Back of Book: 

'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.'

Winston Smith works for the Ministry of truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party; they are drawn towards conspiracy. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind. For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101...

Nineteen Eighty-Four is George Orwell's terrifying vision of a totalitarian future in which everything and everyone is slave to a tyrannical regime. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Adult | Science Fiction | Dystopia | Classic

Review: 🌟🌟🌟

The classic "1984" tells the tale of a totalitarian future in which a tyrannical government controls every aspect of society, down to the very thoughts that people are allowed to think. 

Winston Smith works for the ministry in Airstrip One, which was formerly known as Great Britain. Airstrip One is part of Oceania, a society run by a corrupt government that thrives on manipulation and constant government surveillance. Winston knows that one wrong move will end with his death at the hands of government officials, but that doesn't stop Winston from wanting to lash out at the suppressed lifestyle he is forced to endure. When Winston meets Julie, they team up to fight for a better future. But eventually, the Thought Police always find traitors and Winston and Julie are no different than anyone else. 

On one hand, I can totally see why "1984" has survived for so many years and that generations later people are still reading this book. But on the other hand, I can't help but think, "What in the world did I just read?" I certainly have some complicated feelings about this one, so I suppose we should get to it. 

The premise of this one is quite interesting. Winston lives in a dystopian society in which nobody has any autonomy and his life is a dreary, sad existence. The government watches everyone so closely that Winston doesn't dare stand up to them for quite some time. It is terrifying that this government regime has the ability to completely control every aspect of society. Ruling with fear is a pretty common factor in all tyrannical governments, but Orwell brings it to another level with the government messing with people's thoughts more than anything else. 

The first portion of this book mostly features Winston working his desk job where he changes dates, facts, and details in the government's favor. A huge theme of this book is truth. When everyone accepts something false as truth, such as 2+2=5, society can truly be warped. The government in this futuristic society has completely rewritten history again and again, and people have no choice to believe these falsehoods or face the consequences. 

The second section of this book transitions into Winston meeting Julie, a young woman who has similar views on the injustices the government has been putting them through. Winston and Julie both decide to go against Big Brother's back and defy the government. A big portion of this involves the two of them sneaking around and having sex, which isn't exactly shocking, but I was still saddened to learn that "1984" was filled with so much sex. I did find it interesting that the government was striving so hard to take all joys from humanity that they went as far to pairing people in sexual relations in order to sire the next generation. Using sex as a weapon is just another diabolical thing that the government does to control their people.

The final section of this book occurs after Winston and Julie have been found out. This section was absoultely devastating to read. I mean, I did not sign up for psychological rat torture. *cowers behind hands* This is the segment that really drills in the message that people can be broken and brainwashed to believe what the masses tell them to think is true. Seeing how people's hope can be destroyed is always devastating, and it was hard for me to see Winston completely fall apart and fall in line with all that Big Brother believes in. 

The biggest two complaints I have about this one is the torture scenes at the end and the one segment in the middle where Winston just reads this book for like forty pages. I kid you not, I was bored out of my mind during that part. I was certainly bored throughout other segments of this book, but that one completely killed the momentum I had going while reading this one. And torture scenes are never my forte. 

Overall, I think that "1984" has a ton to offer in all the messages it shares and the warning it gives to its readers. It is very important to remember to think for oneself and not to go with the crowd when things go wrong. It urges its readers to not be complacent and to stand up for what's right. It is, however, also extremely boring at time, filled with tons of sex, and from time to time extremely violent. I can't say that I am a huge fan of "1984," but I am extremely proud of what it stands for. Following Winston these past few months has been an experience, and I am saddened by how his story had to end. Let his life serve as a warning and a lesson for generations to come. 

Back of Book: 

For fans of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale comes Ava, a provocative blend of speculative fiction and social commentary that takes readers on a gripping, thought-provoking journey into the fight for women’s autonomy in a politically charged Southern landscape.

What if the only way to reclaim reproductive freedom was to rewrite the very nature of birth itself?

Ten years after Roe v. Wade is overturned, twenty-two-year-old biologist Larkin finds herself unexpectedly pregnant in a country where choice is no longer an option. Initially uncertain, she embraces motherhood—until a devastating diagnosis changes everything. Trapped by Tennessee’s strict abortion laws, she is forced to carry her baby to term, only to endure the heartbreak of losing her hours after birth.

