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The Day The Earth Turned Book 1: Summer
The adults are all dead. Society has collapsed.
Two groups of teenagers emerge on either side of a rural village, traumatised, bereaved and determined to survive.
As tribes form and territorial lines are drawn, can they overcome their differences and find a way to rebuild?
Or will gang warfare end this emerging new world before its even begun?
Each of them have their theories about what killed the adults and as the dust settles on the old world, a far bigger, darker, and angrier threat is bursting to life all around them.
Two groups of teenagers emerge on either side of a rural village, traumatised, bereaved and determined to survive.
As tribes form and territorial lines are drawn, can they overcome their differences and find a way to rebuild?
Or will gang warfare end this emerging new world before its even begun?
Each of them have their theories about what killed the adults and as the dust settles on the old world, a far bigger, darker, and angrier threat is bursting to life all around them.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2023
6 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Chantelle Atkins
46 books77 followersI have been writing stories since I was a very young child, and I write for the same reason I read a lot; I have to! It is always the character that comes to me first, usually a unique and persistent voice with a particular dilemma or circumstance. The rest of the story and plot will flow from there, but I will have had many conversations with the character before I start to write! I love writing dialogue, and personally wince when I read dialogue that seems unrealistic or false. I think my work is character driven,and falls under the gritty contemporary fiction genre.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 22, 2023
Seriously good! A strange apocalyptic world where the adults have (almost) all been wiped out by a series of diseases and the children have to find a new way to live and survive and have divided themselves into gangs with their own territories and their suspicious outlook about others.
The absolute brilliance of this is the fact that it is not a million miles from what you can imagine as reality, especially after the unprecedented effects of covid 19 and the extreme measures we all faced ourselves with. The unsettled feelings intensify when the children in the story go back to nature and try farming the lands and making use of the animals but then nature seems to take advantage of there being fewer humans about and pushing back to the point of being sinister and the aggressor.
The story is expertly compelling and terrifying at the same time and it is definitely thought provoking and humbling. Just how would humankind cope if we lost all of our infrastructure and the knowledge of adults? There are some real Lord of the Flies type moments and a stark reminder of human nature and how quickly civilisation as we know it could collapse.
On a side note, I had a recurring dream,as a child, about all the adults being dead and the children roaming in gangs so this has been formed into a story far more eloquently than I could have ever done myself and therefore been a real treat for me.
I absolutely cannot wait to see how the story progresses, although obviously with trepidation! Terrifying but absolutely brilliant, thank you.
The absolute brilliance of this is the fact that it is not a million miles from what you can imagine as reality, especially after the unprecedented effects of covid 19 and the extreme measures we all faced ourselves with. The unsettled feelings intensify when the children in the story go back to nature and try farming the lands and making use of the animals but then nature seems to take advantage of there being fewer humans about and pushing back to the point of being sinister and the aggressor.
The story is expertly compelling and terrifying at the same time and it is definitely thought provoking and humbling. Just how would humankind cope if we lost all of our infrastructure and the knowledge of adults? There are some real Lord of the Flies type moments and a stark reminder of human nature and how quickly civilisation as we know it could collapse.
On a side note, I had a recurring dream,as a child, about all the adults being dead and the children roaming in gangs so this has been formed into a story far more eloquently than I could have ever done myself and therefore been a real treat for me.
I absolutely cannot wait to see how the story progresses, although obviously with trepidation! Terrifying but absolutely brilliant, thank you.
December 31, 2023
3.5 stars. If someone remembers The Tribe from tv, it's something like that just taken more seriously. With an added bonus of nature horror.
You follow three main characters (with some other kids and weird animal povs thrown in).
The survivalist, who is prepared but can not work alone on his land.
The shoked somewhat floundering girl wither her little sister who just wants to live in peace.
The bully who managed to take control of the village kids.
Following them in this horrible new world was for the most parts plausible.
The writing style of Mrs. Atkins is also good and manages to create a continuous feeling of dread.
You follow three main characters (with some other kids and weird animal povs thrown in).
The survivalist, who is prepared but can not work alone on his land.
The shoked somewhat floundering girl wither her little sister who just wants to live in peace.
The bully who managed to take control of the village kids.
