Year 0033 - J M Evans

This novel, set in a dystopian future, is a gripping read.  Chella is a young woman who lives in ‘Area IF208’.  Religion is banned, but Chella is a member of one of the thriving underground churches.  Her life seems settled, but people are disappearing – and one of them is a close friend.  Rumours are circulating of people living Outside and worshipping in freedom.  Then Chella’s fiancé Jedan is arrested and Chella is questioned.  Before long they are on the run, trying to navigate their way through the Outside, looking for the Christians they believe they’ll find in a place called Anderley.

This is a multi-layered book. The beginning reminded me strongly of the early church, and the threat of danger and persecution reminded me of more modern situations too.  The characters are living their faith in a real, down to earth and practical way, and have to make hard decisions.  Not least leaving everything they’ve known, to set out with a grandmother and young baby on a very uncertain journey with little but faith and an old map to guide them. 

Elements of trust, hope, faith and truth run through the whole book.  There are also secrets and lies and some of these are BIG, such as the Elite’s ‘staff’. There is plenty of tension, and a nice big twist in the tale which I really enjoyed.  An excellent and challenging story for teenage or adult readers with some interesting and useful Reading Group Questions at the back.

9781912457441  Dernier Publishing, paperback

Note: for transparency, I was sent an advance copy of this book, but I was not required to write any specific or favourable review. All views herein are my own.