Years later, Larkin joins a radical scientific movement that could change a groundbreaking technology that replaces gestation with incubation, allowing women true control over their reproduction. When she uses it to bring her second daughter, Ava, into the world, she believes she has finally reclaimed her autonomy. But as Ava grows and begins to question the very choice that created her, Larkin is challenged in ways she never imagined.

Ava is a powerful, emotionally charged exploration of motherhood, bodily autonomy, and the far-reaching consequences of restrictive legislation. In a future shaped by loss and innovation, mother and daughter must confront the ultimate what does it truly mean to have a choice? 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Adult | Science Fiction 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Note: This review is much more spoilery than my typical review, so please read with caution. Thank you! 

A poignant speculative novel that dives deep into women's reproductive rights and the state of contraceptive care in America today. 

Larkin finds herself pregnant and abandoned by the government ten years after Roe v. Wade is overturned. Initially, she embraces motherhood with everything she has until she is informed that her child will not survive outside the womb. Devastated and unable to do anything about it, Larkin carries the child to term with all the mental anguish that comes with it. Years later, her boss, Dr. James Davis comes to her with an exciting proposition that will allow gestation to be replaced with incubation. Larkin then figureheads a radical movement that will allow women to take back their reproductive rights and give them the power to once again choose what to do with their bodies.

Just... Wow. It shocked me how much I needed a book like this. This book is certainly going to be a controversial one when the public gets its hands on it, but sometimes that's what the world needs. The fight for women's reproductive rights concerning contraception, abortion, and choosing what is best for their situation has been ramping up as of late, as is the fight for youth getting the healthcare they deserve without adult approval. Therefore, this is such an important book for the situations we are facing today. 

This book is so important that it's truly going to be a challenge for me to describe it right. Before I dive into my deep analysis, I just want to say that this book can be extremely triggering to many readers. Pregnancy, losing a child, and having one's ability to choose taken away are all such hard things to cope with, so make sure to treat yourself with care first and foremost. This book is also extremely political and at times divisive, so make sure to take care of yourself. Also, it is going to be hard to discuss this plot without giving away some of it, because it is truly a rollercoaster.

I think the best way to start talking about this one is to start exploring it in segments. Part I of the book shows Larkin and Spencer's early lives as they go to school, get married, and get pregnant. Larkin is a scientist, which is something that is explored in great detail in this segment. I found it absolutely fascinating to learn more about how life develops and the similarities between different species embryos. 

The latter section of Part I ends up being quite tragic and one of the hardest things I have ever read. Larkin and Spencer learn that their baby is incompatible to live longer than a few minutes after birth, but they exist in a futuristic America in which getting an abortion is illegal. It was so difficult to read about how much stress and torment this unfortunate situation added to Larkin and Spencer's lives. I was sobbing my eyes out pretty much the entire way through, and I grieve for those that are forced into situations such as this. Seriously, anyone who believes that abortions are evil should be forced to read the beginning of this book and see if they aren't crushed by it. 

Part II focuses on the subject matter that the prologue and the cover promise. One of the main characters, Dr. James Davis, also has a bit of a traumatic past involving his mother, her reproductive health care, and medical negligence on her doctor's part. This inspired him to try to create a safer, less fatal way for humans to give birth. As the cover alludes to, he takes the laying eggs approach. I fear there are many reasons that this form of repopulating the human species is seriously unlikely, but the science behind it is absolutely fascinating and would certainly change our world at large. 

Part III showcases young Ava coming to age and being the first human to ever produce an egg successfully. Seeing her grapple with her biological differences was an interesting study in human nature. The points brought up about her parents choosing this lifestyle for her against her will was also a great conversation starter about how much agency parents should have over their children's medical decisions. The ending of this book was so sweet my heart could barely handle it. 

Hopefully I didn't just spoil the entire book, but man, it's difficult to talk about anything meaningful without giving some things away. There are so many things I could discuss about this one, but I'll try to reign it in a bit. 

One thing that I absolutely ate up was the discussion that it presents about a parent's decision to do or not do certain things regarding their kid's medical history. There is a section in this book that talks about a fifteen- to sixteen-year-old girl wanting to go on birth control and get the HPV vaccine behind her parent's backs. She wanted to practice safer sex and get a vaccine that could potentially prevent her from getting a dangerous cancer in her future. She successfully acquired birth control before a law passes that prohibits youths under eighteen from seeing a doctor without a parent or guardian present but didn't receive the HPV vaccine in time. Her parents feared the vaccine would cause infertility, but in reality, it just opened her up for much scarier risks in the future. 

