ever known to save the people in their bunker, but in the end, it’s themselves that need saving the most.
This book is a work of art. Not only does it masterfully blend different aspects of a genre I absolutely adore, but it builds a world all its own at the same time. As I was reading, I kept comparing it to the dystopian novels I love: the rationing in the City of Ember, the exploratory group of teens from The 100, the amnesiac technology of Divergent. But no matter how much I found that was familiar, something new and unique took its place.
I’ve read a lot of dystopian books, but none quite like this one.
The story of these young adults builds, and you have to let it simmer like a boiling pot of water. It’s slow at first, as you get to know each of them. That little act is lovely in and of itself because the characters are very well crafted to be unique. With a large cast, it can be hard to separate them all. I never had trouble drawing the line. Then, as the story picks itself up, you get sucked into the action. I was awake way too late to see the conclusion, and it had me gasping and clutching my pillow and crying a little all at once.
The only serious issue I had was that I felt like there was a little bit of a disconnect within the group, something that didn’t fit right. Where I expected this tightly knit, inseparable family of young adults, who had survived everything and then some, I found a wildly distrustful and hateful group of people. Maybe you’ll like that aspect of their found family! It is realistic, I’ll give you that.
Either way, this is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time, and I cannot wait for the follow up.
(Side note: I finished this in record time. 😜 But I promise I read every LAST WORD.)
This book is a work of art. Not only does it masterfully blend different aspects of a genre I absolutely adore, but it builds a world all its own at the same time. As I was reading, I kept comparing it to the dystopian novels I love: the rationing in the City of Ember, the exploratory group of teens from The 100, the amnesiac technology of Divergent. But no matter how much I found that was familiar, something new and unique took its place.
I’ve read a lot of dystopian books, but none quite like this one.
The story of these young adults builds, and you have to let it simmer like a boiling pot of water. It’s slow at first, as you get to know each of them. That little act is lovely in and of itself because the characters are very well crafted to be unique. With a large cast, it can be hard to separate them all. I never had trouble drawing the line. Then, as the story picks itself up, you get sucked into the action. I was awake way too late to see the conclusion, and it had me gasping and clutching my pillow and crying a little all at once.
The only serious issue I had was that I felt like there was a little bit of a disconnect within the group, something that didn’t fit right. Where I expected this tightly knit, inseparable family of young adults, who had survived everything and then some, I found a wildly distrustful and hateful group of people. Maybe you’ll like that aspect of their found family! It is realistic, I’ll give you that.
Either way, this is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time, and I cannot wait for the follow up.
(Side note: I finished this in record time. 😜 But I promise I read every LAST WORD.)
March 15, 2025
Wonderfully imaginative and slightly too-real addition to dystopian fiction. In the near future the worst has come to pass with nuclear war across the planet. Those who planned for it ahead of time include researchers and government agencies who built underground bunkers. The less fortunate took their chances above ground. Ten years pass and one of the underground colonies is reaching the supply limit. Severe rationing doesn't sound appealing to most of the colonists, and for one brave group of teens, it's time to go out scouting...especially when an amnesiac young stranger knocks on the door, lost, proving that some life still exists out there. When the group of brave young people set off for their former home to gather anything useful, they run into a society of devastation, lies, and the depths of depravity in their strange new world. First of a planned series. Excellent world building and characters that will stay with you. Recommended for high school-age and up due to potentially frightening situations, mild sex, violence, and language. Caution for an intense murder. The author includes trigger warnings in the back of the book. Well-written and designed book.
March 30, 2023
The Way of the Cicadas is a post-apocalyptic book described as being “an adult book with YA appeal”; I would certainly say it’s more YA/NA than adult as such — it definitely feels like the audience is younger than adult, but it doesn’t feel especially juvenile.
As a Xillenial reader, it’s weirdly refreshing to read a post-apocalyptic novel where the apocalypse is the Cold War favourite of nuclear armageddon; it’s been a long time since that was the primary end-of-the-world fear I was reading about and that certainly warmed me to the book.
The pacing could do with a little work for my taste. The first third felt a little slow while I was reading it, though I liked that more in hindsight — it actually gave me a better chance to get used to the characters’ frame of reference and to get to know them some more. I really liked the insights we got into some of the characters, but I was conscious that I had a gut-feel dislike to some of them without really getting enough opportunity to understand why.
Contrasting with the earlier portions, though, the last third (or so) of the book felt hurried and way too fast. I think I would have preferred that portion to have been significantly longer to pace that information better; I was reminded a little of a portion of Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, where a similar in-and-out (to be deliberately vague) took much more time to feel better-earned, I suppose.
I was also a little disappointed that the publisher’s blurb “features multiple bisexual main characters” but, with the exception of 2 female characters being romantically involved, the disclaimer “but romance is not a central theme” felt more like Schrödinger’s bisexuals, with little evidence of their queerness beyond the publisher’s statement here. I’m not sure the story has shown enough of most of the MCs to able to claim them as queer — a bit more “show don’t tell”, perhaps?
All that said, The Way of the Cicadas is quite a fun YA/NA book — and with a stunning cover — but the execution could have been better. I doubt I will pick it up for a re-read but definitely look forward to seeing what comes next from Henley and how she develops — this is a solid first novel and in hindsight the 3 stars I awarded on finishing the book (a month before writing this review from my notes) might be a little ungenerous of me.
I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.
April 7, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited for this book and it's premise, but it sadly did not live up to my expectations.
Although we got several points of view, none of them seemed distinct enough. That is to say, the characters were mostly indistinguishable from one another, so the POV changes did next to nothing for me. Plus, the characters were poorly fleshed-out, and none of their actions or motivations made sense.
I also had a problem with the pacing. The first 65% of the book drags on for ages, and then the rest wraps up so quickly it's not satisfying at all. And speaking of the resolution — it didn't feel like one at all. Too many questions are left open in the end, which adds even more to the unresolved feeling.
The story on its own wasn't bad — it's a pretty standard dystopia. However, it falls far too flat to offer anything substantial to the genre.
I was really excited for this book and it's premise, but it sadly did not live up to my expectations.
Although we got several points of view, none of them seemed distinct enough. That is to say, the characters were mostly indistinguishable from one another, so the POV changes did next to nothing for me. Plus, the characters were poorly fleshed-out, and none of their actions or motivations made sense.
