The voices in her head were back again. The ones that told her she wasn’t good enough. Shredding her self-worth into a million tiny pieces. Where shadows danced gleefully, denying her hope. Through rifts of time, struggling to find her way. Anxiety gouged out her eyes again, leaving her blind, senseless. Pummeling through metaphorical tunnels, the walls caving in. She couldn’t breathe, another panic attack looming. The voices in her head getting stronger. Blah, blah, blah, buzzing in her ear. Muscles frozen, paralyzed in fear. The monsters in the dark feasting on her flesh. She cried out in agony, slipping into the lethargic arms of depression. Like a fat cat, sitting on her chest. Everything went fuzzy, flashes of death and rebirth. Born again, as a warrior, her brown eyes flashing yellow. Finding strength in the unlikeliest of places. Battling demons in her own home. She reached out into a portal of dreams, finding dystopian books that would heal her heart and mind.
She imagined herself as a book character. Pretending it wasn’t real. Desensitizing herself from reality. Escaping from the ashes of a broken dawn. She would travel into her favourite dystopian books. The ones that she connected with. That felt painful, yet cathartic to read. Stories of angels and demons, that danced around her mind. Eternal creatures that existed in the shadows, invisible to all but one. Novels set in a time long before our own. In the 40’s fighting against racial predijuice. In the future, a warped tale of abuse and consent. Dragons that defied expectations, and their humans too. As destiny blurred, guiding her through realms unknown. Her eyes would blur, like a vaseline filter. Great heaving sobs over death and loss. Must read books that re-defined love. Traditional dystopia vs. subtle hints. A promise of more stories to come. Breathe in, breathe out. The palpations slowing down. Transported into a world far removed from her own. A dark romantic thriller in Caio, something not quite right. A love story gone wrong. Toppling dominoes from the beginning. Navigating life between abuse, and magic. Taboo love, on the outside not normal. Fanning Fireflies, where corpses rotted in the darkness. A romantic, historic paranormal mystery, book three in the Limerent series. A tale of poverty, and the ugliness that lurks in the dark. Bright Midnights, a visceral exploration of growing up with a twist. Seamlessly intertwining magic, dystopian romance, and childhood abuse in hanting accord.
And then, there were four. The Quelling, a Young Adult Science Fiction novel. An array of horrific monsters, eclectic communities, and a nefarious hierarchy of shady political figureheads, none of whom are quite what they appear on the surface. Fourth Wing, where each brush with death brings you a little closer. A tale where humans must be chosen by their bonded dragon, or they’ll die. The Book Of Azrael encompassing sacrifice, loss, and forbidden love. A villainess, whose softer side, almost humanizes her. The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue, where power dynamics come into play. A woman, centuries old, the devil who has her in thrall, the one boy who remembers. 7 dystopian books that changed her life. As dramatic as it sounded, it was true. Books that rescued her from the throes of depression. Smoothing out the fine lines that burrowed under her eyes. The tension leaving her back, insecurities forgotten. Imagining herself as someone else. In the world of make-believe, where nothing was impossible. Heriones and villainesses. Neither good nor bad, human, not human. Something in between. It was like she blacked out. Hours lost to dystopian books, that made her turn back time. But what would she read first? She plunged into her portal, a whirlpool of rainbow light. Seven books, an odd number, slipping into her cracked hands. The Limerent Series, 1,2,3.
The Limerent Series (Caio, Fanning Fireflies, Bright Midnights) by Lexy Delorme
Caio
The bath gurgled with running water. Slipping manicured toes into stifling heat. Letting the steam wash over her with a hedonistic sneer. She floated, a glass of her favourite red trickling down her throat. Thumbing through Caio with undisguised glee. From the first word transported. Following the tale of Sarah Baker, a paralegal in Brooklyn. The year was 2025, she had never found love before. Widowed from her husband, five years prior. Stuck with an abusive boyfriend who was controlling and manipulative. Navigating the voices she would hear in her head, were they ghosts? Soul-sucking work at the law firm, realizing something was amiss. A read, enthralled. Identifying with the abuse that Sarah was dealing with. Flashbacks to a childhood so different to her peers. The lumps, and bruises. The emotional scars lacerated in her mind, and soul. Remembering the times that she was powerless like Sarah. Vunerable, letting people treat her like s**t. Thinking she deserved nothing less. But one day, Sarah’s life would change. Meeting the mysterious ‘Caio’, as he played basketball. A shocking attraction, and taboo love. A almost felt sickened, uncomfortable with the power play between ‘child’ and ‘middle aged woman’. Yet, it wasn’t as it seemed. Thrown into a hole, and left to die in 1905. Something that made him stop aging overnight. Forever 16 on the outside. 120 years old on the inside.
