3 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"The Way of the Cicadas" by Audrey Henley

This post-apocalyptic story is an excellent read that takes the reader on a journey through a desolate world that has been ravaged by nuclear war. The story is centered around a young man named Hayden, who has spent his entire life in a bunker. Over time, he becomes disillusioned with the sterile and limited life within the bunker.

The arrival of a mysterious girl named Brita, who has lost her memory, fills Hayden and the other residents with hope that the outside world may be survivable. Together, they venture into the irradiated wasteland, encountering challenges and betrayals along the way.

Author Henley's writing is both lyrical and evocative, creating a vivid sense of place and atmosphere in the Nevada desert. The characters are well-developed, and the relationship between Hayden and Brita is at the heart of the story.

As a fan of dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction, I found this to be an engaging story. However, I was disappointed that the book was labeled as "LGBT" when there was only a slight undertone of a queer relationship. The author has since addressed this and corrected it, which I appreciate.

The story's strength lies in its exploration of human resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity. The characters are forced to confront the harsh realities of the post-apocalyptic world, and it's interesting to see how they adapt and survive. The sense of danger and tension is palpable throughout, and the action scenes are well-crafted and exciting.

Henley's writing is particularly strong in her descriptions of the natural world. The beauty and brutality of the Nevada desert are vividly portrayed, and the author skillfully creates a sense of both wonder and horror.

This was a well-written post-apocalyptic story that is sure to appeal to fans of the genre. The characters are well-drawn, and the relationship between Hayden and Brita is particularly engaging. While I was disappointed with the lack of a strong queer relationship, the author has addressed this and made corrections. Overall, I would highly recommend this book.

Out now: https://amzn.to/3nL1lPO

This ARC was provided by @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

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 ( )

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. ( )