Following them in this horrible new world was for the most parts plausible.
The writing style of Mrs. Atkins is also good and manages to create a continuous feeling of dread.
June 22, 2023
I love the idea of a book that deals with catastrophe, a marker for a new beginning. And I love stories that explore humanity, the interrelationships between people and events. All the things that make us the frustrating, flawed but ultimately beautiful species that we are.
I remember studying Lord of the Flies for English “O” level, back in the early 1970s.
This book reminded me so much of that, with its tale of children, developing away from adult restraint and control.
Yet there’s another player here, as well as the emotions and reactions of the humans. There is nature, red in tooth and claw. Flora and Fauna have a place in the narrative. And, there is the suggestion that they will have a part to play in the greater tale.
This a beautifully descriptive piece of writing, but it doesn’t drag under the weight of the necessary backstory. The action comes thick and fast and you never really know what might happen next, a bit like I would imagine the reality would be, should this ever stop being a work of fiction.
There’s a big problem in Francesca’s world. All the adults have died, there are just children left.
Not only that, some strange things are happening in nature. Animal behaviour has changed, even the plants and trees seem different. Officially, adults have succumbed to disease but nobody is really sure. As the story progresses, you’ll start wondering, as other things are hinted at.
The children are having to come to terms with their new existence, there are wrecked cars and bodies everywhere, no electricity or any of the things they normally take for granted. Even food is not guaranteed, they have to scavenge for what they can get.
In these conditions, human nature being what it is, gangs are forming, the strong rise and the weak are led by them. It’s up to each individual to decide which side they’re on and their place in the new order.
All the characters are fascinating, beautifully drawn and realistic. The author has captured their emotional state perfectly.
Gus has one gang, he’s trying to impose his own sort of order, just as long as HE’S the boss. In a way, he’s pleased that there are no adults around.
Reuben has another way of doing things. He’s been preparing for this.
The supporting cast are made up of all sorts of personalities, their interactions are realistic.
This is gritty dystopia, brilliantly written. The descriptions are fantastic, you can feel the atmosphere, the fear in the characters as they come to terms (or not) with the horrifying truth of what’s happened. The world-building is immense, normality has been turned on its head and as a reader, you can see it in all its detail as the children work out how to survive.
Highly recommended.
I remember studying Lord of the Flies for English “O” level, back in the early 1970s.
This book reminded me so much of that, with its tale of children, developing away from adult restraint and control.
Yet there’s another player here, as well as the emotions and reactions of the humans. There is nature, red in tooth and claw. Flora and Fauna have a place in the narrative. And, there is the suggestion that they will have a part to play in the greater tale.
This a beautifully descriptive piece of writing, but it doesn’t drag under the weight of the necessary backstory. The action comes thick and fast and you never really know what might happen next, a bit like I would imagine the reality would be, should this ever stop being a work of fiction.
There’s a big problem in Francesca’s world. All the adults have died, there are just children left.
Not only that, some strange things are happening in nature. Animal behaviour has changed, even the plants and trees seem different. Officially, adults have succumbed to disease but nobody is really sure. As the story progresses, you’ll start wondering, as other things are hinted at.
The children are having to come to terms with their new existence, there are wrecked cars and bodies everywhere, no electricity or any of the things they normally take for granted. Even food is not guaranteed, they have to scavenge for what they can get.
In these conditions, human nature being what it is, gangs are forming, the strong rise and the weak are led by them. It’s up to each individual to decide which side they’re on and their place in the new order.
All the characters are fascinating, beautifully drawn and realistic. The author has captured their emotional state perfectly.
Gus has one gang, he’s trying to impose his own sort of order, just as long as HE’S the boss. In a way, he’s pleased that there are no adults around.
Reuben has another way of doing things. He’s been preparing for this.
The supporting cast are made up of all sorts of personalities, their interactions are realistic.
This is gritty dystopia, brilliantly written. The descriptions are fantastic, you can feel the atmosphere, the fear in the characters as they come to terms (or not) with the horrifying truth of what’s happened. The world-building is immense, normality has been turned on its head and as a reader, you can see it in all its detail as the children work out how to survive.
Highly recommended.
