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Tag: dystopian

  • THP’s Top 5 Dystopian Novels Of 2025

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    Dystopian fiction made the ultimate comeback this year, and we at THP aren’t mad at it! So many dystopian novels have brought us back into the genre we’ve known and loved since we were teenagers. But these five in particular really caught our eyes this year.

    Spanning from less than fifty years to a couple hundred years into the future, these novels have made us think about the world as we know it and where it could be headed. Full of scientific and technological changes that blew our minds, here are THP’s top five dystopian novels of 2025!

    Content warning: The Honey POP encourages mindful reading and checking the author’s website for content warnings.

    The Dividing Sky By Jill Tew

    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Let’s start off strong with one of the first dystopian novels that got us back into the genre: The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew! Set in 2364, eighteen-year-old Liv Newman lives in the Metro, earning money by selling memories and emotions to wealthy clients. She ventures to the Outerlands on a mission while on the run from Adrian Rao, a Rookie Forceman determined to track her down. But when Liv loses her memories, Adrian must decide whether or not to arrest her for crimes she doesn’t remember. As the two grow closer and more fond of each other in the Outerlands, their worldviews soon start to fall apart.

    Order The Dividing Sky here!

    Content warnings: violence, drug use, serious injury, forced captivity, animal death, weapons, medical procedures, PTSD, vomiting, mentions of child trafficking

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JILL TEW:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    Bound By Stars By E.L. Starling

    Bound by Stars by E. L. Starling
    Image Source: Entangled Publishing

    Next on our list of top five dystopian novels is E.L. Starling’s Bound by Stars! Think if Titanic was actually about a spaceship called the Boundless headed to Mars in 2212. It has the star-crossed lovers element that Jack and Rose have with the characters Weslie (an Earther) and Jupiter (a high-ranking Elysian). A rebel group targets the elite class on this voyage, and things get out of hand quickly when the spaceship starts to fail. There are so many chaotic twists and turns in this sci-fi/dystopian novel, and we have a feeling Weslie and Jupiter’s story will continue.

    Order Bound by Stars here!

    Content warnings: death by fire, suffocation, and impalement, attempted murder, bodies, classism, parental betrayal, acts of terror, violence, serious injury, blood and gore, attempted drowning, guns and weapons, medical procedures

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT E.L. STARLING:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | WEBSITE

    Soulmatch By Rebecca Danzenbaker

    Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker
    Image Source: Simon & Schuster

    Dystopian romance has been climbing the ranks of our favorite genres all year! We have Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker to thank. This novel takes place several hundred years into the future, where a person’s current life (and punishment) is based on their past lives. When eighteen-year-old Sivon reports to the government, she learns that she has a rare new soul. Sivon is thrust into a new job position, one that comes with a frustratingly handsome bodyguard with whom she cannot afford to fall in love. She becomes a target and must figure out who she can trust while also surviving multiple attempts on her life.

    Order Soulmatch here!

    Content warnings: assassination attempts, death of a friend, suicide, suicide discussions, mentions of child abuse, gaslighting, violence, near-death experiences, panic attacks, threats

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT REBECCA DANZENBAKER:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | WEBSITE

    An Ocean Apart By Jill Tew

    An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Jill Tew’s An Ocean Apart takes a Bachelor-style dating show and puts it against the backdrop of 2190 Miami, now known as the flooded Marshes region. Eden Lowell and the Marshers spend every day in survival mode, while the elite class of Cruisers sails the seas in luxury. One Cruiser family hosts a reality TV dating competition for its heir, Theo Desjardins. Eden does everything in her power to infiltrate the show and trick Theo into falling for her. But Theo turns out to be the person Eden desperately needs to help the Marshes. She can’t decide whether her original plan was the right one or if there was a better way to spark change.

    Order An Ocean Apart here!