I also had a problem with the pacing. The first 65% of the book drags on for ages, and then the rest wraps up so quickly it's not satisfying at all. And speaking of the resolution — it didn't feel like one at all. Too many questions are left open in the end, which adds even more to the unresolved feeling.
The story on its own wasn't bad — it's a pretty standard dystopia. However, it falls far too flat to offer anything substantial to the genre.
January 13, 2023
Dystopian is back with this great debut from Audrey Henley! I loved the claustrophobic setting of the opening in the bunker and the introduction to all the characters. The pacing was quick and had me finishing at lightning speed as I wanted to know what happened to this group of friends fighting for their lives in a post-apocalyptic world with its unreliable survivors. It is set up for a sequel and I look forward to what Audrey does with this series!
Thanks to Netgalley and Monodon for providing a copy for review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Monodon for providing a copy for review.
January 6, 2023
The Way of the Cicadas is a dystopian sci-fi novel about an underground colony in Nevada in the wake of Cold War II. Although the fear of radiation keeps the colonists underground for ten years, a group of teenagers decides they're ready to chance it out on the outside after a new person, Brita, arrives at the colony.
I really liked the concept for the plot, and you'll get sucked into the story pretty quickly. The future the characters live in feels very real and well-thought out - it made me curious as to what other parts of the country might look like after nuclear fallout. The main plot, although somewhat familiar, is done in a way that feels new and fresh, and I think it had a lot of potential.
I do want to make clear, as it was advertised on NetGalley as such, that the queer relationship is a very minor subplot - it read like it might have been added as a second thought. I'm honestly not sure why it was advertised that way, and I was a little disappointed as I was really looking forward to some queer sci-fi. When it was clear that wasn't what was going on here, I found myself tempted to DNF a few times; I'm just personally not into dystopian fiction that doesn't have something else going on.
The biggest issue I had, though, was character-related. I honestly didn't get why Hayden was so intrigued by Brita early on, or why all the girls were so enamored with Hayden, either - especially Brita. This wasn't fleshed out as much as I'd have liked, and considering that the novel is short for science fiction standards, I really think it would have helped a lot with giving the characters more nuance. Most of them felt either like archetypes or necessary sidekicks, and I think the concept behind this story is good enough that a lot more could have been done with these characters.
If you're a fan of dystopian sci-fi, this might be up your alley. Unfortunately, because of the advertising I came to this book with different expectations, and so was a little disappointed. Still, I think the right audience would really enjoy it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Monodon for providing a copy for review.
I really liked the concept for the plot, and you'll get sucked into the story pretty quickly. The future the characters live in feels very real and well-thought out - it made me curious as to what other parts of the country might look like after nuclear fallout. The main plot, although somewhat familiar, is done in a way that feels new and fresh, and I think it had a lot of potential.
I do want to make clear, as it was advertised on NetGalley as such, that the queer relationship is a very minor subplot - it read like it might have been added as a second thought. I'm honestly not sure why it was advertised that way, and I was a little disappointed as I was really looking forward to some queer sci-fi. When it was clear that wasn't what was going on here, I found myself tempted to DNF a few times; I'm just personally not into dystopian fiction that doesn't have something else going on.
The biggest issue I had, though, was character-related. I honestly didn't get why Hayden was so intrigued by Brita early on, or why all the girls were so enamored with Hayden, either - especially Brita. This wasn't fleshed out as much as I'd have liked, and considering that the novel is short for science fiction standards, I really think it would have helped a lot with giving the characters more nuance. Most of them felt either like archetypes or necessary sidekicks, and I think the concept behind this story is good enough that a lot more could have been done with these characters.
If you're a fan of dystopian sci-fi, this might be up your alley. Unfortunately, because of the advertising I came to this book with different expectations, and so was a little disappointed. Still, I think the right audience would really enjoy it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Monodon for providing a copy for review.
January 22, 2023
Thanks to Victory Editing via NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
A country ravaged by radiation.
A bunker that's running out of supplies.
A mysterious stranger that can't remember her past.
The United States as we know it doesn't exist anymore. A mass radiation event has made it a black hole of nothing, save for a smattering of survivors.
Below the earth, a group of people have lived in a bunker for 10 years, and some are starting to get restless. One day, a girl shows up. She can't remember anything, but she's in good health, which intrigues the people of the bunker.
A group of teens take Brita in, and as a result, are plunged into an adventure they could never imagine. What they discover is beyond anything they thought possible, unearthing unimaginable horrors.
Henley paints a grim picture in this book, but its offset by the relationships we see between the teens, Brita, Hayden, Selah, Artemis, and Maisy. It has just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and I was really invested in the world she created. The ending was fantastic, and I hope there's another book in the series because I need to know what happens to these characters.
There's a touch of some love stories and love triangles which gave the characters lots of depth.
Fans of "Station Eleven" and "The Girl with All the Gifts" will enjoy this post-apocalyptic book.
A country ravaged by radiation.
A bunker that's running out of supplies.
A mysterious stranger that can't remember her past.
The United States as we know it doesn't exist anymore. A mass radiation event has made it a black hole of nothing, save for a smattering of survivors.
Below the earth, a group of people have lived in a bunker for 10 years, and some are starting to get restless. One day, a girl shows up. She can't remember anything, but she's in good health, which intrigues the people of the bunker.
A group of teens take Brita in, and as a result, are plunged into an adventure they could never imagine. What they discover is beyond anything they thought possible, unearthing unimaginable horrors.
Henley paints a grim picture in this book, but its offset by the relationships we see between the teens, Brita, Hayden, Selah, Artemis, and Maisy. It has just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and I was really invested in the world she created. The ending was fantastic, and I hope there's another book in the series because I need to know what happens to these characters.
There's a touch of some love stories and love triangles which gave the characters lots of depth.
Fans of "Station Eleven" and "The Girl with All the Gifts" will enjoy this post-apocalyptic book.
April 4, 2023
3.5*
This book was compared to The 100, so I needed to read it. I suppose that is scary, that I will legit read anything that claims it is akin to The 100 but here we are. It is also compared to Station Eleven, and I loved that too, so obviously. Here's the thing: I loved those shows way more than the books, which is something that kind of comes into play here.