Caio is the perfect example of dystopian books that make you want to read it all in one go.
Not a typical dystopian romance she would give you that. Set in the present day, not future. Not as much magic elements as the rest of the series. And yet, was it not an imagined society where people would lead wretched, dehumanized and fearful lives? A supernatural romantic thriller that tugged on her heartstrings. The voices in her head that included her dead mum and friend. The dubious ethics at her workplace. The abuse of young children, that horrified her beyond measure. Tears filling her eyes, remembering what happened to her all those years ago. It was a book, like Lexy Delorme’s other novels that repulsed, yet enchanted her in equal measure. Combining the macrabre, with humanist elements. Ghosts, that shouldn’t exist. Real-life workplace politics. The mundane, and the abnormal, she wouldn’t have it any other way. It was no wonder why L.S Delorme was one of her favourite new authors. Weaving a poignant picture of power dynamics in an abusive relationship. The fractured connections between family. Taboo love, in its ugliest form. She read it twice, three times. Finding something new each time. Would Sarah have the strength to break all of society’s rules, save lives and step into a new magical life?
Fanning Fireflies
Corruption was at the core of L.S Delorme’s novels. Hauntingly rich, and poignant, stories that would replay in her mind, over and over again. She sat on the tube, zoning out mindlessly. Ignoring the people pressed up against her. Imagining she was somewhere else. The stench of BO perforating her nostrils like an assain. The loud burble of agitated chatter. The monotonous voiceover of ‘please mind the gap’. At last, a single seat, opening up. Sitting down gratefully, a small sigh escaping her lips. Unravelling Fanning Fireflies, from the bottom of her colourful bag. A contrast to the dark secrets that were lurking within. A tale of racial predijuice, and the brutal evil nature of humanity. A story set in 1944, weaving lore of poverty, unlikely friendships, and a sequence of violent deaths. Veronica, the protagonist of the story. Working a below minimum wage job in the cigarette factory. Endless hours so she can afford to eat. Hoping to save enough to own the home her family is living in. The very definition of poor, trying to block out the fire that whispers its devilish secrets. The ghosts that try to talk to her, with an impish gleam. The people in town who stare at her, unwanted advances. No means no, don’t they know? Handsome black soldiers enlisted. Horrified by the reactions of the people around her. The name calling, and the beatings. Blaming them for the horrific unexplained deaths that keep cropping up. Veronica, trying not to think about Lazlo, the handsome black soldier she processed at the draft office. Gone to war, the people against her. Living in a world that was part-rotten, part magic.
Fanning Fireflies was so beautifully written. No wonder it was on my list of the best dystopian books.
A couldn’t put Fanning Fireflies down. Weeping at the racial discrimination against black soldiers. The grief and loss that Veronica encounters. The upheaval of a life she had always known. Fighting against the system in a world that reeked of evil. Women, abused, beaten, and dismembered. A horrific analogy. A young black boy beaten, and blamed for the deaths of these women. A, outraged by the treatment of minority characters, true to its time. There was, and had always been something rotten in Harrisville. Where bigotry, misogyny, sexism, racism, and poverty were rife. Corpses hiding in the tobacco with the roaches. Phantom chickens, and rabid racoons, leading Veronica to the dirty secret her hometown held. Common themes, laced with magic. A couple, a beautiful white woman, a stunning black man. Not from this time, only she and her mother Iona can see them. Are they ghosts? Or are they a figment of her imagination? Racing the clock against evil, as she struggles to protect her family from the human condition. Discovering powers, no longer afraid of the fire. A, imagined herself as this Veronica. Bold, brave, willing to go against the societal norm. Not caring what people think. Staying true to herself. Immersed in a world where gothic horror, supernatural stories and magical realism would interweave.