    Content warnings: violence, classism, fire, climate change

    Coldwire By Chloe Gong

    Coldwire by Chloe Gong
    Image Source: Simon & Schuster

    Finally, we’re wrapping up our top five dystopian novels list with Coldwire by Chloe Gong! The first book in her new dystopian series, Coldwire breathes life into a cyberpunk world where most of society subscribes to the virtual reality of “upcountry.” Everyone else must live in the physical reality of “downcountry.” As a cold war between Medaluo and Atahua comes to a head, two girls—Eirale and Lia—hold the secret to a program that could turn the tides of war and change the victor’s fate. Their missions and paths converge to the ultimate twist ending, and we can’t wait to read the next part of their journey.

    Order Coldwire here!

    Content warnings: death, parent death, mention of suicide, assassination, racism, classism, amnesia, bombs, warfare, weapons

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHLOE GONG:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    What do you think of our top five dystopian novels? Is dystopian fiction making a comeback in your TBR? Let us know on Twitter! You can also find us over on Facebook and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    Need some more book recs? We got them!

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    Julie Dam

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  • Our 3 Favorite Things About Coldwire By Chloe Gong

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    Dystopian fiction really is rising in THP’s rank of favorite genres this year! In our pursuit to expand our reading horizons, we’ve read so many incredible dystopian novels that it almost feels like 2012 again. We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing Coldwire by Chloe Gong to continue this streak.

    Coldwire is the first book of Chloe Gong‘s new dystopian series. We were so hyped to see her new cyberpunk world come to life! Most of society subscribes to the virtual reality known as “upcountry.” Those who can’t afford it, however, must live in the physical reality called “downcountry.”

    As a cold war between Medaluo and Atahua becomes imminent, two girls find themselves on a hunt for a program that could change who has the upper hand. Here are three things we love about Coldwire by Chloe Gong!

    Coldwire by Chloe Gong
    Image Source: Simon & Schuster

    Book Overview: Coldwire

    Content warnings: death, parent death, mention of suicide, assassination, racism, classism, amnesia, bombs, warfare, weapons (Read at your discretion!)

    Summary: The future is loading…

    To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.”

    But upcountry isn’t perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua—and no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as a soldier, or risk being labelled a spy.

    Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorp’s private forces downcountry, exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahua’s most wanted anarchist frames her for assassinating a government official, and she’s given a choice: cooperate with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.

    Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy. Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor goes wrong…

    Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy—and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.

    Not-So-Distant Dystopia

    One of our favorite things about reading dystopian novels like Coldwire is seeing how realistic it could be. We see the constant rise of artificial intelligence in everyday operations. The uncanny ability to create lifelike deepfakes and a virtual reality that’s almost tangible is becoming more and more real. Those who are rich enough can escape the conditions of the physical world by keeping their bodies in pods. Those who can’t afford it must live in the deteriorating reality. We love being able to make these connections and evaluate our current world.

    Eirale & Lia’s Entanglement

    We also really love the dual points of view in Coldwire. Eirale has been framed by an anarchist for assassinating a government official. She must work with her kidnapper or be captured by her employer for treason. Lia goes on an assignment to find an Atahuan traitor, who is someone she knew as a child. As their missions take these girls to the same locations, we started to put pieces together. And their paths converged in a way we couldn’t believe. By that, we mean we had to reread several pages to fully understand.

    The Twist Ending

    Don’t worry: you won’t find any spoilers for Coldwire here. But let’s just say after we finally process the big reveal, Eirale and Lia now face a life-changing decision (as if their lives haven’t already changed enough). And the twist ending beautifully sets up the sequel. Now that the die has been cast and pieces are moved, our main characters must prepare to overcome so many more obstacles than they faced in this book. We already can’t wait to see how they’ll pull off their next mission in book two!

    A dystopian series starter that is as refreshing as it is uncanny, Chloe Gong’s Coldwire absolutely lives up to the hype!

    Coldwire by Chloe Gong comes out November 4th, and you can order a copy of it here!