See, I do think that those are fair comps to this story. In fact, as I thought about it, The Way of the Cicadas actually has a very similar vibe especially to The 100- but the Kass Morgan The 100, not the cannibalistic, body snatching, culling-addicted, genocidal The 100. And that isn't a bad thing even! It is just... something to be aware of? This story is just a bit more on the level of the book. Tamer, I suppose? Perhaps younger? (It was listed as "adult fiction" on Netgalley, but I absolutely think it is YA.) Again, these are not bad things! Just things of note!
It is definitely an entertaining story, and has a lot of elements that I love. Things like:
►Bunkers
►Apocalypses
►Being stuck in bunkers during apocalypses
►Not knowing who to trust
►"No good choices"
►And more!
So yeah, the comps definitely fit here. And like I said, I was certainly entertained. It is a pretty fast moving book, and I enjoyed the world. My biggest qualm would be that the characters felt a bit one dimensional. I didn't feel much of a connection to them, and it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who because they didn't have a ton of like, distinct personality traits.
But as a whole, this was definitely more positive than negative, and I liked far more than I didn't, so I consider that a win!
Bottom Line: It was certainly entertaining and kept me interested throughout, though the characters weren't quite as strong as I'd have liked.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
TW: "For a full list of trigger warnings, please visit audreyhenley.com/triggers"
This book was compared to The 100, so I needed to read it. I suppose that is scary, that I will legit read anything that claims it is akin to The 100 but here we are. It is also compared to Station Eleven, and I loved that too, so obviously. Here's the thing: I loved those shows way more than the books, which is something that kind of comes into play here.
See, I do think that those are fair comps to this story. In fact, as I thought about it, The Way of the Cicadas actually has a very similar vibe especially to The 100- but the Kass Morgan The 100, not the cannibalistic, body snatching, culling-addicted, genocidal The 100. And that isn't a bad thing even! It is just... something to be aware of? This story is just a bit more on the level of the book. Tamer, I suppose? Perhaps younger? (It was listed as "adult fiction" on Netgalley, but I absolutely think it is YA.) Again, these are not bad things! Just things of note!
It is definitely an entertaining story, and has a lot of elements that I love. Things like:
►Bunkers
►Apocalypses
►Being stuck in bunkers during apocalypses
►Not knowing who to trust
►"No good choices"
►And more!
So yeah, the comps definitely fit here. And like I said, I was certainly entertained. It is a pretty fast moving book, and I enjoyed the world. My biggest qualm would be that the characters felt a bit one dimensional. I didn't feel much of a connection to them, and it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who because they didn't have a ton of like, distinct personality traits.
But as a whole, this was definitely more positive than negative, and I liked far more than I didn't, so I consider that a win!
Bottom Line: It was certainly entertaining and kept me interested throughout, though the characters weren't quite as strong as I'd have liked.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
July 23, 2023
The Way of the Cicadas is a post-apocalyptic story, following a group of young friends who have spent their last 10 years in a nuclear bunker under the Nevada desert as they delve into the outside world after a girl with no memories stumbles upon their underground home.
As the story progresses, secrets from the past emerge, as well as information kept from the main characters who will fight for their survival amidst hardness, betrayal and new alliances.
Both the large-scale worldbuilding and the characters could use a bit more depth in my view, but nonetheless it's a pleasant read with growing stakes in the second half of the book.
The LGBT relationship is really minor (barely visible) and the book should not be advertised as an LGBT novel by the publisher.
Thank you NetGalley and Monodon Books for the ARC!
As the story progresses, secrets from the past emerge, as well as information kept from the main characters who will fight for their survival amidst hardness, betrayal and new alliances.
Both the large-scale worldbuilding and the characters could use a bit more depth in my view, but nonetheless it's a pleasant read with growing stakes in the second half of the book.
The LGBT relationship is really minor (barely visible) and the book should not be advertised as an LGBT novel by the publisher.
Thank you NetGalley and Monodon Books for the ARC!
February 16, 2023
United States Publication: April 4, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Monodon Books for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
Ten years ago Cold War II took place with bombs that contained radiation meant to wipe out the population of the United States. Prior to the bombings, shelters had been created and stocked, and spots sold to live in them post-bombing. The question for the residents of Antar is, are the radiation levels decreased enough 10 years later that people can safely emerge from their underground shelter? The residents of Antar are divided but when a survivor is spotted and brought in from up top more are convinced a scouting party could emerge and try to find supplies they have run out of. The members of Class Three, along with the survivor rescued, decide to leave the bunker and search for others and supplies. But life up top is fraught with fear, threats to personal safety, and unhealthy survivalists. And when Class Three, along with Brita - the survivor, are captured secrets surface that shed a new perspective on the past decade of life underground.
This was okay, not great. It has potential and it seems the author is planning a second book to make this a series. She certainly left it wide open as the book ended with no real resolution to anything. I always find post-apocalyptic stories really interesting because they are all basically the same exact story. The United States gets bombed or trashed in some way and people go rogue and become total assholes in their quest to survive and then there is always some faction that has somehow managed to not just survive but thrive and advance technology but chooses not to share it with the population at large, thus confirming they are also assholes. Certain parts of the story, or perhaps the characters, I liked but by the time I got about halfway through I was kind of over it all and it felt like the storytelling started to lag. I feel like Henley started off strong but waned once Class Three emerged from their underground bunker. I also want to address the labels attached to the book. It's labeled General Fiction (Adult), LGBTQIAP+, Sci Fi & Fantasy. I actually think it belongs more in the YA category and the Sci Fi/Fantasy is accurate given the post-apocalyptic storyline. But the label LGBTQIAP+ is not accurate. At all. I know Henley wants it to be this, and perhaps she has plans for future books in the series to portray those different relationships but this title gave the barest of hints toward any kind of LGBTQIAP+. If anything all it really featured, outright, was a straight relationship. If someone was searching for books that featured LGBTQIAP+ relationships and read this, they would be disappointed. Also, at the beginning of the book Henley provides a URL for a list of triggers the book contains, or so she thinks. So I was prepared for some fairly intense emotional *stuff* and ended the book scratching my head. So I looked up the URL of triggers and even despite reading the book am still confused. Again, Henley's ideas clearly were more intense in her drafts or imagination because what she considers triggers for a variety of things are indeed alluded to in the book but never developed so I wouldn't consider them triggers at all. And that perhaps is the biggest problem with the book, it feels and reads underdeveloped/unfinished.