Bright Midnights
Her original love affair with L.S Delorme’s dystopian books began at the end of 2023. Bright Midnights, the catalyst that awakened her mind. Reading it again, for the 5th time. A personal favourite, in a bookshelf that was 1000+ strong. A single tear trickled down her cheek, salty and hot. Remembering years of being abused as a child. By a family member who should have known better. The true definition of evil. She could forgive, but she would never forget. The name calling, and the swearing. The threats, and assaults. Gaslighting, and manipulative coercision. At a time where her friends were playing with dolls, she was writing journals. Diary entries shredded before her eyes. Jeering like a callous chorus. The pushes, and the shoves. The slaps, stinging her cheek. Going into school, teachers horrified at the state of her. Social services called. An evil woman let off for ‘good behaviour’. Abuse that got worse, she wanted her dead. But somehow, just somehow, she survived. Just like Amelie. A 17 year old girl, raped by her own brother. Her family watching on, not doing anything. Touched inappropriately by strangers. The wolf whistles, and the obsessiveness over. Not able to escape the wicked darkness of the leeches around her. Dystopian books weren’t rare. But what was rare? Novels like Bright Midnights, that felt like a mirror into her own life. Her own story of abuse, and inappropriate relationships. Left out on the sidelines. Feeling like she was navigating a world alone. Caio might have opened the door, but Bright Midnights unleashed the floodgates.
Bright Midnights remains one of my favourite dystopian books of all time.
And so, she began, a dark paranormal love story. Combining metaphysical sci-fi, with enthralling romance. Watching Amelie struggle to reconcile her ‘gift’ and her longing for normalcy. Trying to stay out of the shadows, but finding the darkness was closer than she thought. But everything would change the moment she would meet the enigmatic Clovis. Forbidden love that seemed to span centuries. Diving deep into her dreams, free to be with him. An incubus, and a human. But it wasn’t quite as simple as that. Part-something else, the both of them had that in common. Learning to harness her magic, in a way that wouldn’t take over her life. And yet, there were hardships. An immune system that was always down. Friends, who didn’t have her best interests at heart. A creepy teacher, that reminded her of a teacher she had at school. Lecherous, and dirty, preying on the vunerable. Though Amelie was magic, her greatest gift was her inner strength. Reaching into her emotional core, in a tale with intricate twists, compelling characters, and a sense that someone was always watching. It ended, leaving her with questions, and a tissue box almost empty. Waiting desperately for ‘The Ghosting Academy’ to come out. Hoping for a happy ever after for Amelie, and Hudson, her friend.
The Quelling by C.L. Lauder
It took her back to her teen years. Stretched out on her blue and white bedlinen, reading dystopian novels. Her world defined by vampires, werewolves, and forbidden love. A world away from her turbulent teen years, yet somehow relatable. Her, who was bullied, by people who were meant to be her friends. Overcoming childhood abuse, struggling to shake off the PTSD. Feeling like she was different. Like she didn’t fit in. She didn’t belong. Reading books like The Hunger Games, Twilight and Markeed, with undisguised relish. Relating to the main characters, even if she didn’t have magical powers of her own. Having one thing in common with the protatgonists; born to be a survivor. Characters who had faced the unimaginable. Yet, by some force of sheer willpower had the strength to continue. Even when it felt like there was no way out. Where carrying on was impossible. They never gave up.
If you are a fan of The Hunger Games, Divergent or The host, The Quelling is for you. Dystopian books that make you think.
