Spoiler free review 🫶🏻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
this book captures you from the first chapter! You are immersed in a futuristic world post "The Great Death" where humans were massacred by The Threat Below. The survivors fled to the top of a mountain and started a civilization there. 300 years after Ascending, their water source has been contaminated so now they must go Down Below to ensure their survival.
The writing keeps you deeply engaged, with switching POVs from each of the main characters. I loved seeing Torrain's growth and i think he ended up being my favorite ❤️ the themes in this book are very important. The author did a great job weaving the issues of today into the story and made me think of technology in a way i hadn't before. You get pieces of their history throughout the novel but you can tell something isn't right and you're waiting for the other shoe to drop. Makes you not want to stop reading. 🫶🏻 the world building and descriptions were immaculate and i felt like i was right there with Icelyn! And i really had no idea where the story was going and was pleasantly surprised!
If you want a heart pounding dystopian novel with lots of adventure and character growth - look no further! Cannot wait to read the next one!