Lindisfarne by Terry Tyler

Reviewer: Liza Perrat, author of the French Historical, The Bone Angel trilogy (Spirit of Lost Angels, Wolfsangel, Blood Rose Angel) and Australian 1970s series: The Silent Kookaburra and The Swooping Magpie.

What we thought: I love Terry Tyler’s books, she’s a great storyteller and develops very real characters. That’s why, even though I’m not generally a fan of post-apocalyptic/dystopian stories, I read Tipping Point, book 1 in the author’s Project Renova series (My review of Tipping Point). And I’m so glad I did. It was scarily plausible and realistic, and in this second novel in the series, Lindisfarne, the fear that this could actually happen, is once again evoked.

The series begins, in Tipping Point, when a lethal virus reaches the UK, and a nationwide vaccination programme is announced. However, it soon becomes obvious that not everyone is being offered the vaccination, for example, the ill, old, mentally ill and unemployed are not entitled.

Six months down the track, the people we met in Tipping Point ––Vicky and her group –– have left their safe house in Northumberland, and have reached the island of Lindisfarne, where they join an existing community.

We are introduced to Dex, Vicky’s partner, and to other old, and new, relationships. And, as with all Terry Tyler’s excellently-drawn characters, we grow to love, like or loathe them.

The new colony seems fairly organized and efficient under the leadership of Marcus. The survivors find the strength to adapt to their new world, but for those who cannot accept that the rules have changed, the opportunity to seize power is too great. Then, when one of the Northumberland group is elected leader, everything falls apart.

Another gripping read that had me turning the pages with each turn of events, Lindisfarne shows us that with power comes responsibility, but that it also comes with the opportunity for corruption.

Like Tipping Point, Lindisfarne is far from a simple dystopian horror story. It rather evokes the very real side of human behaviour when society as we know it breaks down: both positive and negative,

Lindisfarne is an outstanding read; a compelling addition to the Project Renova series and I look forward to reading the next one, UK2.

You’ll like this if you enjoy: Plausible and feasible dystopian tales.

Avoid if you don’t like: What might truly happen to our world in the near future.

Ideal accompaniments: just any kind of food that is available, as tomorrow there may be none.

Genre: Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian

Available on Amazon

Tipping Point by Terry Tyler

 Reviewer: Liza Perrat, author of The Bone Angel trilogy (Spirit of Lost Angels, Wolfsangel, Blood Rose Angel) and new release, The Silent Kookaburra.

What we thought: I am a great fan of Terry Tyler’s books, mainly due to her great storytelling and character development. That’s the reason I tried Tipping Point even though I’m not generally a fan of post-apocalyptic/dystopian stories. And I’m so glad I did! I found this story scarily plausible and realistic, and could totally imagine it happening, especially since it’s set in 2024, not so far into our future. 

It all stems from the new and highly popular social networking site, Private Life, something most of us are readily familiar with today. Our privacy is ensured, but is that what happens? 

When a lethal and rapidly-spreading virus is discovered in Africa, and spreads through the UK, a nationwide vaccination programme is announced. However it soon becomes obvious that not everyone is being offered the vaccination, for example, the ill, old, mentally ill and unemployed are not entitled. 

In the roller-coaster ride of this thriller that follows, the author deftly explores the vast conspiracy theory and evokes a sense of real fear into the reader, about gaining data from social media and that information being used against us. It is a worrying scenario, with terrifying consequences, that I can easily imagine happening.

That’s not to say this story is simply a dystopian horror tale, far from it. It also shows us, very realistically, human behaviour: how people behave in both negative and positive ways when society as we know it breaks down.

As in all her books, the author has created some compelling characters with whom I could readily identify and care about.  

Tipping Point is the first book in what promises to be an excellent series, the Project Renova series and I’m eagerly looking forward to reading the second, Lindisfarne, which is waiting for me on my Kindle!

You’ll like this if you enjoy: Plausible and feasible dystopian tales.

Avoid if you don’t like: the idea of what might truly happen to our world in the near future.

Ideal accompaniments: just any kind of food that is available, as tomorrow it might not be.

Genre: Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian


Available on Amazon

My Bookmuse reviews of more of Terry Tyler’s books:

TheDevil You Know

Kingsand Queens

LastChild

Sunrise at An Lac by Alex Rushton

Reviewer: JW Hicks

What we thought: This deeply moving imagining of how the world might end delivers not only the sternest of warnings, but also an enlightening hope of redemption.

This novel foretells the death of civilisation; the world ending not with a bang, but a prolonged, tormented whimper. It speaks to us, opens eyes to the reality of life today and the state of our world as seen through future, backward looking eyes. Reading it we see a world divided: on one hand are citizens whose only aim in life is hedonistic; on the other, the nons, the hurting scrabblers.

The world portrayed, our world, is one where sharing, where living with nature and not agin it, is anathema.

In this world, belief becomes fired into iron-hard conviction, forged into a weapon of war.

An Lac ashram is home to guru Ajahn Annando and his followers who live by Buddhist precepts: a self-sufficient lifestyle depending on sustainable resources. As the community grows, groups hive off into smaller groups, keeping to a sustainable size, pooling assets and sharing resources. Annando aims to establish a world of spiritual communities and foster the inner reality that lies in the heart of all true religions in a world dominated by consumerism, a world being destroyed by greed.

The greatest threat to An Lac is the rise of the New Islamists, who threaten forced acceptance of their interpretation of Mohammed’s preachings. This New Islam is spreading like wildfire, burning through Europe and threatening the peace of An Lac.

With an army advancing on their peaceful communities, Annando and his followers prepare for attack. It is Annando’s belief that on the battlefield there can be no victory, only suffering. This belief, bolstered by his certainty that killing is wrong, gives rise to the only solution possible – they have to remove their enemies will to fight.

The outcome of this clash of ideologies comes at the novel’s end, an ending I raced to read, an ending I found absolutely worthy of this tremendous book.

You’ll enjoy this if you like: Survivor by Octavia E Butler. Earth Abides by George R Stewart.

Avoid if you don’t like: Conflict, sexual scenes and merciless killing.

Ideal accompaniments: A pot of oolong loose leaf tea and cucumber sandwiches cut into triangles.

Genre: Post-apocalyptic novel

Alex Rushton has had a varied career as a design researcher, therapist, counsellor and psychologist among other roles. Further information can be found at her website: http://alexrushton.co.uk

Available from Amazon