August 15, 2024
This was like a modern day Survivors with children which for those of you who were around in 1975 will remember how it gripped us all. That was due to a virus too and so very prophetic for its time. And now we have all lived through Covid. But there's an added theme about nature fighting back in this excellent YA dystopian book and during lockdown we certainly saw animals becoming bolder.
The action of the animals is eerie: the way one appears at first - crow, fox, deer - and from their point of view. If you've seen the film The Birds with the crows lining up you will understand the sense of menace.
I'm a huge fan of Atkins' writing, you can guarantee you're in for a cracking read. I love the complexity and realness of Atkins characters: we really want to hate Gus Beckett but we sometimes see a fairness to him as he ponders his responsibility and his need to sustain his role as leader as well as softening in his dealings with Chess. Reuben definitely reminds me of a younger version of someone I know! Atkins writing is immediate, gripping and full of tension. This probably ranks as one of my favourites of her books.
The story is the first of a quartet, this one based in the summer. One of the characters mentions the record temperatures of 38.7 degrees in 2019 and already in 2022 the highest recorded temperature in the UK has exceeded that and reached over 40 degrees..
I was interested that some flowers seemed to be out of season eg daisies in August and apple blossom in July although on the other hand the heat was very extreme so I imagine them flowering earlier or withering in the heat. Maybe we will see more of this in the next series. The problems of dwindling water and finding food sources was all too acute as we imagine how we would cope in this situation. It will be fascinating to see what new challenges the different seasons will bring.
The story is left on a cliffhanger and I'm going to have to be kept in suspense. Not that the full series isn't available - it is! But I have a backlog of birthdays books which will keep me busy for the next six months or so. But then we often have to wait to see a second series on TV so I can do deferred gratification! Talking of TV series, I can definitely see this as one.
Five full stars from me.
The action of the animals is eerie: the way one appears at first - crow, fox, deer - and from their point of view. If you've seen the film The Birds with the crows lining up you will understand the sense of menace.
I'm a huge fan of Atkins' writing, you can guarantee you're in for a cracking read. I love the complexity and realness of Atkins characters: we really want to hate Gus Beckett but we sometimes see a fairness to him as he ponders his responsibility and his need to sustain his role as leader as well as softening in his dealings with Chess. Reuben definitely reminds me of a younger version of someone I know! Atkins writing is immediate, gripping and full of tension. This probably ranks as one of my favourites of her books.
The story is the first of a quartet, this one based in the summer. One of the characters mentions the record temperatures of 38.7 degrees in 2019 and already in 2022 the highest recorded temperature in the UK has exceeded that and reached over 40 degrees..
I was interested that some flowers seemed to be out of season eg daisies in August and apple blossom in July although on the other hand the heat was very extreme so I imagine them flowering earlier or withering in the heat. Maybe we will see more of this in the next series. The problems of dwindling water and finding food sources was all too acute as we imagine how we would cope in this situation. It will be fascinating to see what new challenges the different seasons will bring.
The story is left on a cliffhanger and I'm going to have to be kept in suspense. Not that the full series isn't available - it is! But I have a backlog of birthdays books which will keep me busy for the next six months or so. But then we often have to wait to see a second series on TV so I can do deferred gratification! Talking of TV series, I can definitely see this as one.
Five full stars from me.
May 23, 2023
What a fantastic read! Many thanks to author Chantelle Atkins for my ARC copy of The Day The Earth Turned, book 1.
It is a gripping read focusing on the point of view of the children, (primarily,) after a terrible pandemic kills practically all the adults.
Interestingly, other pov's are also explored including a robin and the menacing crows! This was particularly relatable. Eerily, I saw so many crows during the pandemic in public places. It totally creeped me out. I even remember seeing one in the cafe sitting on a table in the botanic gardens in Cambridge.
After the terror of covid, this is undoubtedly a frightening and all too impactful read. Many aspects are explored, with a slant towards mans' destruction of nature and animals and birds turning against humans. Also, the author explores young communities in which a bully takes charge, loners, rich versus poor, and the benefits of being alert to global danger and benefits of sustainable living.
Groups and factions of children all try to survive in whatever way they can without any parental love or help.