Thank you to NetGalley and Monodon Books for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
Ten years ago Cold War II took place with bombs that contained radiation meant to wipe out the population of the United States. Prior to the bombings, shelters had been created and stocked, and spots sold to live in them post-bombing. The question for the residents of Antar is, are the radiation levels decreased enough 10 years later that people can safely emerge from their underground shelter? The residents of Antar are divided but when a survivor is spotted and brought in from up top more are convinced a scouting party could emerge and try to find supplies they have run out of. The members of Class Three, along with the survivor rescued, decide to leave the bunker and search for others and supplies. But life up top is fraught with fear, threats to personal safety, and unhealthy survivalists. And when Class Three, along with Brita - the survivor, are captured secrets surface that shed a new perspective on the past decade of life underground.
This was okay, not great. It has potential and it seems the author is planning a second book to make this a series. She certainly left it wide open as the book ended with no real resolution to anything. I always find post-apocalyptic stories really interesting because they are all basically the same exact story. The United States gets bombed or trashed in some way and people go rogue and become total assholes in their quest to survive and then there is always some faction that has somehow managed to not just survive but thrive and advance technology but chooses not to share it with the population at large, thus confirming they are also assholes. Certain parts of the story, or perhaps the characters, I liked but by the time I got about halfway through I was kind of over it all and it felt like the storytelling started to lag. I feel like Henley started off strong but waned once Class Three emerged from their underground bunker. I also want to address the labels attached to the book. It's labeled General Fiction (Adult), LGBTQIAP+, Sci Fi & Fantasy. I actually think it belongs more in the YA category and the Sci Fi/Fantasy is accurate given the post-apocalyptic storyline. But the label LGBTQIAP+ is not accurate. At all. I know Henley wants it to be this, and perhaps she has plans for future books in the series to portray those different relationships but this title gave the barest of hints toward any kind of LGBTQIAP+. If anything all it really featured, outright, was a straight relationship. If someone was searching for books that featured LGBTQIAP+ relationships and read this, they would be disappointed. Also, at the beginning of the book Henley provides a URL for a list of triggers the book contains, or so she thinks. So I was prepared for some fairly intense emotional *stuff* and ended the book scratching my head. So I looked up the URL of triggers and even despite reading the book am still confused. Again, Henley's ideas clearly were more intense in her drafts or imagination because what she considers triggers for a variety of things are indeed alluded to in the book but never developed so I wouldn't consider them triggers at all. And that perhaps is the biggest problem with the book, it feels and reads underdeveloped/unfinished.
February 25, 2023
Hi there, I’m Audrey, the author of The Way of the Cicadas. I wanted to use this space to share some aspects of my book that may help you decide if it’s worth putting on your TBR.
The best way I’ve thought of to describe the intended age range of my book is anyone who would watch a CW show (think The 100, Reign, The Originals). It features young protagonists, but there are darker themes and swearing. Expect a fast-paced read without much navel gazing and a ragtag cast of characters that leaves an impression on you.
Speaking of characters, Cicadas has four POV characters whom I love equally. We’ve got cinnamon roll Hayden with the hero complex, Artemis the bookworm who is basically Bilbo Baggins, Selah the tsundere disaster bisexual, and mystery girl Brita who doesn’t remember anything but somehow knows how to fight. I wonder why Maisy, the unassuming kindergarten teacher doesn’t have a POV. . .
If you are at all interested in society rebuilding after a collapse, government conspiracy plots, or really cool bunker design, you might like my book. While this isn’t a hard science fiction that describes every scientific detail à la Andy Weir, I did a lot of research for this book and tried my best to be as plausible as possible. Radiation does not actually turn anything into giant monsters or immediately make your skin boil off, turns out. It’s set in the not-too-distant future in the Nevada National Security Site (where Area 51 is).
I love comps from all media and wish they were mentioned more in book spaces. If you like any of the following, you may enjoy my book.
Video games: Fallout (especially New Vegas), The Last of Us, Resident Evil, Life Is Strange
Western TV shows: The 100, The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, The Rain
Anime: Coppelion, AICO, Seraph of the End, 86, School-Live!
YA fiction: The Last 8, The 100, Fifth Wave, The Electric Kingdom, Reboot
Adult fiction: Wool, Station Eleven, Alas Babylon, Parable of the Sower, The Girl with all the Gifts
I also wanted to address concerns from early readers: In early marketing efforts, I labeled my book as LGBT because it features bi main characters. However, romance is not a main thread. Early reactions to my book have made it clear that the LGBT label caused readers to anticipate LGBT romance, and thus they were disappointed to not find that in my book. I apologize to those readers, and I’ve since removed that language from all descriptions I have control over. Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention in thoughtful reviews.
OK, I’m off to leave the real reviewers to their work. If you do decide to order a copy or borrow one from your library, I wish you happy reading! Thanks so much
The best way I’ve thought of to describe the intended age range of my book is anyone who would watch a CW show (think The 100, Reign, The Originals). It features young protagonists, but there are darker themes and swearing. Expect a fast-paced read without much navel gazing and a ragtag cast of characters that leaves an impression on you.
Speaking of characters, Cicadas has four POV characters whom I love equally. We’ve got cinnamon roll Hayden with the hero complex, Artemis the bookworm who is basically Bilbo Baggins, Selah the tsundere disaster bisexual, and mystery girl Brita who doesn’t remember anything but somehow knows how to fight. I wonder why Maisy, the unassuming kindergarten teacher doesn’t have a POV. . .
If you are at all interested in society rebuilding after a collapse, government conspiracy plots, or really cool bunker design, you might like my book. While this isn’t a hard science fiction that describes every scientific detail à la Andy Weir, I did a lot of research for this book and tried my best to be as plausible as possible. Radiation does not actually turn anything into giant monsters or immediately make your skin boil off, turns out. It’s set in the not-too-distant future in the Nevada National Security Site (where Area 51 is).
I love comps from all media and wish they were mentioned more in book spaces. If you like any of the following, you may enjoy my book.
