by Thomas Weaver

A dystopia that isn’t the result of some huge cataclysm or alien invasion… That alone would be enough to make this novel stand out from the crowd. Also, unlike the other novels by this author I’d read, this one is in past tense, which I prefer. (Present tense feels artificial to me. It’s just a matter of personal taste.)

After reading The Rebel Within, I said I wanted to know a lot more about the setting and backstory, not because the author failed to give enough information for that story but because was so interesting.

The Regina Shen novels take place in the same setting (?) as the Rebel stories, but two or three centuries later. Although it is not as prevalent, the author continues to explore the idea that, if a segment of the population is labeled “the oppressors” and removed, that doesn’t stop oppression, only who is doing it. The fact that Mr. Erlick manages to do that without ever getting preachy is impressive (and much appreciated by this reader).

Some of the themes of those other novels are in this one, too: the protagonist has a younger sister whom she tries to protect, she has a difficult relationship with her mother (and her mother keeps secrets from her)…

This is YA science fiction, but don’t let that give you the wrong impression. This is not a “It’s the end of the world, but at least the cutest kid at school thinks I’m cute” sort of story. Regina Shen and her family (and neighbors and friends) face a very realistic struggle to survive in a harsh environment and against dangerous antagonists, and Regina herself is trying to find out what her mother is hiding and why those government women are after her, and the plot is gritty without being “grimdark.”

If I had to come up with one thing from this first novel to complain about, it would be this: These characters know a lot about surviving in swamp country, so why don’t they know that cattails are edible? (That’s a very minor quibble, isn’t it? Certainly nothing that should interfere with anyone’s enjoyment of the story.)

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By Tia (Goodreads Reviewer)

Intelligent and Interesting

This is a wonderful story about survival in the most dire circumstances. A huge storm wreaks havoc on an already outcast population. The authority who rejected them to begin with then captures the young as slaves. The authority discovers that their fertility is failing and one girl possesses the key to save them. However, she fights to stay free even with so little to survive on. She’s smart, savvy, has endurance and survival skills. This is a great well written and thought out book. It’s hard to put down.

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by Floryie (Goodreads reviewer)

What a ride!

That was my first thought on finishing the book. And the second thought was that hopefully the following books in the series would be as good as this one.

The author has taken the real issue of melting of the ice caps and created a dystopian world on the What-If situation of flooding of the world. The world described in the book kind of scared me. I definitely wouldn’t want to be a swamp rat. But Regina, the protagonist rocks in her natural habitat. She is plucky and resourceful. She goes through the gritty situation of being left alone to fend for herself in a storm. The daily struggle of staying alive was described vividly and the imagery keeps us engrossed in the scenes playing out in the book. It is quite an adventure for Regina to keep afloat during the storm and to stay clear of the slave smugglers during the chaos. As far as I am concerned, there is no lows in this book and only highs exist. The books keeps us hopping with the various situations Regina keeps getting into. She never ceases to amaze me with her innovative thinking.

I know I have been singing Regina’s praises but I can’t help it. And the other characters aren’t bad either. I loved Mo-mere and I wish I had a teacher like her! Colleen was only in a few scenes and she created an impression of too much dependability. Then there are the twins, who seemed to be observing rather than taking part in the action. Same goes for Wendy too. Last but not the least is Demarco. I am not sure if she is bad or good. She is confusing but devious. I loved the cat and mouse game between Regina and Demarco.

Omg, I seriously can’t think of a world without men. There is no woman without man as far as I am concerned. That’s one point I loved and hated about the book. Now I am eagerly awaiting to see if any man crops up as a surprise twist in the future books.

I can’t say enough about the setting of the book. It was realistic and at no point did I feel it was layered on too thickly. I love books like Swiss Family Robinson and so this book falls right in that category since it is also partly about survival. The plot keeps us on our toes and the pace is fast and steady alternately. The only place I found it a bit slow was when Regina gets back to Mo-mere.

I am sure by now you would know whether I am recommending it or not! If you are an adventure loving junkie, don’t forget to read this book.

My one line review : Take an adventurous ride by Regina’s side as she battles to stay alive and safe!

My rating : 5/5

Buy Regina Shen: Resilience on Amazon.

To learn more about free stories, special promotions, and new releases, join my author Newsletter mailing list here. From time to time, I send out new release and special pricing updates, links to free short stories, and writing updates.