The Quelling by C.L.Lauder was no different. Set in the complex world of Aurora Saura, threatened by the arrival of the Rhemans. Enigmatic beings that inhabited the bodies of other life forms to propogate their own survival. Kyjita, a victim of this sadistic regime, who was a survivor from the moment she got ‘stained’. Running from the nightmarish ghoragalls that prowled the skies. Whose family was fragmented, losing her mum. Finding a young girl, that felt like a sister to her. Trying to protect her from the evil of the world around them. Her worst fears coming true, as the young girl gets abducted. Finding an alliance in the most unlikeliest of places. An honourable Rhemen, driven by loyalty and kindness. Together, overcoming every obstacle in their way. Untrustworthy people, who they thought had their back. Monsterish creatures that seemed like a figment of their imagination. Dystopian fantasy on an epic scale. Nothing quite like it seemed, a nefarious hierachy of shady political figureheads. The Tarrohar, who latched on the back of their victims, controlling their thoughts and movements. The deadly Ravvids, scavengers of the desert plains. But what touched A’s heart the most? Kyjta’s complex family lineage, shattered and remoulded by a series of tragic events. A mirror of her own life, navigating loss, grief, and trauma.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
From a young age, there was something not quite right. The anxiety that clawed at her brain like a million scurrying spiders. The depression that pulled her under, swimming in loneliness, desolation, and dejection. The back that screamed with pain, hunched over. The joints that would click out of place, rickety-rack. The stomach that gargled with burning acid, travelling up to the esophagus. The incessant vomiting, and the coughing up of blood. If only she knew then, what she knew now. How to manage her chronic pain, and mental illnesses, so they didn’t take over her life. Ignoring the people who dismissed her as a drama queen. Knowing something was wrong. This. This is what she found in Violet, the Fourth Wing‘s protagonist. A fierce young adult with chronic pain. Who didn’t let anything get in her way. Who, despite (and because of her chronic pain) would go above and beyond to prove people wrong. Not letting her illness define her. Written by Rebecca Yarros in a way, where her illness wasn’t tokenistic. Where she wasn’t written as a sympathetic character to feel sorry for. Instead, A felt awe at being represented. A woman who was brave, fearless, and incredibly smart. Who was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Ordered by her own mother AKA General Sorrengail, to become a dragon rider instead. But with Violet being chronically ill and disabled, people think the odds are against her. A childhood best friend Dain, scared she will be one of the numbers on the death toll. Enemies who would strangle her in her sleep. Unbonded dragons who can smell weakness.
Looking for dystopian books about dragons? Fourth Wing is the perfect book to read!
An enemies to lovers storyline, a satisfying turn of events. Hatred that turns into love. Betrayal that shows her who her real friends are. Secrets discovered, that make her think her professors aren’t all what they cracked up to be. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda. Because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. Violet is determined to graduate, even when the world wants her to fail. But what A found the most poignant? Her fractured relationships with family and friends. A mother, that would seemingly sacrifice her own daughter for secrets best hidden. A sister, who she loves, but isn’t allowed to see. A brother, dead, 5 years ago. A father, the person she looked up to the most, who was also dead. Could she bond with a dragon, and save herself from incineration? The death toll rising, Xaden Riorson hoping to add her name to the list. Side characters to root for like Liam, fiercly protective and loyal. Rhiannon, Vi’s best friend, and all round badass. A, hooked from the first page, falling in love from start to finish. Eagerly ordering the second book ‘Iron Flame’, already halfway through. Wishing the third novel was out, so she could binge them all in one go. Without a shadow of a doubt, Violet was one of her favourite book characters EVER. Someone who took no bull***t, yet was compassionate. Thoughtful, even when people didn’t deserve it. Entangled in a romance that had her all a’shiver. Steamy, yet emotional too. But her favourite part? The complexity of the dragons. How they communicated. How they worked with humans. She couldn’t wait for book number 3.
The Book Of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole
A had always thought that the villains were often the most exciting characters. People who she saw as neither good or bad. A bit of both, somewhere in between. Who had more room for growth, in their character arc. Going outside the boundaries of ‘acceptable society’ and appealing to those who wanted to break from the mold. No line uncrossed, no f**ks given. And yet, there would be human emotions too. A family member or friend that they would care about. More relatable, making mistakes they wish they could unwrite. Experiencing anger, sadness, frustration, love and joy, in their own way. Dianna, The Book of Azrael‘s epic villainess and FMC, was no exception. A feisty, and powerful assain, who won’t stop to kill anyone who gets in her way. Who sacrificed her life, and freedom to save her sister a thousand years ago. Used by her ‘creator’ and former lover Kaden as a weapon. Forced to fight and kill for him, because he uses her sister as leverage. Locked in servitude to him, she is forced to hunt down an ancient relic held by her most dangerous enemies: an army led by Samkiel, the World Ender. Known as Liam, a handsome brooding God, who is somewhat of a recluse. Coming together, a story told from Dianna and ‘Liam’. The latter returning to Dianna’s world after a long, self-imposed exile. Sure, it was another ‘enemies to lovers’ storyline. But this was one was so deliciously rich, diverse, and well written, that she couldn’t help but fall in love.
