A dystopian landscape in which water has overtaken most of the planet, and a secluded island off the coast of Antarctica houses all varietals of seeds that will help the humans left on the planet survive, although most have been lost to fire or flood.
Enter Dominic and his children, teenagers Fen and Riff, who are Irish twins, and Orly, a younger precocious boy who has a big heart. Their mother died on the island. Enter Rowan, a woman in her 40s that nearly drowns and washes ashore. She is looking for her husband Hank.
It is difficult to categorize this book. Although it is definitely dystopian, it is not like most climate change books that I have read in that many are trying to persuade us to make better current choices to avoid the planet’s destruction. In this book, the fires and floods and destruction is pretty much a foregone conclusion and what I would call an “educated guess” of what could happen. Hank and Rowen discuss having children and she says that doing so would be selfish, and the best way they could reduce their carbon footprint is to not have kids. This gave me food for thought. It has been awhile since I worried about overpopulation but it is certainly something to consider.
This is, in places, pretty terrifying on a visceral level, because of battling the elements and animals. Both Dominic and his family as well as Rowan have secrets to hide. There is good characterization but the narrative definitely drags on from 25% – 60%. There is a lot of necessary world building and good build up, but the plot fell a bit flat. I did guess the ending but only very shortly before the reveal, there are just enough easter eggs.
I liked this book, but did not love it. I read it very quickly, not because I was engrossed but because I was ready for the conclusion. I can’t imagine picking it back up again.
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