    What do you think of Chloe Gong’s new dystopian series starter? Are you getting your hands on a copy of Coldwire? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHLOE GONG:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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  • Take A Peek At THP’s Fall Book Roundup!

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    We hope everyone’s enjoying their autumn festivities and gearing up for THPloween with our themed articles and fall playlists! A tradition we started earlier this year was to round up a few books that make up a solid reading list for each season. We’ve done spring and summer already, now let’s get into our new fall book roundup!

    This fall has been jam packed with fantasy and contemporary novels we can’t help but love, in both print and audiobook format. Here are three more fall books to add to your TBR!

    Content Warning: The Honey POP encourages mindful reading and checking the author’s website for content warnings.

    Flip By Ngozi Ukazu

    Image Source: Macmillan Publishers

    Our first fall book is Ngozi Ukazu’s newest graphic novel, Flip! High school senior Chi-Chi Ekeh keeps crushing on rich white boys who don’t know she exists. Her life completely flips around (get it?) when she sends Flip Henderson—AKA the most popular guy in school—a video promposal and gets publicly rejected by him. By some force of nature, Chi-Chi and Flip start to switch bodies, forming an unexpected friendship and possibly something more. This graphic novel speaks on self-worth and how our perspectives can change once we see ourselves through other people’s eyes.

    Release date: September 23
    Order Flip here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NGOZI UKAZU:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    An Ocean Apart By Jill Tew

    An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    The next book in our fall roundup is Jill Tew‘s new dystopian romance, An Ocean Apart! Set in 2190, Miami has become the flooded Marshes region. Eden Lowell and the Marshers fight for survival each day. Meanwhile, the corporate elite, or “Cruisers,” have taken to sailing the seas rather than face the environmental damage they’ve caused. When one Cruiser family hosts a dating competition for their heir, Theo Desjardins, Eden makes it her mission to infiltrate the show, break Theo’s heart, and bring the prize money back to her community. That is, until Theo turns out to be the change maker Eden’s been wishing for all along.

    Release date: October 14
    Order An Ocean Apart here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JILL TEW:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    Moth Dark By Kika Hatzopoulou

    Fall book: Moth Dark by Kika Hatzopoulou
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    The final fall book we recommend is Kika Hatzopoulou‘s romantasy, Moth Dark! You may know her from her Threads That Bind duology, and this new novel is just as rich in storytelling. Ever since her world collided with the world of the Dark, Sascia has been intrigued with it. She somehow pulls a person out of the Dark, Nugau, who also happens to be the heir to the Darkworld and set on delivering her death sentence. Sascia and Nugau share a bond spanning countless timelines neither one understands. Just as they grow ever closer in their love, so too do their worlds tread closer to war.

    Release date: October 28
    Preorder Moth Dark here!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KIKA HATZOPOULOU:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    Did any of these fall books speak to you? Which ones are you adding to your TBR? Let us know on Twitter! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

    Need some more book recs? We got them!

    Catch up on our latest audiobook recommendations here!

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    Julie Dam

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  • Book Review: Last Chance Live! By Helena Haywoode Henry

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    It has been far too long since we’ve read a speculative novel as powerful and political as Helena Haywoode Henry’s debut novel, Last Chance Live! This book centers around a reality TV show of the same name starring ten death row inmates between the ages of 18 to 21. The winner gains clemency, and the losers receive the death penalty within a week of exiting the show.

    Last Chance Live! has all the makings of any popular reality show: drama, sabotage, secrets, and betrayals. Viewers root for and decide which contestant deserves a second chance at freedom. It sparks conversations among the general public and readers of which capital crimes can be forgiven, especially when the perpetrators are so young.

    We sped through Last Chance Live! within a day, and we have a feeling it’ll stick with us for years to come. Its social commentary and themes of justice, mercy, and agency are too compelling to ignore. Here are three things that stood out to us about Helena Haywoode Henry’s Last Chance Live!

