Escaping a Cloud City to a City in Ruins: Sky High is a science-fiction dystopian novel of four teens risking it all for freedom

 

Sky High

Christy J. Breedlove

Fire & Ice Young Adult Books, 2024

ISBN: ISBN: 979-8-88653-279-1

Ebook, 260 ppg.

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Four teenagers – Toby, Justice, Remy and Maria – run away from their sky-high utopian world to the earth below, well aware that it lay in ruins. But the prospect of living with freedom instead of in a society governed by rules and cultures they no longer accepted was too tempting to pass up. When they touch down on Earth, where it lays in ruins on account of a devastating enormous earthquake that lay the planet in waste centuries ago, they discover that the paradise they thought they would escape to turns out to be hell, with savages, wild animals and barely anywhere for them to take shelter. Still, they press on, hoping to find somewhere to live. Meanwhile, they have security guards hot on their heels, determined to return the teens to their homes.

 

I realize that this is a science fiction dystopian novel, but reading about a futuristic Eugene (in Oregon, where I actually happen to live!) that is in shambles because of a record-breaking 9.9  earthquake and survivalist societies was giving me strong dystopian vibes. (I also had to laugh at the “yellow brick road” comment later in the story, because another name for Eugene is the Emerald City!)

 

They say that the biggest threat to the PNW (Pacific Northwest) is a tsunami, but an earthquake registering high on the Richter scale is not impossible. In truth, it could happen at any time. And coincidentally, while I was reading this novel, I came across an article highlighting the dangerous prospect of a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that could occur in the Pacific Northwest in the next 50 years. (Here is the link to that article if you want to read it. Interestingly still, it also states that "Oregon has the potential for a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake caused by the Cascadia Subduction Zone and a resulting tsunami of up to 100 feet in height that will impact the coastal area.")

 

The earthquake that wreaked havoc in the West in this story made the city of Eugene no longer habitable. "If the quake hadn’t taken their lives, the thick, porridge-like atmosphere had strangled all life and starved the populace." (Page 109) The story takes place 800 years after the quake. I wondered why everybody decided all those years ago to go live up in the sky. I mean, maybe they could’ve set up a village on the ocean, or something?

 

But, anyway. That’s what happened in this story. And in this sky-high metropolis consisting of 6000 civilians, no one is allowed to leave, let alone to Earth. But these four teenagers do, and it sets them on the course of an adventure of their lifetime.

 

It was hard to read the parts of the story where the group killed wild dogs. I get it, the dogs are wild and it’s “kill or be killed,” but they’re DOGS! And I love dogs. Truthfully, I started skimming over those scenes. It got me upset.

 

Still, this is only a reminder of how harsh life and what little civilization there is left in that area of land is like at that point in time. “Kill or be killed” is the law of the land, and when an animal attacks, the only response is to kill it or be killed. This much I understood.

 

And it gets worse later on, after the group of teens get captured by a savage clan. I had to admire Toby’s restraint as he tried to reason with the leaders and speak to them in a way they would understand. Toby is the most level-headed of the group. The savage clan really is savage, living in a way that is barbaric as well as in a society where the women are assigned to harems. The group of teens are treated brutally by these people, making them wonder if it was worth escaping from Cloud’s Rest in the first place.

 

And that’s the thing. As I read this story, I kept asking myself, Why did they run away? What made where they came from so bad? These teens do share that information towards the end of the story, and I totally understood then and there why they escaped.

 

Sky High was an intelligent, captivating story of adventure, excitement and, overall, hope. You want to cheer the four teens on, but at the same time send them back home because of the dangerous world they venture into. But these teens are not giving up on their quest for freedom, and in making their journey, they grow into mature young adults capable of taking on whatever life throws at them.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Ghosts from the Past Tackle Demons of the Present: Fear Not the Dead is a chilling, spooky ghost story of revenge for both the living and the dead

 

Fear Not the Dead

Brad Ricks

Unveiling Nightmares Ltd, 2024

Ebook, 427 ppg.

