Heidi Catherine

“Exist: Beyond the Thaw” is the sixth installment “The Thaw Chronicles” by Tamar Sloan and Heidi Catherine. “Exist” is the second book in the “Beyond the Thaw” series, which is conceived as a follow-up to the original “After the Thaw” series. Not so much an “spin-off” series as a continuation of the saga, which explore the lives and decisions of the new Askalan generation in their existential struggle.

The four chosen Seekers are on their way to the Newlands to form show more new connections with the Outlanders. The first obstacle remains nevertheless, to cross the acidic sea without loosing their supplies or any member of the expedition on the attempt. But even on solid ground the danger to the Seekers persists, the new environment turns out to be highly hostile and the mission a far cry from what they were expected. The different ways of life and expectations for the future will clash and both fractions will learn that usually the best solution lies right in between two ‘set in stone’ world-views.

I said it already but it is worth repeating: “The Thaw Chronicle” series is without any doubt the best dystopian series of this decade, it lines effortlessly up with “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” and surpasses them with a very carefully crafted world, the right amount of dystopia and social critique, the constantly questioning of the values and drawbacks of the system that allow the reader to understand the strengths and flaws of the system and to find unsettling similarities to our own society. As stated above I refuse to see both “After the Thaw” and “Beyond the Thaw” as separate series, they both are part of the “Askala-Verse” and flow into each other flawlessly. “Beyond the Thaw” has already surpassed all my expectations by large….. and believe me, when it comes to Askala I have very high expectations 😊

Tamar Sloan and Heidi Catherine have created a wonderful dystopian world, foreign yet familiar, beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Their writing is fluid and nuanced, with a very good editing and a powerful message, very well developed and multifaceted characters, an extraordinary thoroughly built world, action non-stop, an intelligent plot, and very satisfactory developments. It is a fast-paced book, a real page-turner, a great adventure that leaves a lasting impression without disregarding the level of pure entertainment every good story should provide. show less

„Rising“ is the first full length book on the upcoming Burning Series (a prequel “Burning. After the Thaw” is also available. The events of Burning take place seventeen years after the prequel and show the further development in Askala’s society. The previously knowledge of event related in the prequel is not necessary to fully enjoy the story, as all pertinent information is given in “Rising”. Nevertheless, I would recommend reading both (whichever the order) as the story is show more highly interesting and does not overlap.

Askala, is in fact Alaska in an undetermined future, after a climatic cataclysm has rendered the planet for the most part inhabitable. The survivors have created a new society based on the capability of each one of them to improve the living environment and heal the planet. To do so the members of the community are divided in Bounded and Unbounded. Only the Bounded are allowed to actively shape the society and procreate, while the Unbounded are “well cared for”. A closely look shows that not everything is so straightforward as the ones in charge would like everybody to believe. To assure that only the worthy become Bounded, every person must go through the Proving at the age of 16, the outcome of this test will determine his or her position in society.

Outside of Askala, which is surrounded by an acidic ocean, there are also survivors, called Remnants, which way of life is supposedly violent and threat to the environment, the ground the Askalans cut all bridges to the mainland. However, every Remnant that successfully reach the beach of Askala (after sailing in an acidic ocean and surviving the attack of shark-like creatures) is allowed to stay.

“Rising” tells the story of the 9 teenagers, who must endure this year’s proving. Three of them (Dex, Kian and Nova) are the children of the main characters depicted in the prequel, who are joined by five other Askalans (Shiloh, Fern, Felicia, Jay and Thom) and a recently stranded Remnant (Wren).

“Rising” is without doubt the best dystopian series I have ever read, is highly entertaining, a page turner (I literally could not put it down until the very last page), and great adventure. But what really sets “Rising” apart, is the very carefully crafted world, with the right amount of dystopia and social critique, that keeps the reader constantly questioning the values and drawbacks of the system.