The overall fight for reproductive rights in general was another obvious highlight of this novel. Many topics surrounding pregnancy, sex, and conceiving children are things that freak me out, though I recognize the gift these things are. Therefore, books such as this tend to freak me out, but I also love being more educated on these subjects; more knowledge gives me more power to make practical decisions. 

It scares me that the government in America has been fighting so hard to make abortions illegal, because every person's circumstances are different and women deserve to be able to make such important decisions about their bodies. In Larkin's case, she had to carry a child to full-term even though it had an incurable developmental problem that meant the baby wouldn't survive in the outside world. So much turmoil is put on these women already, it is only fair that we let them put their baby to rest as soon as possible in the peacefulest way we can. Also, the financial burdens it puts on people can also be crushing, especially given the fact that they don't have a baby to bring home with them afterwards. 

The sci-fi nature of this one hits really close to home but feels seriously impossible at the same time. People laying eggs and having to wear protective sunglasses to avoid ovulation seems really out there, but the government crackdown feels all too real. The fact that all forms of contraception are eventually banned before this book concludes is terrifying. Those against this ban would have to sneak in contraband condoms and birth control pills from Mexico like they were drugs, which is a terrifying thought. These things make everyday life simpler and better; I fear the main thing that banning contraception would really lead to is more illegal and unsafe abortions happening on the streets or in secret clinics. 

The church's influence on contraception and sex practices is another thing I always find interesting to study. Many religions beg their followers to save their purity and not lie with anyone unless you are married. I feel this is a dying value in this day and age, but I found it an interesting thing to investigate. In this book, many people started restraining from sex again after contraceptive methods were made illegal. I think it's an interesting thought experiment to see how this would affect humanity's values as a whole. 

In schools, it is still scarily common that the only form of sex ed that exists is a member of a church group or a singular nurse coming in and saying, "The only way to be truly safe is to abstain from having sexual intercourse in any form." Newsflash, this helps literally nobody. I thought it was really funny how Larkin used her knowledge of biology to make the people that came in and taught sex ed at her school to look extremely stupid. Seriously, public education needs more than teaching abstinence, because they're not stopping teens from having sex in any way, shape, or form. Also, people who flaunt their beliefs over others are just so uncool anyway. Larkin had this one roommate who literally did not understand how children are created due to programs such as these, so I also appreciate how the author backed her work up later in the story. 

I fear I've already bared my soul too much and probably expressed one too many controversial opinion for my own good. I sort of felt like I was back in College Government debating my stance on critical issues in America. *awkward laughter* Anyway, just know that this book touches on so many important topics and hits you right in the feels as it does so. This is a book I'm sure I'll revisit again, as I'm certain it will read differently as more time passes and politics shift. 

Overall, "Ava" was such a powerful novel. I wasn't expecting for this one to put me in a death grip and not let me go, but it certainly did. I sobbed, I laughed, my stomach turned with unease as I read about the horrors that the government was putting Larkin and her family through. This is such a great speculative novel that deep dives into reproductive care, medical negligence, contraception, parental agency, scientific discoveries, and so much more. I was absolutely touched and hope that this book finds all the right people. I hope Dillon keeps writing, because this book really packed a punch! 

Back of Book: 

In an Eden-like future, a girl and her father live close to the land in the shadow of a lone mountain. They own a few remnants of civilization: some books, a pane of glass, a set of flint and steel, a comb. The father teaches his daughter how to fish and hunt and the secrets of the seasons and the stars. He is preparing her for an adulthood in harmony with nature, for they are the last of humankind. But when the girl finds herself alone in an unknown landscape, it is a bear that will lead her back home through a vast wilderness that offers the greatest lessons of all, if she can learn to listen. A cautionary tale of human fragility, of love and loss, The Bear is a stunning tribute to the beauty of nature’s dominion. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Adult | Science Fiction 

Review: 🌟🌟

Back of Book: 

A slave born of aborted flesh with one last chance at freedom. A girl to be recovered. Will he be her savior or executioner?
Kal has one shot at freedom, but it means going against those who own him. Aborted and reborn for entertainment and advertisement, Kal's life has been nothing but misery. But when he is needed to recover a mysterious girl, he must make a do as his masters bid or risk everything for a chance at True Freedom. In a futuristic world where genetically engineered and cybernetically enhanced humans are owned by corporations, Kal must use his speed and strength to break the shackles that bind him. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Adult | Science Fiction | Thriller

Review: 🌟🌟

In a dystopian future in which aborted children are sold to the government, one young man must race for the chance to earn his freedom. 

