Frances  Wren

Earthflown

The way I had to take a moment to gather my thoughts because of the rollercoaster I went through in those last few chapters. Earthflown takes place in a futuristic, post-flood London, where medicine meets a bit of magic during a water crisis. The book follows three POVs: Javier Arden (the son of a big pharma company with a secret), Ethan Faulkner (a cardiothoracic surgeon who may have found himself swimming with sharks bigger than his VM), and Oliver Roskopf (an investigative journalist who won't rest until he discovers the truth).

Firstly, I cannot express enough how Frances has such a talent for writing characters and forming their various personalities. There were many characters I adored, especially from the secondary cast. The banter between characters, their relationships (both platonic and romantic), and the intertwined character developments were refreshing and enjoyable to read. While some characters had their flaws, their actions were motivated by their own experiences, doubts, and fears. This not only made their flaws more realistic but made us think, "I understand where they're coming from," and empathize with their struggles. While that doesn't imply that every action is justifiable, it demonstrates the deliberate imperfections of the characters as humans, emphasizing that no character is 'perfect.' This allows readers to perceive both sides of every situation, fostering an understanding of the characters' complexities.

 addition to flaws, the author really makes us question who the true villain of the novel is. There seemed to be two groups where both sides could have wrongful intentions, making every character morally complex. Even the characters that seemed 'innocent' had actions that escalated the situation and further thickened the story's plot. Every decision challenged their moral compass, highlighting the high stakes involved in making even a single wrong move. I couldn't help but analyze each character's actions, uncovering hidden motives and past experiences that often paved the way for further poor decisions among the cast. Needless to say, Frances skillfully created a narrative where every character's involvement and actions lead to the outcome of the plot at the end of the novel.

Another aspect I truly admired was the medical accuracy in the novel. I could immediately tell the amount of dedication, research, and passion put into the writing to create such a vivid glimpse of the medical industry. From the high-risk procedures, the medical terminology, and the reality of burnout, I could almost imagine the scenes in my head and feel the same emotions a character would feel during such intense and emotional scenes. I also admired the world-building of a futuristic, post-flood London, with various vertical levels defining financial hierarchy and using flying cars to navigate through them.

However, one thing I wished was more elaborated on was the genetics behind aptitudes and the laws aptees are required to follow. While we learn that some laws are not favorable towards a specific aptitude, it would have been interesting to understand the rationale behind the differentiating treatments. Additionally, I really wanted the character backstories of Peter and Nick Holt! I have so many questions about them that go unanswered, leaving me eager for further insight into their backgrounds. Lastly, I wished we had witnessed a greater involvement of the Sixty-Fourthers in the water crisis, since they are a decentralized water-rights movement. Having their participation in the political sphere or encountering a prominent leader from their movement would have enriched the narrative's political dimensions.

Overall, Earthflown was such a refreshing read with characters I became very attached to and genuinely fond of. While I haven't read many sci-fi novels, integrating a water crisis, political uproars, and economic power imbalances within a futuristic setting created a complex world and narrative with so much to uncover.

 sincerest gratitude to the author and BookSirens for graciously providing me with an ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The way I had to take a moment to gather my thoughts because of the rollercoaster I went through in those last few chapters. Earthflown takes place in a futuristic, post-flood London, where medicine meets a bit of magic during a water crisis. The book follows three POVs: Javier Arden (the son of a big pharma company with a secret), Ethan Faulkner (a cardiothoracic surgeon who may have found himself swimming with sharks bigger than his VM), and Oliver Roskopf (an investigative journalist who won't rest until he discovers the truth).

Firstly, I cannot express enough how Frances has such a talent for writing characters and forming their various personalities. There were many characters I adored, especially from the secondary cast. The banter between characters, their relationships (both platonic and romantic), and the intertwined character developments were refreshing and enjoyable to read. While some characters had their flaws, their actions were motivated by their own experiences, doubts, and fears. This not only made their flaws more realistic but made us think, "I understand where they're coming from," and empathize with their struggles. While that doesn't imply that every action is justifiable, it demonstrates the deliberate imperfections of the characters as humans, emphasizing that no character is 'perfect.' This allows readers to perceive both sides of every situation, fostering an understanding of the characters' complexities.

In addition to flaws, the author really makes us question who the true villain of the novel is. There seemed to be two groups where both sides could have wrongful intentions, making every character morally complex. Even the characters that seemed 'innocent' had actions that escalated the situation and further thickened the story's plot. Every decision challenged their moral compass, highlighting the high stakes involved in making even a single wrong move. I couldn't help but analyze each character's actions, uncovering hidden motives and past experiences that often paved the way for further poor decisions among the cast. Needless to say, Frances skillfully created a narrative where every character's involvement and actions lead to the outcome of the plot at the end of the novel.

Another aspect I truly admired was the medical accuracy in the novel. I could immediately tell the amount of dedication, research, and passion put into the writing to create such a vivid glimpse of the medical industry. From the high-risk procedures, the medical terminology, and the reality of burnout, I could almost imagine the scenes in my head and feel the same emotions a character would feel during such intense and emotional scenes. I also admired the world-building of a futuristic, post-flood London, with various vertical levels defining financial hierarchy and using flying cars to navigate through them.

However, one thing I wished was more elaborated on was the genetics behind aptitudes and the laws aptees are required to follow. While we learn that some laws are not favorable towards a specific aptitude, it would have been interesting to understand the rationale behind the differentiating treatments. Additionally, I really wanted the character backstories of Peter and Nick Holt! I have so many questions about them that go unanswered, leaving me eager for further insight into their backgrounds. Lastly, I wished we had witnessed a greater involvement of the Sixty-Fourthers in the water crisis, since they are a decentralized water-rights movement. Having their participation in the political sphere or encountering a prominent leader from their movement would have enriched the narrative's political dimensions.

Overall, Earthflown was such a refreshing read with characters I became very attached to and genuinely fond of. While I haven't read many sci-fi novels, integrating a water crisis, political uproars, and economic power imbalances within a futuristic setting created a complex world and narrative with so much to uncover.

My sincerest gratitude to the author and BookSirens for graciously providing me with an ARC! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Earthflown

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