The characters are wonderful. From the bully Gus, to his nemesis Reuben who both hate each other but according to Chess the opposing pair have something in common. Chess is fantastic too; she helps to ground the reader about who Gus is. All the characters are well drawn and vivid.
Chilling, quite grotesque in parts... Atkins doesn't shirk from describing the graphic aspects of death and injury from terrible disease, animal and bird attacks. And the underlying threat in other scenes is cleverly crafted with just the right amount of underlying tension.
5 stars without a doubt. I loved it. The ending was fantastic. It's part one, looking forward to reading more!
It is a gripping read focusing on the point of view of the children, (primarily,) after a terrible pandemic kills practically all the adults.
Interestingly, other pov's are also explored including a robin and the menacing crows! This was particularly relatable. Eerily, I saw so many crows during the pandemic in public places. It totally creeped me out. I even remember seeing one in the cafe sitting on a table in the botanic gardens in Cambridge.
After the terror of covid, this is undoubtedly a frightening and all too impactful read. Many aspects are explored, with a slant towards mans' destruction of nature and animals and birds turning against humans. Also, the author explores young communities in which a bully takes charge, loners, rich versus poor, and the benefits of being alert to global danger and benefits of sustainable living.
Groups and factions of children all try to survive in whatever way they can without any parental love or help.
The characters are wonderful. From the bully Gus, to his nemesis Reuben who both hate each other but according to Chess the opposing pair have something in common. Chess is fantastic too; she helps to ground the reader about who Gus is. All the characters are well drawn and vivid.
Chilling, quite grotesque in parts... Atkins doesn't shirk from describing the graphic aspects of death and injury from terrible disease, animal and bird attacks. And the underlying threat in other scenes is cleverly crafted with just the right amount of underlying tension.
5 stars without a doubt. I loved it. The ending was fantastic. It's part one, looking forward to reading more!
June 25, 2023
Gripping, fast-past and scarily believable.
Maybe you'd think this would compare to Lord of the Flies, but it's so much broader and more terrifying. The setting is a quiet English village in a pretty rural setting. But the teenagers and children in it are surrounded by dead adults, and a normal life which has completely disappeared. This is not a book for the faint-hearted, there is plenty that's gruesome and terrifying as the teenagers in particular work out how to deal with the dead and survive. However the is only part of the story. What I loved about this in particular are the characters, who are so well drawn I felt I knew them straight away. Chess - dealing with her grief not just for her parents but for the future way she saw her life that will never come - having to put her feelings aside to care for her little sister. Reuben - loner, victim of bullies but standing strong, bubbling with anger, but practical and compassionate. Gus - glad the adults have gone, but choosing to take control as soon as he can. George - independent, determined to go it alone, forced into a situation he couldn't have envisaged. Having grown up in a village in a rural community, I could believe the way that the children and teenagers all behaved. What will the school bullies, without adult restraint, actually do in a crisis? How soon will shops run out of food? When will fear and grief turn into violence, and how far will that violence go? And underneath it all, what is happening with the animals? And why has the situation come about in the first place? Who or what has killed the vast majority of adults? Could it be more than a laboratory accident or just a freak of nature? This book is terrifyingly believable.
Maybe you'd think this would compare to Lord of the Flies, but it's so much broader and more terrifying. The setting is a quiet English village in a pretty rural setting. But the teenagers and children in it are surrounded by dead adults, and a normal life which has completely disappeared. This is not a book for the faint-hearted, there is plenty that's gruesome and terrifying as the teenagers in particular work out how to deal with the dead and survive. However the is only part of the story. What I loved about this in particular are the characters, who are so well drawn I felt I knew them straight away. Chess - dealing with her grief not just for her parents but for the future way she saw her life that will never come - having to put her feelings aside to care for her little sister. Reuben - loner, victim of bullies but standing strong, bubbling with anger, but practical and compassionate. Gus - glad the adults have gone, but choosing to take control as soon as he can. George - independent, determined to go it alone, forced into a situation he couldn't have envisaged. Having grown up in a village in a rural community, I could believe the way that the children and teenagers all behaved. What will the school bullies, without adult restraint, actually do in a crisis? How soon will shops run out of food? When will fear and grief turn into violence, and how far will that violence go? And underneath it all, what is happening with the animals? And why has the situation come about in the first place? Who or what has killed the vast majority of adults? Could it be more than a laboratory accident or just a freak of nature? This book is terrifyingly believable.