Video games: Fallout (especially New Vegas), The Last of Us, Resident Evil, Life Is Strange
Western TV shows: The 100, The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, The Rain
Anime: Coppelion, AICO, Seraph of the End, 86, School-Live!
YA fiction: The Last 8, The 100, Fifth Wave, The Electric Kingdom, Reboot
Adult fiction: Wool, Station Eleven, Alas Babylon, Parable of the Sower, The Girl with all the Gifts
I also wanted to address concerns from early readers: In early marketing efforts, I labeled my book as LGBT because it features bi main characters. However, romance is not a main thread. Early reactions to my book have made it clear that the LGBT label caused readers to anticipate LGBT romance, and thus they were disappointed to not find that in my book. I apologize to those readers, and I’ve since removed that language from all descriptions I have control over. Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention in thoughtful reviews.
OK, I’m off to leave the real reviewers to their work. If you do decide to order a copy or borrow one from your library, I wish you happy reading! Thanks so much
February 9, 2023
2.5/5
The Way of the Cicadas is marketed as "[a] lyrical near-future post-apocalyptic LGBTQ novel with an ensemble cast featuring government conspiracies and secret military technology set in the Nevada desert." While all of the aforementioned is true, this book unfortunately just fell flat for me, with a lot of loose ends I did not feel were tied up.
I did find myself thoroughly enjoying this book in certain moments (notably - about 70% through). It was a quick read, and I do feel like this book could be a setup for a sequel or even a series.
Did it feature an ensemble cast? Yes. Do I feel like I connected deeply to the characters? No. With the multiple 3rd person POVs (with the characters all sharing scenes most of the time) it became muddy to me who was thinking what and who was being referred to. I wish that more time was spent in one person's POV, or that multiple chapters in a row existed in one POV, as to thoroughly flesh out one character's thoughts of an event before moving on to the next.
I feel like that's where the book fell flat for me - I so badly wanted to connect to one character and instead, I was getting a glimpse of everyone and right when I began to feel for someone, I was suddenly in someone else's POV. What I did love was the plot, and I feel like large events could have been expanded upon much more if they weren't sacrificed to be able to fit in everyone's POVs as they experienced it.
I felt like calling this book an LGBTQ+ novel is interesting - the inner thoughts of certain characters reveal a past gay relationship, but none of that is actually spoken aloud, nor is it really expanded upon between the two characters. There is only one kiss or "love" scene featured in the book, and it's straight. So marketing this book as an LGBTQ+ story, in my opinion, should be revised to say "contains LGBTQ+ characters" or should be left out altogether - it's not important enough of a storyline to market the entire book towards a community who consequentially will read this book and be let down by the lack of LGBTQ+ content the synopsis alludes to.
If this book does have a sequel, I hope it's just set in Hayden and Brita's POV. They are obviously the two main characters (and the only characters referred to by name in the synopsis), and I feel that the character development of the ensemble cast can be spoken and built upon through the POVs of the main characters.
The Way of the Cicadas is marketed as "[a] lyrical near-future post-apocalyptic LGBTQ novel with an ensemble cast featuring government conspiracies and secret military technology set in the Nevada desert." While all of the aforementioned is true, this book unfortunately just fell flat for me, with a lot of loose ends I did not feel were tied up.
I did find myself thoroughly enjoying this book in certain moments (notably - about 70% through). It was a quick read, and I do feel like this book could be a setup for a sequel or even a series.
Did it feature an ensemble cast? Yes. Do I feel like I connected deeply to the characters? No. With the multiple 3rd person POVs (with the characters all sharing scenes most of the time) it became muddy to me who was thinking what and who was being referred to. I wish that more time was spent in one person's POV, or that multiple chapters in a row existed in one POV, as to thoroughly flesh out one character's thoughts of an event before moving on to the next.
I feel like that's where the book fell flat for me - I so badly wanted to connect to one character and instead, I was getting a glimpse of everyone and right when I began to feel for someone, I was suddenly in someone else's POV. What I did love was the plot, and I feel like large events could have been expanded upon much more if they weren't sacrificed to be able to fit in everyone's POVs as they experienced it.
I felt like calling this book an LGBTQ+ novel is interesting - the inner thoughts of certain characters reveal a past gay relationship, but none of that is actually spoken aloud, nor is it really expanded upon between the two characters. There is only one kiss or "love" scene featured in the book, and it's straight. So marketing this book as an LGBTQ+ story, in my opinion, should be revised to say "contains LGBTQ+ characters" or should be left out altogether - it's not important enough of a storyline to market the entire book towards a community who consequentially will read this book and be let down by the lack of LGBTQ+ content the synopsis alludes to.
If this book does have a sequel, I hope it's just set in Hayden and Brita's POV. They are obviously the two main characters (and the only characters referred to by name in the synopsis), and I feel that the character development of the ensemble cast can be spoken and built upon through the POVs of the main characters.
April 1, 2023
In the book "The Way of the Cicadas," the life cycle, behaviour, and cultural significance of cicadas in many historical societies are all discussed. The book is broken up into a number of chapters, each of which focuses on a distinct facet of cicada life and culture.
The Life Cycle of the Cicada, Chapter 1
From the egg stage through the mature stage, the reader learns about the cicadas' life cycle in this chapter. The many developmental stages are described, along with the environmental influences that affect their growth. It explores how cicadas have evolved special defences to survive in their surroundings.
Chapter 2: The Cicadas' Sounds
The loud, unique noises made by cicadas are well known. The many sound types are examined in this chapter.The life cycle, behaviour, and cultural significance of cicadas in many communities throughout history are all explored in the book "The Way of the Cicadas." The book is broken up into various chapters, each of which focuses on a different facet of cicada life and culture.
Chapter 1: The Life Cycle of the Cicada
The reader is introduced to the cicadas' life cycle in this chapter, from the egg stage through the adult stage. It covers the many developmental stages and the environmental factors that affect their development. It explores the special adaptations that cicadas have made to live in their environment.
The Sounds of Cicadas, Chapter 2
Cicadas are well renowned for their loud, unique sounds. The various sorts of noises are examined in this chapter.
The Life Cycle of the Cicada, Chapter 1
From the egg stage through the mature stage, the reader learns about the cicadas' life cycle in this chapter. The many developmental stages are described, along with the environmental influences that affect their growth. It explores how cicadas have evolved special defences to survive in their surroundings.