ISBN-13: 979-8325595080

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Kathryn and Ann are two women who share a traumatic past event from when they were children: Witnessing murders at a Bed & Breakfast called Cardinal Crest Estate. In Ann’s case, her mother was among the people killed. Somehow, she managed to block it out, but as an adult, she is constantly experiencing panic attacks and nightmares related to the past trauma. Unable to heal unless she makes peace with her past along with remembering what happened so that she can come to terms with it, she has been seeing a therapist. Kathryn knows the same therapist, and this therapist soon posits an idea to the two of them: Spend the weekend at Cardinal Crest to help them face what happened in the past. It’s an extreme form of exposure therapy, and the two women struggle with the decision on whether or not they should go. The thing about Cardinal Crest? It’s haunted, and not just by the ghosts of the murder victims!

 

I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially liked how it was written. We get to experience the POV of both Ann and Kathryn, thereby finding out what they know about their pasts, their suspicions about their so-called “therapist” and what they experience at Cardinal Crest. We also get to see what kind of strange phenomena their kids experience while the families are there, and how it affects the women’s progress in trying to come to terms with their past.

 

The hauntings in this story are not overdone and the ghosts which appear are very real. That’s another thing I liked about this book. The hauntings and paranormal activity in the story are all real, making the story all the more scarier. I also appreciated getting some of the characters’ backstory in this novel, so I could understand and witness for myself this terrible trauma that they were both a part of.

 

Two main ghosts pop up in the story a lot – the one of a little girl who drowned at a nearby pond and another of a caretaker who also died on the property. The thing about the little girl ghost is somehow, she doesn’t seem to realize she is dead or a ghost. She is forever remaining a little girl, enjoying little girl things like twirling around in her pretty dress, playing with other kids and swimming in the same pond that she drowned in. (Yeah, I know. I found that odd too! But, hey, at least her ghost does not associate the pond with the trauma of her death.)

 

This story is a study in trauma, and not just a spooky ghost story. As I read it, I kept thinking about how one of the two traumatized individuals managed to move past what she experienced at the B&B, while the other still experiences panic and anxiety from memories she can’t understand or grasp. She blocked out the worst part, and those memories are gone from her for good. But she believes she can try to get those memories back somehow, and feels like she needs to in order to heal.

 

I think our brains block things out for a reason. My oldest blocked out the memory of our lives together when I was divorced from his dad (it was too traumatic for him). Would I want him to get those memories back? No. I do not want him to remember those times that we struggled. They were very traumatic. Part of the reason why I changed things for us. But, I mean, there are reasons why we block things out. Is it better to pull them up again? To remember them? Does it really help us to heal? Or do we experience that trauma all over again, like it’s brand new?

 

That’s just one of the things I was thinking about as I read this novel. I also noticed that there was an event that triggered Ann’s spiral into madness. Her husband, Jim, is loyal, loving and understanding, but baffled about why this is happening. I’m glad he at least stays with her and helps her through this nightmare, whatever it is. She knows it’s connected to her stay at Cardinal Crest. I guess in a way, going back would make sense, if she is trying to understand what exactly happened that traumatized her so much. (Trauma is a funny thing. Not “ha-ha” funny, but weird funny. Trauma can last for a long time without us realizing that we still have it.)  

 

There is another thing about this story that I noticed, something that rings true of all haunted house cases: Anytime there is trauma, anger, negativity, weaknesses and nefarious murder plots brewing in a location that is haunted, it can sort of “trigger” the haunting. It can also make the paranormal activity worse! This is because ghosts feed on things like anger and fear. These emotions sort of empower them and make their presence all the more realistic. With everything that happens while the families are there, it’s no surprise that the ghosts haunting this place are riled up and become more active.