The characters, even the secondary ones, are tridimensional and serve purpose to the story. The main characters (Dex, Kian, Nova and Wren) are likeable and steal our hearts in different ways, but also the secondary characters, even the unlikable ones behave in a comprehensible way, that allow the reader to understand the strengths and flaws of the system.
Tamar Sloan and Heidi Catherine have created a wonderful world, beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Their writing is fluid and nuanced, with a very good editing and a powerful message, all of it embedded in a fantastic story. show less

Without any doubt…. the Best Dystopian Series of this Decade

„Falling“ (Burning Series Book 3) takes on immediately after the events depicted in “Breaking”. Kian, Dex, Nova and Flick are still dealing with the consequences of the last Proving, which placed them on opposite sites of Askala’s social system. A system that divides its subjects either in Bound or Unbound. While the first are deemed fully responsible for Askala survival and its thriving, the later are “well cared show more for” but denied any fulfilling position in society and even the right to procreation.

The system which seems to have been working so well for so long, began to collapse as Nova was deemed unworthy and became Unbound and Kian was elected the new High Bound leader, while Wren (an outsider, supposed to lack the values Askalan worships so much) was declared Bound.

In “Falling” the events rush after another, as Wren infiltration role and possible betrayal come to light and Ronan finally comes back. All the while Nova, Flick and Thom have their own battle to fight, as they flee Askala in search of a new beginning. Everything will be called into question, revealing not only Askala’s flaws but also the appalling truth about everyday life and survival in the Outlands.

“Falling” is the most elaborate book of the Series until now (it is even possible? Yes, it is! This Series is getting better with each new book, the story is compelling, the characters very well developed, with an extraordinary well crafted and alarmingly credible world, that leaves a lasting impression in the reader, without disregarding the action and mere enjoyment a good story should always offer. show less

“The Thaw Chronicles” is not only great YA dystopian series, but certainly the very best! Sloan & Catherine have created an enthralling new verse that captivated the readers at the very first book, and have kept the fires burning ever since 😉 showing us Askala, as a (maybe not so) distant future version of our own, and succeeding in mixing fictional and realistic tropes into a fully satisfying story, that is first and foremost entertaining, as every timeless story has to be.

A new show more leader has mastered the Tournaments and has been choses to rule over the Outlands. The tournaments might be over, but the final war for Askala has just barely begun. The confrontation between the harsh survival on the Outlands, and the – apparently – thrive and prosperity on Askala comes to his breaking point, leading to a war whose outcome will seal not only the future of Askala but that of the dying planet, because – as often happens – even the most honorable of fights develop their shadowy motives.

Sloan & Catherine’s wonderful dystopian world, foreign yet familiar, both beautiful and terrifying captivates the reader at first read. Their fluid and nuanced writing conveys a powerful message, whose actuality is plainly apparent. The extraordinary thoroughly created world is populated by well developed and multifaceted characters, credible and relatable at all times. This is – as always - a fast-paced story, that provides action non-stop, an intelligent plot, and very satisfactory developments, a real page-turner, a great adventure that leaves a lasting impression without disregarding the level of pure entertainment every good story should provide.

“Conquer the Thaw” is the perfect conclusion to the series, bringing to fulfilment the events depicted in “Tournaments of Thaw” (Book 9) which gave us a brand-new insight into the Chronicles, being perfect counterbalance to previous sub-series in the verse: “After the Thaw” (Books 1-4) and “Beyond the Thaw” (Books 5-8). “Conquer the Thaw” is a wonderful bitter-sweet lecture, that appeals not only to our emotions, but also to our intelligence and empathy, as only the best literature works do. I’ve already stated it in numerous occasions, however is worth repeating at least one more time: “The Thaw Chronicles” is without any doubt the best YA dystopian series of the decade, not only lining up effortlessly with “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” but even surpassing them with a very carefully crafted world, the right amount of dystopia and social critique, the constantly questioning of the values and drawbacks of the system that allow the reader to understand the strengths and flaws of the system and to find unsettling similarities to our own social shortcomings. show less