Chapter 2: The Cicadas' Sounds
The loud, unique noises made by cicadas are well known. The many sound types are examined in this chapter.The life cycle, behaviour, and cultural significance of cicadas in many communities throughout history are all explored in the book "The Way of the Cicadas." The book is broken up into various chapters, each of which focuses on a different facet of cicada life and culture.
Chapter 1: The Life Cycle of the Cicada
The reader is introduced to the cicadas' life cycle in this chapter, from the egg stage through the adult stage. It covers the many developmental stages and the environmental factors that affect their development. It explores the special adaptations that cicadas have made to live in their environment.
The Sounds of Cicadas, Chapter 2
Cicadas are well renowned for their loud, unique sounds. The various sorts of noises are examined in this chapter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2023
The Way of the Cicadas by Audrey Henley.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC ebook for an unbiased review.
This was a book that on the face of it, I should've loved from start to finish. It was touted as an adult dystopian LGBTQIA novel. Sadly, the blurb was better than the book presented. It felt more a YA book, and as for LGBTQIA content, while there was a minor nod towards some, it was so minor, so inconsequential to the story as a whole, it really shouldn't be pushing that aspect in an attempt to gain readers.
Where did it go wrong? I'm not sure. Some parts of the book were interesting enough. But I began to find my concentration wavering about half way through, and while there some moments that towards the end kept my attention, it all rather fell flat.
I had difficulty in having any great connection to any of the characters. I don't expect to necessarily find connections to every character in a book, but here I simply found I couldn't care enough about main characters involved, beyond a mild curiosity as to what happens.
A book that wasn't the worst, but it always felt middle of the road in amongst some exceptionally great books in this genre. Also publishers, the LGBTQIA community is not here to be used as a marketing ploy on books that really have nothing of real value to offer us. That hasn't been a reason for my choice of rating, but do not read this book if you expect solid LGBTQIA representation.
3/5 stars
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC ebook for an unbiased review.
This was a book that on the face of it, I should've loved from start to finish. It was touted as an adult dystopian LGBTQIA novel. Sadly, the blurb was better than the book presented. It felt more a YA book, and as for LGBTQIA content, while there was a minor nod towards some, it was so minor, so inconsequential to the story as a whole, it really shouldn't be pushing that aspect in an attempt to gain readers.
Where did it go wrong? I'm not sure. Some parts of the book were interesting enough. But I began to find my concentration wavering about half way through, and while there some moments that towards the end kept my attention, it all rather fell flat.
I had difficulty in having any great connection to any of the characters. I don't expect to necessarily find connections to every character in a book, but here I simply found I couldn't care enough about main characters involved, beyond a mild curiosity as to what happens.
A book that wasn't the worst, but it always felt middle of the road in amongst some exceptionally great books in this genre. Also publishers, the LGBTQIA community is not here to be used as a marketing ploy on books that really have nothing of real value to offer us. That hasn't been a reason for my choice of rating, but do not read this book if you expect solid LGBTQIA representation.
3/5 stars
January 26, 2023
A nuclear war has caused civilization to move underground due to high radiation levels and for over ten years, entire colonies have survived off of rations and the hope that they would one day be allowed to venture out into the surface. The story picks up around the 10 year mark when the arrival of an outsider causes even more unrest amongst the bunkers. Rations run low, restrictions are put in place and slowly our group of MC’s start to piece together how little chance of survival they actually have. I really loved the relationships between each character, each with their own personality and issues to tackle as they discover things aren’t what they seem. I love dystopian stories and The Way of the Cicadas definitely scratches that itch.
However, this book is marketed as featuring several bisexual MC’s and while that might have been slightly true… instances where this was addressed felt more like an afterthought than an actual story plot. I do appreciate how normalized it felt BUT, I felt cheated because I went in expecting a dystopian story with queer elements. It’s borderline click-bait and I hope that it’s not marketed that way upon its release.
As far as adult-ish dystopian stories goes, this was great and I’m hoping there’s a follow up to see where the crew ends up next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Monodon Books for the eArc!
However, this book is marketed as featuring several bisexual MC’s and while that might have been slightly true… instances where this was addressed felt more like an afterthought than an actual story plot. I do appreciate how normalized it felt BUT, I felt cheated because I went in expecting a dystopian story with queer elements. It’s borderline click-bait and I hope that it’s not marketed that way upon its release.
As far as adult-ish dystopian stories goes, this was great and I’m hoping there’s a follow up to see where the crew ends up next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Monodon Books for the eArc!
February 16, 2023
Thank you so much to NetGAlley and Monondon books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this title ahead of its release.
I am a big fan of science Fiction of all type, and I really enjoyed the post apocalyptic survival silo. It took me back to reading Wool for the first time, and I really enjoyed that part of the setting. Audrey Henley did an amazing job of setting up the scene for the urgent escape of the main cast of characters and their plan to save their home.
That said, I think that was where I started to lose interest. I really wanted to have a good reason to fall in love with this band of adventurer's, but the scene shifted a lot and sometimes there were odd time skips in the middle of sections. Something about it just didn't feel as fluid as I would have liked. However, the mystery of what had happened, both to the world at large and to the newcomer to the group, kept me reading.
I think that this is a fun read with a great premise. It's a coming of age story during the post apocalypse and would be a good fit for anyone looking to fill that itch left behind by books like Wool or Station Eleven.
I am a big fan of science Fiction of all type, and I really enjoyed the post apocalyptic survival silo. It took me back to reading Wool for the first time, and I really enjoyed that part of the setting. Audrey Henley did an amazing job of setting up the scene for the urgent escape of the main cast of characters and their plan to save their home.
That said, I think that was where I started to lose interest. I really wanted to have a good reason to fall in love with this band of adventurer's, but the scene shifted a lot and sometimes there were odd time skips in the middle of sections. Something about it just didn't feel as fluid as I would have liked. However, the mystery of what had happened, both to the world at large and to the newcomer to the group, kept me reading.
I think that this is a fun read with a great premise. It's a coming of age story during the post apocalypse and would be a good fit for anyone looking to fill that itch left behind by books like Wool or Station Eleven.
