THE FINAL ORCHARD
C.J RIVERA
*****
In a society where bionic enhancements are the epitome of wealth and power, scientific researcher Dr Rosio Arata threatens to topple the status quo with her pioneering organic enhancements. Yet when a horrific accident kills her daughter, Ro's quest for answers leads her to becoming trapped in a twisted version of her life's work.
In a bleak underground colony, sixteen year-old Ever is primed to rise through the ranks, gain selection and become a Saviour. It's her dream to journey to the Surface and fight the army of Forms overwhelming the globe, catching up with the boy she loves in the process. Yet nothing in this world is what it seems and soon the secrets buried in her bunker begin to unravel, threatening the future of everything.
MY REVIEW
*****
I haven’t read a good sci-fi book in ages, so I was excited to dive into The Final Orchard.
When Ro’s daughter dies in a car accident, it puts her life and scientific achievements on hold. However, when a billionaires son makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she starts to work with him to pioneer organic enhancements. Elsewhere, Ever is part of an underground colony working her way up the ranks to join the Saviours and fight for the world above.
I was completely hooked on The Final Orchard from the outset – although I must admit I enjoyed the Ever chapters more than the Ro ones. C.J Rivera creates a well-rounded and detailed world, where artificial adornments allow citizens to live longer and longer, and the sun locks people away for large parts of the day. The chapters alternate between Ro and Ever and I must admit that at the start, I hadn’t quite guessed how they interlinked – it is so clever though and works really well – its well-paced and plotted to perfection.
The world below, with teenagers desperately contributing to the war effort by pedalling for power and donating blood to win standing to get a chance to fight outside, felt gritty and realistic. The characters here were interesting and varied, and I enjoyed piecing together what was actually happening. The stakes ramp up and I raced through the end chapters as they became more and more action-packed. The ending left some room for a sequel, and if this is the case I will snap it up!
Overall, The Final Orchard is dystopian sci-fi done well – well plotted and paced for an engaging and gripping read. Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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