Blog Blitz: The Rising Storm (#1 Paradigm Trilogy) by Ceri A. Lowe

Synopsis by Bookouture

What if the end of the world was just the beginning?

15-year-old Alice Davenport was a loner and an outcast before the Storms swept away everything she knew. Saved from the ravaged remains of her city by the mysterious and all-powerful Paradigm Industries, her fierce independence and unique skills soon gain her recognition from the highest levels of command. But their plans to rebuild civilisation from scratch mean destroying all remnants of the past – no matter what, or who, gets left behind.

Alice must decide if she will fight for the old world, or the new…

15-year-old Carter Warren is woken from the Catacombs after years of cryonic sleep. He’s determined to do whatever it takes to climb the ranks to Controller General – until he realises the Industry’s control methods have become harsher than ever. The Barricades make sure nothing from the Deadlands can get in to the Community – and no one can get out. And a shocking discovery about his own family causes Carter to question everything he’s ever known… 

As Alice becomes entangled in the Industry’s plan for the future, and Carter delves into the secrets of his past, they must make sacrifices which threaten to tear them apart. And both of them are forced to confront an impossible question… 

Stay loyal to their loved ones from the old world? Or dare to build a new one?

Review

After the craze of The Hunger Games and Divergent series, I have been itching for a new dystopian series for quite some time.

Along came The Rising Storm, book 1 of the Paradigm series. I was a bit apprehensive at the start as I have such high expectation for the dystopian genre. It’s literally one of my favourite genres and so I was concerned that might not live up to expectations. I was glad that it did.

There are many reasons why this debut novel by Ceri A. Lowe was such a compelling reading. Firstly, because the story is told from the point of view of two different characters. I know what you are thinking “But Ana that isn’t anything new.” Well if you let me finish. Yes, we have had various stories were it changes from one characters point of view to another, but in this case these points of view are over 80 years apart.

Alice is telling her story from when the storms first started and how the building of a new society began. Carter is telling his story from after he wakes up from cryonic sleep into this new world. Most dystopian novels rarely show us how things started, and I find it quite interesting to see the beginning of the “end of the world”. Alice is such a great character that really drives the plot forward, Carter not so much. He has his moments of likeability.

Secondly, I love the fact that is set in London. It’s nice to know that a dystopian can be set anywhere else apart from the U.S.A. Plus the fact that I live in London makes it all a bit more real and scary.

Overall, it was a truly enjoyable read, packed with action and beautifully crafted settings. A must read for all dystopian fans, and since it finishes at such a crucial point you will be begging for the next book in the trilogy. Thankfully is actually coming out soon, this summer to be precise.

Rating: ★★★★☆

The Rising Storm by Ceri A. Lowe is available as an e-book and you can get it now on Amazon (affiliated link).

Thanks Bookouture and Noelle Holten for sending me an e-copy of The Rising Storm in exchange for my honest review.

*FangirlSince1988 xxx