June 22, 2023
*Thank you to the author for providing me with the ARC for The Day the Earth Turned Book 1: Summer*
There aren’t many stories that grab me from the first paragraph, and for those that do, there’s always a chance I’ll lose interest about halfway through—sometimes sooner.
Such was not the case with The Day the Earth Turned. From the first paragraph, I was completely and utterly absorbed, and if not for my tablet needing to recharge or life’s many obligations, I probably could’ve finished this book in a sitting. Two, tops.
From the start, we’re introduced to Francesca, or “Chess”, as we come to know her throughout the book—a scared teenage girl desperately clinging to the hope that her parents have survived, that they will return and life will go on as it should while she takes care of her little sister, Josie.
Along the way, we meet many other characters—main players, supporting roles, “ships passing in the night” types… They're all there. From Gus, a boy Chess knows from school who proves to be an absolute megalomaniac in taking charge of the situation, to Reuben, another boy who is at odds with Gus and his prerogative—despite the two having a lot of common ground. Grace, who’s always been sheltered behind her gated community’s walls and now has to learn to fight to protect what’s hers; Charlotte, who’s lost the person she loved most only to find herself a surrogate mother to another girl, lost and alone in a world that continues to fracture all around them. The list goes on.
I cannot express how deeply I fell in love with this book, how emotionally invested I became in their plight; so much so that when I reached the end (in what I assume will be a four book series), I was absolutely destroyed by the cliff-hanger.
Chantelle Atkins has created so haunting a story, one so devastatingly real that I found my heart racing with each new conflict that arose. Between the animals waging war on the surviving humans, the ground swallowing people whole, and the fighting between the human factions themselves—most of all just kids trying to survive in this nearly adult-free world—there wasn’t a single dull moment to be had. So much care was put towards politics, infrastructure, agriculture, engineering, and most importantly of all, genuine, organic human emotion/interaction, that I couldn’t help but be awed by this amazing—yet terrifying—world she created.
One of the best books I’ve read, and one that I anticipate will be in my top 5 this year. If you want a topnotch survival story with emotionally complex characters, nuanced politics, suspense, atmospheric scenes, and the ability to slowly shatter your heart, then I cannot recommend this book enough. 4.5/5 stars.
There aren’t many stories that grab me from the first paragraph, and for those that do, there’s always a chance I’ll lose interest about halfway through—sometimes sooner.
Such was not the case with The Day the Earth Turned. From the first paragraph, I was completely and utterly absorbed, and if not for my tablet needing to recharge or life’s many obligations, I probably could’ve finished this book in a sitting. Two, tops.
From the start, we’re introduced to Francesca, or “Chess”, as we come to know her throughout the book—a scared teenage girl desperately clinging to the hope that her parents have survived, that they will return and life will go on as it should while she takes care of her little sister, Josie.
Along the way, we meet many other characters—main players, supporting roles, “ships passing in the night” types… They're all there. From Gus, a boy Chess knows from school who proves to be an absolute megalomaniac in taking charge of the situation, to Reuben, another boy who is at odds with Gus and his prerogative—despite the two having a lot of common ground. Grace, who’s always been sheltered behind her gated community’s walls and now has to learn to fight to protect what’s hers; Charlotte, who’s lost the person she loved most only to find herself a surrogate mother to another girl, lost and alone in a world that continues to fracture all around them. The list goes on.
I cannot express how deeply I fell in love with this book, how emotionally invested I became in their plight; so much so that when I reached the end (in what I assume will be a four book series), I was absolutely destroyed by the cliff-hanger.
Chantelle Atkins has created so haunting a story, one so devastatingly real that I found my heart racing with each new conflict that arose. Between the animals waging war on the surviving humans, the ground swallowing people whole, and the fighting between the human factions themselves—most of all just kids trying to survive in this nearly adult-free world—there wasn’t a single dull moment to be had. So much care was put towards politics, infrastructure, agriculture, engineering, and most importantly of all, genuine, organic human emotion/interaction, that I couldn’t help but be awed by this amazing—yet terrifying—world she created.
