The Reading Bud

Book Details:

Author: Solveig Larssen
Release Date: March 1, 2024
Series: Triumvirate (Book #1)
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Political Fiction, Thriller
Format: E-book 
Pages: 152 pages
Publisher: Ostkorridor Books
Blurb:
Mountainland, the richest, proudest, and freest nation in the world, has resorted to forming a militia and creating incarceration camps to stem the influx of migrants… Fjordland, the most civilised, equal, and just nation in the world, is falling apart, unable to accommodate its newfound diversity…
Meanwhile, life is getting worse on the Savannah and in the Jungle, with autocratic high-tech city-states and abundant cheap labour to exploit. Somewhere, amidst it all, only the rootless global technology organisations seem to prosper.
Eskild, the sympathetic Brotherhood bear, expelled and humiliated—is on his journey to visit his younger, liberal siblings, Dag and Selma. Justice has deteriorated in the world because Selma, to navigate the changes of globalisation, has abandoned her old ways.

If Eskild cannot persuade Selma to support a new order that promises peaceful coexistence among all parties, even with the sinister C-Cult, Fjordland will cease to be a liberal democracy. Globalisation will grind on, forcing most people to join the workforce of the disruptive transnational platform organisations.
Don’t Feed the Beast is the first book in the Triumvirate series, featuring delightful fable animals in a dystopian world. It’s a fast-paced story, perfect for readers who want to explore our changing world.

Review

Don’t Feed the Beast: But Do Punish the Free-Riders by Solveig Larssen is a thought-provoking exploration of a dystopian world grappling with issues of migration, diversity, and justice. Set in the contrasting nations of Mountainland and Fjordland, author Larssen weaves a beautiful narrative that reflects the complexities of our modern society. Through the eyes of characters like Eskild, Dag, and Selma, the novel explores the challenges of globalisation and the rise of disruptive transnational platform organisations.

Author Larssen’s storytelling is both immersive and timely, offering a glimpse into a world where justice hangs in the balance. The addition of delightful fable animals adds a lot of character and depth to the narrative, making it an absolutely brilliant read. As the first book in the Triumvirate series, Don’t Feed the Beast sets the stage for a compelling saga that promises to delve deeper into the themes of peace, coexistence, and societal change.

It is a fast-paced novel, but I did feel that the character development might have suffered because of it. Though as this book is a part of a series, I will hold my judgement on characterisation for now. However, the author’s ability to tackle complex social issues within a dystopian framework is commendable. Overall, Don’t Feed the Beast is a wonderful read and I’d recommend it to all dystopian and sci-fi readers.

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