April 6, 2023
I gave this a 7.9/10 (4.5 stars) but Goodreads only allows full stars.
I could not put this book down! I got so invested in the world and the characters. I felt like it was such an easy read that kept me intrigued the whole time. I was surprised at how much it kept me questioning with some of the mystery in it.
I really like that we have different settings in this book. The author did such an amazing job of describing locations that I felt like I was able to visualize everything in my head just like it was a movie playing. The characters felt real and I liked that they had a real range of emotions throughout the book.
The book did end on a questionable note of whether or not there will be a continuation. This isn’t a good or bad thing. Personally, I want to know what happens next and I immediately messaged the author to find out if there will be more in the future. But it can definitely be read as a standalone as well.
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic books, this is definitely one that I would recommend. Even my boyfriend read the back of the book and said he wants to read it at some point! He said it sounds great for anyone who likes Fallout.
I could not put this book down! I got so invested in the world and the characters. I felt like it was such an easy read that kept me intrigued the whole time. I was surprised at how much it kept me questioning with some of the mystery in it.
I really like that we have different settings in this book. The author did such an amazing job of describing locations that I felt like I was able to visualize everything in my head just like it was a movie playing. The characters felt real and I liked that they had a real range of emotions throughout the book.
The book did end on a questionable note of whether or not there will be a continuation. This isn’t a good or bad thing. Personally, I want to know what happens next and I immediately messaged the author to find out if there will be more in the future. But it can definitely be read as a standalone as well.
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic books, this is definitely one that I would recommend. Even my boyfriend read the back of the book and said he wants to read it at some point! He said it sounds great for anyone who likes Fallout.
April 2, 2023
The Way of the Cicadas was an unexpectedly phenomenal read!!
I love reading dystopia apocalyptic futuristic books, and this book covers all of that wonderfully!! And yet, it leaves you suspended, wanting to know what's going to happen next. And keeps you hanging on with each twist.
This book very well could reflect what our future could look like, with all the nuclear arms crap going on, so this brings forth a realistic sounding real world event. I hope we don't experience it, because this book doesn't shy away from the horrors an apocalyptic world would hold.
I initially understood the name of the book from the title, and the description of the book, but I understood it even more while reading The Way of the Cicadas, and it made me actually happy, because I may be one of the few people who actually love cicadas. They are music to my ears. And knowing how The Way of the Cicadas reflects the life of a cicada, in a way, it made me enjoy the book even more!!
I highly suggest giving The Way of the Cicadas a read!!! I can't wait to know more!!
I love reading dystopia apocalyptic futuristic books, and this book covers all of that wonderfully!! And yet, it leaves you suspended, wanting to know what's going to happen next. And keeps you hanging on with each twist.
This book very well could reflect what our future could look like, with all the nuclear arms crap going on, so this brings forth a realistic sounding real world event. I hope we don't experience it, because this book doesn't shy away from the horrors an apocalyptic world would hold.
I initially understood the name of the book from the title, and the description of the book, but I understood it even more while reading The Way of the Cicadas, and it made me actually happy, because I may be one of the few people who actually love cicadas. They are music to my ears. And knowing how The Way of the Cicadas reflects the life of a cicada, in a way, it made me enjoy the book even more!!
I highly suggest giving The Way of the Cicadas a read!!! I can't wait to know more!!
February 27, 2023
3.5*
This was a bit too mixed and varied for me. It was also more of a YA book than I'd realised at first, which was on me, but I definitely struggled a little with range of settings and how that worked within the narrative.
The first section, covering their lives in an increasingly tense and claustrophobic underground environment, was the most successful for me, showing how the relationships and the environment impacted on each other. The second part however, once they were exploring the outside, was less gripping for me. The various relationship dynamics were lost amongst the plot drama, and I didn't care enough. The final part, where the dystopia really ramps up, was a potentially intriguing return to the more interesting relationships although mixed with some slightly confusing moustache twirling baddies, but it overall felt too rushed and incomplete.
There was potential here but it didn't quick hit for me.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC*
This was a bit too mixed and varied for me. It was also more of a YA book than I'd realised at first, which was on me, but I definitely struggled a little with range of settings and how that worked within the narrative.
The first section, covering their lives in an increasingly tense and claustrophobic underground environment, was the most successful for me, showing how the relationships and the environment impacted on each other. The second part however, once they were exploring the outside, was less gripping for me. The various relationship dynamics were lost amongst the plot drama, and I didn't care enough. The final part, where the dystopia really ramps up, was a potentially intriguing return to the more interesting relationships although mixed with some slightly confusing moustache twirling baddies, but it overall felt too rushed and incomplete.
There was potential here but it didn't quick hit for me.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC*
March 11, 2023
The Way of Cicadas by Audrey Henley
I have read several dystopian and postapocalyptic books and high hopes for this one. I read “adult reader” and the blurb sounded promising but as I look again, the book details mention it will appeal to YA readers. If I had seen that, I would not have requested a copy as I tend to avoid that genre.
The book is well written, for a YA novel. It has basic language, emotions, and descriptions that would, I believe, resonate with young readers. Sadly, the story did not provide me with anything new or different and did not engage me as an adult reader.
I skimmed the book after reading a few of the opening chapters and then read the end and decided not to invest more time in a book that I do not feel is the right fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Monodon Books, and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
1-2 Stars for me and adult readers who are well versed in this genre
3-4 Stars if recommending to YA readers
I have read several dystopian and postapocalyptic books and high hopes for this one. I read “adult reader” and the blurb sounded promising but as I look again, the book details mention it will appeal to YA readers. If I had seen that, I would not have requested a copy as I tend to avoid that genre.
The book is well written, for a YA novel. It has basic language, emotions, and descriptions that would, I believe, resonate with young readers. Sadly, the story did not provide me with anything new or different and did not engage me as an adult reader.
I skimmed the book after reading a few of the opening chapters and then read the end and decided not to invest more time in a book that I do not feel is the right fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Monodon Books, and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
1-2 Stars for me and adult readers who are well versed in this genre
3-4 Stars if recommending to YA readers
February 18, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review!