One of the best books I’ve read, and one that I anticipate will be in my top 5 this year. If you want a topnotch survival story with emotionally complex characters, nuanced politics, suspense, atmospheric scenes, and the ability to slowly shatter your heart, then I cannot recommend this book enough. 4.5/5 stars.
June 16, 2023
The Day The Earth Turned is book one in a post-apocalyptic YA series - and it surpassed my expectations.
It begins after a pandemic or two or three. All (or almost all) the adults are dead. The focus is on a small town (village?) and its outskirts, and the two big groups of kids that form. As they work out what kind of society they want, tempers flare and tensions rise, and there's something else going on too... the earth itself seems angry. Dogs, birds, deer are ravenous and aggressive. It's as if they want revenge on the people who have spent centuries ruining the world.
There are a few viewpoint characters across the two groups of kids/young adults and I enjoyed seeing each character develop on the page. They're not all likeable, but I did find them convincing and more importantly, interesting.
I really enjoy post-apocalyptic fic when it delves into the minutiae of exactly what the hell do you do next to rebuild society, and this novel delivers on that front. I'm intrigued as to where the story is going next - more on the detail of how you survive, or more into the horror of nature striking back? Either way, I'll be reading!
It begins after a pandemic or two or three. All (or almost all) the adults are dead. The focus is on a small town (village?) and its outskirts, and the two big groups of kids that form. As they work out what kind of society they want, tempers flare and tensions rise, and there's something else going on too... the earth itself seems angry. Dogs, birds, deer are ravenous and aggressive. It's as if they want revenge on the people who have spent centuries ruining the world.
There are a few viewpoint characters across the two groups of kids/young adults and I enjoyed seeing each character develop on the page. They're not all likeable, but I did find them convincing and more importantly, interesting.
I really enjoy post-apocalyptic fic when it delves into the minutiae of exactly what the hell do you do next to rebuild society, and this novel delivers on that front. I'm intrigued as to where the story is going next - more on the detail of how you survive, or more into the horror of nature striking back? Either way, I'll be reading!
June 22, 2023
Where did I find it: having read this author before, and it was a post apocalyptic story, I jumped at the chance to have an advanced copy.
What I liked: the whole concept for this genre. It was different. Having children in charge changed things as they see life differently. In places the story is dark, mentioning things I didn’t want to dwell on. All the while I felt glued to the page eager to know what would happen next. Other things added to the suspense – not all adults died, and something sinister was happening with nature.
What I didn’t like: that this is a brand new book, which means I have to wait for the next one. I can’t wait!
Overall: this is a brilliantly conceived story. I love things that are slightly different to what you expect. There are several different elements to this story and I constantly wanted to answers. What was really going on? What did it mean? This is a book you need to read, and it will be a hot contender for my book of the year. I absolutely loved it.
What I liked: the whole concept for this genre. It was different. Having children in charge changed things as they see life differently. In places the story is dark, mentioning things I didn’t want to dwell on. All the while I felt glued to the page eager to know what would happen next. Other things added to the suspense – not all adults died, and something sinister was happening with nature.
What I didn’t like: that this is a brand new book, which means I have to wait for the next one. I can’t wait!
Overall: this is a brilliantly conceived story. I love things that are slightly different to what you expect. There are several different elements to this story and I constantly wanted to answers. What was really going on? What did it mean? This is a book you need to read, and it will be a hot contender for my book of the year. I absolutely loved it.
July 3, 2023
Another cracking book from Chantelle Atkins. And what a food for thought; especially due to most recent world events.
The book is following groups of children left behind in a world where a virus has wiped out the adult population. They have to find a way to fend for themselves whilst burying the dead, looking after the younger siblings, ensuring food and water are plentiful and they have supplies to make their survival as easy as possible. Some are in shock, some in denial and some quick to take the opportunity to become leaders and dictators.
The new world is quick to show the ones with skills and good mindset, the ones with eye for farming and long-term survival. But it also shows how quickly gangs are formed and how dangerous the struggle for power can be. And when nature itself seems to fight back – only the strongest and smartest will survive.
Fantastic book and definitely one that makes you think a lot.