The Book Of Azrael is one of those rare dystopian books that get you in the feels. I cried so much, I had puffy eyes for days.
When it came to dystopian books that were hard to put down, Amber V. Nicole, was a mastermind. An eleborate fantasy world with Gods, demon-like creatures, vampires, banshees, and even shadow-people. Monsters, who weren’t really monsters. Dianna, on the surface, a shapeshifting, magic wielding creature. But underneath it all, walls that were begging to break free. Trying to reconnect with the human that she once was. Learning to care not just about her sister, but new people along the way. Deadpan, and flippant, always cracking jokes, so she didn’t have to feel. Liam, struggling with depression and PTSD. Arrogant, yes, a killer, also yes. But kind and caring? Pretty much always, even to his enemies. The chemistry between them both had her hot under the collar. A slow-burn romance, spanning 500+ pages. Yes, it was a long book, but it didn’t feel like it. It had everything. Loss of identity, and rediscovering your why. Navigating mental health issues, and overcoming grief and trauma. Side characters like Gabby, and Logan that you couldn’t help rooting for. It really was that GOOD.
The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
All her life, she had felt invisible. A side character, left on the sidelines. Someone who had been dealt a rough hand growing up. Who, wanted to be noticed. Not for attention. But to feel like she mattered. Like she belonged here. Not an outsider looking in. At home, she would feel numb inside, distancing herself from the people around her. Building a shield around her heart, thinking she wouldn’t get hurt again. True, it was harder being invisible now. Swathed in bright colours, and the most colourful accessories. A vibrant, and bubbly personality, who seemed to always make friends. But the her aged between 6 and 18, would beg to differ. Even if she felt invisible she wasn’t. The target of bullies, people who were meant to be her friends. Teased, and made fun of. Like Addie LaRue, she knew what it was like to feel like you were invisible. To feel like noone would remember you. To think that you would always be stuck in limbo, no matter what. Until, everything changed. Both for Addie, and for A. When Addie La Rue makes a pact with the devil, she trades her soul for immortality. But then, there is always a price. The devil, sometimes lover, who wants her all for himself. Taking away her place in the world, cursing her to be forgotten by everyone. Starting life in 18th century France, beginning a journey that takes her around the world. Learning to live for centuries without a single ‘living person’ remembering her. Nothing owned, or belonged. Lost and broken. A muse for artists throughout history.
The first time I read The Invisible Life Of Addie La Rue I fell in love. It is not your typical dystopian novel true. It reads at times as a critique of art and at others historical fiction. But I believe all dystopian novels have an element of magic just like this.
Her only companion? The devil, visiting each year on the anniversary of their deal. Learning throughout the years to fight him off. Confronting him, maybe beating him one day. For in The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue, life was non-existient. Forgotten until one day in a second hand bookshop in Manhattan, she meets someone who remembers her. Henry Strauss, who isn’t what he seems. Becoming romantically involved, trying to hide their relationship from Luc, the devil. Rejoycing that one person has remembered her name. Even if he has to remind his friends again and again who she is. Though at first glance it seemed like a typical ‘a person sold their soul to live forever’ storyline, it was so much more. Words like poetry, starting slow, pulling you into centuries of forbidden love and betrayal. Haunting her thoughts, with every page turned. Addie, relatable, picking up a lot of bad habits in order to survive. Not perfect, neither good nor bad. A reflection of human existience. Who has gone through so much, yet dosen’t let her deal bring her down. Never losing her love for art or for life. Henry, another powerful character. Feeling bogged down in his life due to heavy familial pressures. A failed proposal that made him attempt suicide. Visited by Luc, and granted his ultimate wish. Whenever someone would see him, they would see what they desire the most. Allowing Henry to remember Addie, fulfilling her wish, that somebody would remember her. An ending that she didn’t see coming. Hauntingly poignant, her eyes laced with tears. Going down the rabbit hole discovering Schwab’s other books.
Which Dystopian Books Are On Your Wishlist?
I would love to know whether you have read any of these amazing dystopian books! Please note I was sent The Limerent Series, and The Quelling but I purchased all the other books. All opinions are my own and are not affected by gifting. All of these authors are incredible in their own right, and I can’t wait to see what they write next! Are there any dystopian books you would reccomend me reading?
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