Kal is a Ghoul. After his mother decided to have an abortion, his flesh was taken by the government and he was genetically modified to be the perfect racing machine. Now, Kal's life functions as a glorified racehorse, and he must win every race if he wants a chance at freedom. When things don't go according to plan, Kal has one final shot at freedom when he is kidnapped by an elite group and given the mission of a lifetime. Now, it is either run at his fastest or be killed where he stands. 

I honestly had no idea what this book was about going into it, but I've enjoyed other books by Yorks in the past and thought I'd give it a go. Science fiction is so hit or miss for me as it is, and a society that enslaves aborted children was just not it for me. 

The best part about this book is definitely the running elements. Yorks was a professional track star, so seeing him use his expertise to write a sci-fi thriller is very cool. My boyfriend is a big runner himself and is constantly watching track and cross-country events, so I had a fun time imagining the races that happen in this book.

This story is made up mostly of Kal running and fighting his way through a desolate wasteland. I'm not a huge fan of action thrillers, so it's not exactly surprising that I found myself bored by most of Kal's exploits. 

The medical logs and illustrations present throughout this one didn't add anything whatsoever. I found myself scanning through a bunch of medical jargon only to realize that none of the reports every shared anything important. I mostly only glanced at the pictures and found myself moving on from them rather quickly. 

I think that the concept of showcasing a world in which aborted children are brought to full term through scientific means outside of the mother and then used as government slaves definitely raises a few questions. In my brain, I assume the author wants the reader to think about how all children once conceived are people, and that abortion is murder. I think the way that this is expressed throughout this book with people seeing Ghouls as less than human and expendable is a little harsh, but I can't say that's exactly what the author was going for either.

I honest to goodness cannot tell you what happens at the end of this book. I found it to be way too ambiguous, and I seriously have no idea how Kal's story ended. This is probably on me, but I'm still confused. 

Overall, "The Redline" is a sci-fi adventure set in a dystopian world in which aborted children are government slaves. I wasn't a huge fan of the topic matter in this one, nor the literal content. Much of this book shows Kal running across a barren wasteland and fighting his way to his freedom. It's filled with action, which meant that I found it mostly boring. I was definitely not the target audience for this one, and I only gave it a shot because I've liked the author's previous work. If you enjoy science fiction thrillers, you could get a kick out of this one! 

Back of Book: 

The Store doesn't just want your money—it wants your soul.

Imagine a future of unparalleled convenience. A powerful retailer, The Store, can deliver anything to your door, anticipating the needs and desires you didn't even know you had.

Most people are fine with that, but not Jacob and Megan Brandeis. New York writers whose livelihood is on the brink of extinction, Jacob and Megan are going undercover to dig up The Store's secrets in a book that could change the entire American way of life. But after a series of unsettling discoveries, Jacob and Megan's worst fears about The Store seem like just the beginning.

Harbouring a secret that could get him killed, Jacob has to find a way to escape The Store's watchful eye and publish his expose—before the truth dies with him.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Adult | Science Fiction | Thriller 

Review: 🌟🌟

Back of Book: 

Change the past to embrace a new future...

Rae has no interest in being a hero who changes the past, but in her grief she signs up for time travel anyway, eager for its guaranteed side memory loss. She’s paired up with Beau, who’s determined to stop the release of the Mortem virus that’s decimated the population. Tasked to remain in the future as Rae’s handler, it’s his job to convince her amnesic mind that the voice in her head is real and she’s the world’s only hope for preventing the deadly outbreak.

But when Rae is kidnapped by an anti-time travel faction soon after her arrival in the past, it's clear she wasn't the only traveler sent back for this mission—a mission this new faction claims is outright impossible. With mere weeks before the research facility’s bombing releases the virus, Rae and Beau scramble to find a way to stop Mortem. Now that enemies lurk in both the past and future, they’re no longer fighting just to stop an outbreak—they’re fighting for their lives. 

