The Sandcastle Empire by  Kayla Olson

my rating: ★★★★☆

tags: dystopian, young adult

goodreads rating: 3.64

I received an arc copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When all hope is gone, how do you survive?

Before the war, Eden’s life was easy—air conditioning, ice cream, long days at the beach. Then the revolution happened, and everything changed.

Now a powerful group called the Wolfpack controls the earth and its resources. Eden has lost everything to them. They killed her family and her friends, destroyed her home, and imprisoned her. But Eden refuses to die by their hands. She knows the coordinates to the only neutral ground left in the world, a place called Sanctuary Island, and she is desperate to escape to its shores…

IT’S BEEN A WHILE

Okay, so it’s been quite a while since I’ve actually read a proper dystopia so this was quite the change of pace (and storyline) for me. Since I haven’t read a dystopian novel in what feels like years I really didn’t know what to expect with this, and it also didn’t help that I haven’t read a survival story like this is months didn’t really help. Honestly, I don’t know why I requested this book, but I am really glad I did? This book is a survival story, a dystopia (the general x group takes over, people run & hide) and a mystery all tied into one, and I seriously had a great time reading it.

THE ROMANCE

I think in general, the romance was my least favourite part of the novel. I didn’t feel like it was necessary for most of the novel and because of it some of the plot twists felt lacklustre and obvious.

IN SUMMARY

As a whole, I did really enjoy this novel but I thought the romance felt slightly forced, but I did really enjoy the novel.

So far this is a standalone, but you know how publishers are. Honestly, if they did continue this series I don’t think I would continue it, the story just flows so much better as one book wonder.

I feel like my review has come off as sort of negative, but I really did enjoy this novel and I would definitely recommend it if you feel like a change of pace or want to try something new (especially if you enjoy the mix of genres).

 

When was the last time you read a dystopian? Have you read The Sandcastle Empire?

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