 

Reading both the backstory and the present-day story really helped me to enjoy the full scope of the whole story. Brad Ricks writes the backstory really well, where it doesn’t interfere with the reading experience. These chapters are just as detailed and well-written as the others. (If you’re curious, Brad wrote a guest post for the SPARREW Newsletter on tips for writing backstory here.) Also, the author makes it easy for us to tell if it’s a past story or a present story because in the past, Ann was Annabelle and Kathryn was Kat. So when those latter names are used, we know it’s past events. This especially helped with the chapters where one woman was in the room while the other was being hypnotized. Likewise, the imposter therapist is revealed by name when we read the chapters in which she goes back to being who she really is. And when I found out who she really is, it was a huge surprise!

 

My favorite part of the whole story is when Ann wakes up one night to discover that a ghost is in the room she shared with her husband. This scene is written so well. The tension and fear are so thick and hang heavily. "As if in answer to her thoughts, the figure moved its head. Each movement accompanied by that horrible clicking noise. The head slowly turned to look at her. She had thought it had eyes, but as the face turned to her, she realized she was wrong. Empty eye sockets glared at her. They stared at her as if a dark nothingness stared into her soul, burning a hole directly through her." (Page 230) Instead of the rational part of Ann’s brain making her say, “Ghosts aren’t real, bruh. So GTFO!” She instead accepts that there is a sinister presence in her room with them. She does, of course, worry about her husband’s safety until she realizes that this malevolent spirit is fixated on her.

 

At one point in the story, when the four kids that belong to the two set of adults are together, trying to find their parents, the teenaged Lauren says, "I'm going to say the dumbest thing possible in a haunted house with a revenge-oriented therapist around. We need to split up." I could just hear Scooby Doo exclaim, "Ruh-roh!" Some bad things happen after they split up but that’s when the story takes a very surprising turn.

 

And as for this novel’s title? Why should we NOT fear the dead? I mean, there’s plenty to fear from the ghosts in this story. But as I got closer to the end of the story and more pieces of the puzzle fell into place, I then understood why that title was chosen for this particular story. And it made absolute sense!

 

Fear Not the Dead is a creepy, terrifying ghost story of how the past can catch up to you no matter what you do to get rid of it or even try to forget it. This story is also a good reminder of how our lost loved ones are not really gone. Our lost loved ones are always watching over us and they can help us and also stop us from making a terrible mistake. This novel was such a good story to read. There were definitely times I felt scared or anxious while reading it! It's a story full of deadly schemes, trauma, anxiety, terror and lots of ghosts! It's a scary story, but it also has bits of humor sprinkled throughout. It is definitely a story that left me hanging on every page, wanting to read more. I was especially hooked on the last part of the story, filled with so many surprises and plot twists. I kept reading chapter after chapter, wanting to know what happened next. The ending is brilliant and perfect for a ghost story.

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Living and Surviving on the Water: The Triangle + The Deep is an eco-dystopian horror novel of Terror from the Unknown

 

 

The Triangle+The Deep (The Rise Trilogy)

Robert P. Ottone

Undertaker Books, 2024

ISBN-13: 979-8990617728

Ebook, 525 ppg.

Buy link

 

 

I’m a big fan of Robert P. Ottone, and I try to read ALL of his books. So when I heard that he had won a Stoker award for his YA novel, The Triangle, I was intrigued. This was one book of his which I hadn’t yet read, so imagine my delight that, after the book was republished as a combo with another of Robert’s books, it was offered to me for review.

 

Azlynn is a 15-year-old teenager who lives with her dad in his shop, where they survive among other floating vessels. Set several years into the future, the ice of the Earth melted so much that sea levels rose so high that it covered up all the land. Now everybody lives and works on the water.

 

I really got into this story, mainly because I soon realized the Triangle spoken of in this story could only be one thing; The Bermuda Triangle. As a teen, I was fascinated by the Bermuda Triangle. I read everything I could get my hands on about it. How was it possible people ACTUALLY disappeared in this invisible THING in the ocean and were never heard from again? Of course, a lot of people had ideas about it.