Book Number: Stand Alone

Genre: Adult | Science Fiction | Thriller | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

An exhilarating sci-fi thriller that had me at the edge of my seat the whole way through yet rooting for Rae and Beau to find their happily ever after they deserve! 

In a future haunted by the dangerous virus, mortem, time travelers are sent back into the past in the hopes of stopping the viral outbreak. Rae doesn't care about saving humanity, but she volunteers herself anyway in the hopes that she can forget her devastating past. Beau is her handler who she has trained with day in and day out in the hopes that they can survive the dangerous mission together. Rae is about to be sent into the past, and Beau is ready to remain in the future to walk her through her journey there. Soon after arriving in the past, Rae finds herself almost assassinated and then kidnapped by a group of anti-time travelers. With mere weeks to prevent mortem's initial outbreak, Rae and Beau must fight to save not just themselves, but also the world at large. 

I've been following Karyne Norton for a while now, but this is the first full-length novel of hers that I've read. This past fall, I decided to back her Kickstarter for her first sci-fi release and I count myself honored to be listed among the names in the back of this book. This was such a beautifully penned novel; it has me wanting to binge read the rest of her books despite their length! 

It is hard to put into words how wonderful this story is. For one, any story involving complicated time travel is a nightmare to try to piece together, but Norton did it so artfully! There are so many potential paradoxes, timelines, and memory loss in certain characters that I could never have kept it all straight myself. It's insane that she managed to keep it all straight and pen a story that truly blew my mind. 

I think the best thing about this book is the characters. Beau and Rae one hundred percent feel like real people that one comes to love as this book progresses. Rae is a kickbutt protagonist who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and prefers to keep her emotions close to her chest. Beau, on the other hand, is an intellectual, sweet boy who wasn't made to work the field, but will do anything in his power to keep Rae safe. I love the banter between these two and the lengths that they are willing to go in order to protect each other. Their relationship is quite complicated with all the time travel related amnesia that occurred throughout this book, but I was definitely shipping them the entire way through! 

The side characters in this one are just as lovable. Jeff and Sam have quite the colorful personalities with their skirtchasing tendencies and their in your face natures. It is hard not to fall in love with Thuy, Nick, and little Binh. The dynamic between this family is so wholesome; I didn't want anything to happen to their perfect family in this dangerous world. Even Rae's roommate, Val, was extremely likable with her grumpy cat, Henry, and her reluctance to take no as an answer. 

I usually am not a huge fan of books with such high intensities, but I think that is because those books usually come with such graphic violence, gore, and overtly rated R scenes. Norton's work however, isn't like that at all! I can't say that this book isn't filled with violent acts or that many characters don't die, but vulgarity never happens for the sake of vulgarity. 

When I first started reading this book, my brain jumped to Orwell's "1984." The society that Rae and Beau initially work for, Animo, reminded me of Big Brother and how they warped history to fit their own narrative. This book does a great job of conveying many of the same messages as that one in a way that is much more palatable to the modern reader (in my opinion, obviously). Rae and Beau have always believed these inherent truths about their world until members of the anti-time travel group, Serenity, introduced them to a new possibility. The two then had to reconsider everything that they had ever known and come to their own conclusions about what was actually the truth. 

It also brings to mind questions about how much power a government should have and what sort of procedures should be put in place in scientific dwellings to prevent the start of pandemics such as Mortem. The government in both the past and the future in this society, both thought they knew what was best for their people, but they were in actuality sending innocent civilians to their deaths again and again. The release of Mortem at first seems like a freak accident, but as more of this story unravels, the reader becomes more enraptured in the web of lies that every party is spouting. No one is completely in the right or completely in the wrong in this story, and I feel that brings many talking points to life. 

This book was so intense and filled with such complicated time travel that I had to read it in small doses over a series of days when my brain was rested and alert. It was hard not to just binge read it in a single sitting because the story was so enthralling, but I didn't want my sleepy brain to dull the reading experience. Seriously, I feel this one is going to be a top read of 2026 and it is only mid-January! 

Overall, "The Things We Can Change" is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that had me hooked from the very first page! The time travel elements are so complex but done in a way that my brain could easily comprehend most of the time. I also love the relationship between Rae and Beau; I truly only wished the best for them the entire time. This book was so intense with the multiple factions constantly at each others throats and the literal ticking time bomb of the disaster that they were trying to prevent. I absolutely loved my time with this book and I'm super excited to check out more of Norton's work in the near future!