I'll start with the advertising. This was said to be a queer dystopian story and when I tell you I ran to click the request button. I think that's why I'm so disappointed in it being such a minor subplot you can barely call it a plot at all. This definitely gave me Maze Runner or Divergant YA dystopia vibes and that's not a terrible thing by any means but it saying it was Adult kinda blows my mind.
I think there was tons of potential, there were so many points that held my interest but weren't really expanded upon. I'd love to see this fleshed out more or maybe marketed a different way, I'm sure those who love what I'm "eh" on about it would enjoy this book! It was pretty short and the ending left me hoping to read a second book one day!
I'll start with the advertising. This was said to be a queer dystopian story and when I tell you I ran to click the request button. I think that's why I'm so disappointed in it being such a minor subplot you can barely call it a plot at all. This definitely gave me Maze Runner or Divergant YA dystopia vibes and that's not a terrible thing by any means but it saying it was Adult kinda blows my mind.
I think there was tons of potential, there were so many points that held my interest but weren't really expanded upon. I'd love to see this fleshed out more or maybe marketed a different way, I'm sure those who love what I'm "eh" on about it would enjoy this book! It was pretty short and the ending left me hoping to read a second book one day!
February 22, 2023
With thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.
The Way of the Cicadas is a dystopian fiction where the world above is an irradiated wasteland, and the survivors have been living underground for 10 years. When an amnesiac finds her way to the bunker and proves that the land is habitable, this starts a chain of events unlike any other.
The story is gritty, and interesting. I enjoyed this novel, the story was quite unique which can be difficult when so many great dystopian fiction novels have been written but I do think that a couple of extra edits would have made this book even more intense and poignant, A post apocalyptic novel is meant to allow us to imagine that it can really happen, and I found some parts to be a little too predictable, and unbelievable. Saying that, it was an enjoyable novel, and very easy to read. I do think that younger readers will love this book.
The Way of the Cicadas is a dystopian fiction where the world above is an irradiated wasteland, and the survivors have been living underground for 10 years. When an amnesiac finds her way to the bunker and proves that the land is habitable, this starts a chain of events unlike any other.
The story is gritty, and interesting. I enjoyed this novel, the story was quite unique which can be difficult when so many great dystopian fiction novels have been written but I do think that a couple of extra edits would have made this book even more intense and poignant, A post apocalyptic novel is meant to allow us to imagine that it can really happen, and I found some parts to be a little too predictable, and unbelievable. Saying that, it was an enjoyable novel, and very easy to read. I do think that younger readers will love this book.
December 31, 2022
This post-apocalyptic YA novel was billed as being for fans of The 100 and I can see that. Add a touch of Hanna in there too. A group of teens who have been living in a military bunker for years after nuclear bombs were dropped on the US break out with a mysterious newcomer with no memory who fights like an action hero. I liked some of the characters but had trouble remembering who was who with some of them. It feels set up to be a series. I liked the world building and character development better than all the action adventure and unpleasantness. I’m not sure I’d read the next but this one held my attention and I read it over a couple of days.
I read a digital copy of this book via NetGalley.
I read a digital copy of this book via NetGalley.
January 26, 2023
The Way of the Cicadas was a super fun and easy read, especially for a post-apocalyptic story!
The characters were very well thought out and made you quickly and easily understand each of the main characters, their motivations, and how they all related to each other. The characters definitely made you care about them!
The only thing to be left desired in this book were stronger plot points or motivations of side characters. Side characters would do things that didn’t seem to make any sense for who they were just to move the story along. The development of side characters where they then act completely against their established personality was a bit jarring and brought me out of the book a bit.
Overall, incredibly fun story that I enjoyed reading!
The characters were very well thought out and made you quickly and easily understand each of the main characters, their motivations, and how they all related to each other. The characters definitely made you care about them!
The only thing to be left desired in this book were stronger plot points or motivations of side characters. Side characters would do things that didn’t seem to make any sense for who they were just to move the story along. The development of side characters where they then act completely against their established personality was a bit jarring and brought me out of the book a bit.
Overall, incredibly fun story that I enjoyed reading!
February 4, 2023
I love a good bunker apocalypse story. Dust by Hugh Howey is a great example. This book had some potential but fell a little short for me.
Loved the first bit when they were in the bunker and figuring out the mysteries and trying to survive. I didn’t mind the parts of escaping and meeting up with other survivors but didn’t love the “twist” of their sister bunker and what was happening there. It just fell a little flat and seemed a little to “mad scientist” for me. I’m not sure if this book will have a sequel but it definitely set itself up for one and part of me was disappointed with the ambiguity of the ending.
Overall an okay book but not my favorite bunker/apocalypse book.
Also-I’m sure the title has significance but for the life of me I can’t figure it out.
Loved the first bit when they were in the bunker and figuring out the mysteries and trying to survive. I didn’t mind the parts of escaping and meeting up with other survivors but didn’t love the “twist” of their sister bunker and what was happening there. It just fell a little flat and seemed a little to “mad scientist” for me. I’m not sure if this book will have a sequel but it definitely set itself up for one and part of me was disappointed with the ambiguity of the ending.
Overall an okay book but not my favorite bunker/apocalypse book.
Also-I’m sure the title has significance but for the life of me I can’t figure it out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC to check this one out!
A post-apocalyptic story that follows several teenagers as they try to find their way in the world, quite literally. I thought this book took an interesting plot and some very familiar tropes and put an interesting twist on them, but I don't know if it went far enough. It was easy to read -- I flew through it in less than a day -- but the characters were only fleshed out enough to give you a weak taste of who they were, so I never felt truly attached to anyone. I also was expecting much more since it was marketed as having LGBTQIA+ characters, but that really only came up a couple times, VERY minorly. Overall it was a pleasant read, with the last 1/4 or so being the most interesting by far, but it didn't blow me away.
A post-apocalyptic story that follows several teenagers as they try to find their way in the world, quite literally. I thought this book took an interesting plot and some very familiar tropes and put an interesting twist on them, but I don't know if it went far enough. It was easy to read -- I flew through it in less than a day -- but the characters were only fleshed out enough to give you a weak taste of who they were, so I never felt truly attached to anyone. I also was expecting much more since it was marketed as having LGBTQIA+ characters, but that really only came up a couple times, VERY minorly. Overall it was a pleasant read, with the last 1/4 or so being the most interesting by far, but it didn't blow me away.
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