5 Massive Stars for SOLEDAD by D.L. Young – Book Review – One of the Best Dystopian Books I’ve Ever Read

SOLEDAD – Dark Republic Book One – 5 Stars

Title: SOLEDAD

Author: D.L. Young

Series: DARK REPUBLIC: BOOK ONE

Type of Book: EBOOK

Length: 244 pages

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Release Date: May 2016

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

** Please be aware that this book is not suitable for those under the age of 16 due to bad language and adult situations.**

“It’s a shitty world and people are the shittiest thing in it.”

Our protagonist is Soledad and she is a ‘Reader.’ In fact, if you have previously read D.L. Young’s short story collection; “Juarez Square,” you will recognize that this book is based on his short story: ‘The Reader’.

WHAT IS A READER?

A “Reader” in this story, is not someone who reads books (although Soledad does love her books, that has nothing to do with her ‘gift’) The use of a plant’s leaves; known as “hierba” is central to being a Reader.  “For anyone else, hierba’s just a bitter tasting desert plant, but for those… with the gift, chewing a weed changes us, alters how we see people and the world around us. It heightens perception, expands awareness. The plant flips a switch in us somehow, enabling us to see the complex hidden language of facial tics, breathing rhythms, body posture, the countless physical giveaways the conscious mind normally ignores.”

MY REVIEW:

This book is set in a dystopian future in what had once been the state of Texas.

Natgas is the currency of the day and Texas’s Natgas fields are under the control and protection of three groups. The group with the most wealth and power are the Bullocks, then there are the fields controlled by Guzman and the smallest territory belongs to the Fundies.

Soledad lives in Guzman’s camp and works for him as a Reader, helping him determine who can and cannot be trusted.

Soledad sees the truth about people, and all she desires in life is to know if her parents still live or if she is truly alone in the world.

But, as Soledad learns more about herself and her world, she comes to realize that knowing the truth isn’t always all it is cracked up to be. She comes to understand that life consists of a spiderweb of interconnecting threads that may not lead her where she had initially thought they would.

D.L. Young has an phenomenal ability for perfection in character development. His characters come to life on the pages of this book and readers will find themselves enthralled with their adventures.

The author’s amazing gift for story telling and world building will make readers become instant fans. D.L. Young is a Master of unique dystopian fiction.

Soledad is the first book in “The Dark Republic” series and I will be eagerly awaiting book two. I am definitely a fan.

I rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dystopian fiction just doesn’t get better than this.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading D.L. Young’s collection of short stories: Juarez Square and Other Stories, click on the link to read my 5 Star review of his amazing collection.

JUAREZ SQUARE AND OTHER STORIES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

D.L. Young is an award-winning writer and founder of the Space City Critters Writers Workshop.

Juarez Square and Other Stories, his short fiction collection, includes the best of his previously published work. Read more about Juarez Square.

D.L.’s stories often take place in near-future dystopias where drug lords employ robots to sell narcotics, holy wars are fought with drone aircraft, rogue artificial intelligences take over whole industries, and advanced technologies amplify both the best and worst of human nature.
He’s a member of Mensa, an English football fan, and a cigar lover.