 

And I love this particular new twist on an old idea. Azzy’s dad agrees to go into the Triangle to find something and, of course, Azzy stows away on the ship with her best friend Ellis. Azzy is determined to go along just so she can ensure her father will be safe, as well as to stay with him because there was no way she was going to stick around in the store and worry about him.

 

And as I read more about this story about a very mysterious thing that STILL exists in the ocean, the more mysterious this story got. Strange creatures, strange voices and strange happenings all take place in the Triangle. It made the story curiouser and curiouser. That was part of the reason why I kept reading. I wanted to know what these creatures were and how they were able to penetrate Azlynn’s mind.

 

The other thing that kept me reading this story was Azzy’s dad saying he was hoping to find “her” in the Triangle. Azzy has no idea who this “her” is but she does eventually find out. And what a surprise it is!

 

So, I know this story is YA and would probably appeal to teen readers, but it also appealed to this adult reader. I mean, it’s the Bermuda Triangle! Come on! Yes, this story is fictional, but it does weave a mysterious and very interesting theory about the Bermuda Triangle. It’s an action-packed story with amazing characters that was hard for me to put down!

 

Plus, it shines light on what life would be like if the oceans did indeed flood over all the land on the Earth and we all had to live on water. I couldn’t help but think about Water World as I read this story. Oh, and also Hellraiser, thanks to the character, Shotaro, saying, “We have such sights to show you.”

 

Indeed. The sights are shocking, but so are the creatures known as “The Deep.”

 

This is my favorite quote from The Triangle, on page 258:

"If you get outta this world without scars, then you never lived in the first place."

 

Now to the sequel of The Triangle that is included in this volume: The Deep.

 

The Deep takes place one year after The Triangle ends. Azzy is different. Ellis is different. And Coral Cove is different too. VERY different. What’s not different is that Azzy and Ellis are still friends, but there is a wedge between them because of how things ended between them in the last book. Azzy has moved on from all of it but Ellis has not. Ellis strikes me as the emotional type, even though the stuff he went through during that year hardens him and he puts on this tough exterior around everyone.

 

Pain really does change people.

 

And speaking of pain, Azzy is still dealing with her grief from those she lost in the first book. She deals with it in her own way, which is a little unusual and may not actually be what she thinks it is, but at least it helps her to get through another day. I am glad that those who died in the first book are not forgotten about, especially the first person that was lost.

 

This sequel reveals to the reader a VERY unusual and unpredictable partnership between Azzy and characters from the first book. I like that this happened, though, because it gives Azzy a chance to see “a common enemy” up close and realize that a lot of things that people believed about them are just rumors. Also, another unusual alliance takes place in this story, and I admired how Azzy remains tough and firm in dealing with them. She struggles to figure out a solution that is the best for everyone, even though the odds are piled up against her. Though she is young, Azzy deals with some heavy issues in this story and she is forced to grow up really fast as she must carry the burden of such a big responsibility. Yes, it is hard for her, but she handles it. Azzy is smart, tough and determined. She is so strong and she is definitely a good role model for some of the younger characters in the story.

 

In the first book, it was The Deep who were scary characters. While they are still scary in the sequel, it is the sea spiders that are absolutely terrifying.

 

The thing that happens towards the end of this story had me reading with wide eyes! I was like, “WHOA!” I DID NOT see that coming! I was just stunned. It is such a huge thing.

 

AND THE ENDING!! AAH! NO! IT CAN’T END LIKE THAT! Geez, Louise! What a cliffhanger! Give me more of the story! I want more! (sobbing incoherently)

 

Okay, I got myself back together again. I had SO MANY FEELS for this book! The character Azlynn is amazing and so is the character Moira. And, yes, I even liked Eux!

 

And readers are treated to a sample of the third book at the end. Yay!

 

What an amazing sequel The Deep turned out to be! I LOVE both of the books! I cannot wait to read the third book in this trilogy. I am waiting to read it with baited breath!

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.