    Last Chance Live by Helena Haywoode Henry
    Image Source: Penguin Random House

    Book Overview: Last Chance Live!

    Content warnings: death, murder, death penalty, suicide, suicidal thoughts, bodies/corpses, prison, graphic violence, gore, torture, rape, sexual abuse, cutting, bullying, fatphobia, slurs, guns, car accident, attempted arson, swearing (Please read at your discretion!)

    Summary: Last Chance Live! is the most popular reality show in America—and eighteen-year-old death row inmate Eternity Price’s last chance to live. Getting cast on the show could win her clemency preventing her execution… if she can convince the viewing audience she deserves a second chance. The catch? If America doesn’t vote for her, she loses the chance to appeal her sentence, and she’ll be executed within a week of being eliminated from the show. And since Eternity’s been unpopular her whole life, she’s terrified America won’t pick her. But any chance of getting out of prison and back to her little brother Sincere, no matter how slim, is better than rotting away in her cell.

    Eternity never expected to find her first real friends in a reality TV house full of people battling for survival after being convicted of capital crimes, but that’s exactly what happens. So when she gets the opportunity to sabotage them and secure her own victory, she has a choice to make: protect the friendships and acceptance she’s always longed for at the cost of her own life, or sacrifice her newfound community. Eternity must ultimately decide what forgiveness, family, and freedom mean to her, and how far she’ll go to win a game where the stakes are literally life or death.

    The Show’s Contestants

    Last Chance Live! gives us a diverse group of young convicted criminals with a wide range of crimes. When we watch any reality show (or in this case, read about it), it’s easy to root for more than one contestant to win. But when the show’s sole winner gets freedom for a new life and the rest inevitably gets the death penalty, we learned not to get too attached to the characters. Even so, we had so many conflicted feelings toward each person, especially after the reveal of their crime. Like Eternity, the more the show went on, the more we wanted multiple contestants to survive and make it out.

    Eternity’s Strategies

    When the cast of Last Chance Live! are all death row inmates, it’s safe to say there are a lot of morally gray areas to consider. Eternity and the other contestants are fighting for their literal lives. They need to curry favor with the public, making sure their image on the show gives them the most votes. They also need to be ruthless no matter what. Eternity learns this the hard way after trying to set up an alliance with all the Black contestants. She twists and sabotages her way through each vote, somehow making it farther than she expected. But things come to a head when she starts to see how much her actions affect others, and she doesn’t only want herself to win anymore.

    The Narration In Verse

    Another thing that stood out to us in Last Chance Live! is the use of verse in Eternity’s narration. These poems allow us to slow our reading and really take in each word. We aren’t quite sure if there are any clear patterns behind each section of verse. And we never know when they’ll happen. They’re abrupt, cutting in to the prose and then reverting right back almost as if they didn’t happen. This unabridged access to Eternity’s thoughts puts us directly into her shoes, feeling her anxiety and terror as a result of her environment. Now we’re the ones in survival mode—in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn mode.

    It didn’t take much for us to be hooked on Helene Haywoode Henry’s chilling speculative novel, Last Chance Live! From its themes of justice and agency to its masterful characterization and narration, we already want to reread it and uncover even more layers.

    Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry comes out October 7th, and you can order a copy of it here!

    What do you think of the concept behind Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry? Did you connect with her debut novel as much as we did? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

    Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!

    Interested in more book reviews? We got you!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HELENA HAYWOODE HENRY:
    INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

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    Julie Dam

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  • 10 Most Memorable Dystopian Movies

    10 Most Memorable Dystopian Movies

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    Inspired by the release of ‘Civil War,’ Adam Nayman reflects on some of the most iconic dystopian movies

    With the release of Alex Garland’s Civil War, Ringer contributor Adam Nayman looks back at some of the most memorable movies that depict a dystopian future.

    Written by: Adam Nayman
    Produced by: Chia Hao Tat

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    Adam Nayman

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