The book is following groups of children left behind in a world where a virus has wiped out the adult population. They have to find a way to fend for themselves whilst burying the dead, looking after the younger siblings, ensuring food and water are plentiful and they have supplies to make their survival as easy as possible. Some are in shock, some in denial and some quick to take the opportunity to become leaders and dictators.
The new world is quick to show the ones with skills and good mindset, the ones with eye for farming and long-term survival. But it also shows how quickly gangs are formed and how dangerous the struggle for power can be. And when nature itself seems to fight back – only the strongest and smartest will survive.
Fantastic book and definitely one that makes you think a lot.
February 11, 2024
A truly fantastic read ... Another masterpiece from Atkins!
This book is so Chantelle Atkins through and through. The self awareness, complex characters, and the inclusion of nature.
Using animal povs was a fantastic choice for the narrative, and the flow is spot on. Atkins knows exactly when to end a chapter and when to twist the knife.
There’s so much packed into this story but it’s never once “too much.” The inclusion of such an eclectic range of characters means there's someone for every reader to relate to.
Exciting. Thrilling. And totally addictive.
Perfect for fans of Stephen King, John Marsden, and all of Atkins other works!
I could go on and on and on about this book. Really enjoyable, dark and deep. Keeps you hooked and makes you think. I’ll definitely be recommending this over and over again, and I'm looking forward to continuing the story in the next three books.
This book is so Chantelle Atkins through and through. The self awareness, complex characters, and the inclusion of nature.
Using animal povs was a fantastic choice for the narrative, and the flow is spot on. Atkins knows exactly when to end a chapter and when to twist the knife.
There’s so much packed into this story but it’s never once “too much.” The inclusion of such an eclectic range of characters means there's someone for every reader to relate to.
Exciting. Thrilling. And totally addictive.
Perfect for fans of Stephen King, John Marsden, and all of Atkins other works!
I could go on and on and on about this book. Really enjoyable, dark and deep. Keeps you hooked and makes you think. I’ll definitely be recommending this over and over again, and I'm looking forward to continuing the story in the next three books.
June 1, 2023
Wow, this is a great start to a new dystopian series! A virus has spread around the world, killing the majority of the adults while saving the children and teenagers. But while the children rejoice in their newfound freedom, all is not well with mother nature. Animals are behaving strangely, and sometimes children go missing...
This is a fantastic, and disturbing, look into human nature, and what could happen in such a terrible situation. The main characters are well written, each child believable and relatable. The author has created a believable scenario that could be our future, given the state of the world today. The story kept me gripped, with an ending that left me eager to get on to book 2! Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author for an early copy.
This is a fantastic, and disturbing, look into human nature, and what could happen in such a terrible situation. The main characters are well written, each child believable and relatable. The author has created a believable scenario that could be our future, given the state of the world today. The story kept me gripped, with an ending that left me eager to get on to book 2! Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author for an early copy.
July 17, 2023
The day the earth turned by Chantelle Atkins.
The adults are all dead. Society has collapsed.
Two groups of teenagers emerge on either side of a rural village, traumatised, bereaved and determined to survive.
As tribes form and territorial lines are drawn, can they overcome their differences and find a way to rebuild?
Or will gang warfare end this emerging new world before its even begun?
This was a good read. Different. I liked the story. Some Characters I liked more than others. Can't wait for the next book. 4*.
The adults are all dead. Society has collapsed.
Two groups of teenagers emerge on either side of a rural village, traumatised, bereaved and determined to survive.
As tribes form and territorial lines are drawn, can they overcome their differences and find a way to rebuild?
Or will gang warfare end this emerging new world before its even begun?
This was a good read. Different. I liked the story. Some Characters I liked more than others. Can't wait for the next book. 4*.
November 24, 2023
The day the earth turned book 1.
This is a most intriguing book. It is a Y.A. book, but easily read on an entirely different level for adults. With only children left to run the world, how will they deal with the problems of everyday life? How will they survive? I found myself drawn into the world of tribes and turf wars, every character coming to life before my eyes. How will they cope?
An excellent read.
This is a most intriguing book. It is a Y.A. book, but easily read on an entirely different level for adults. With only children left to run the world, how will they deal with the problems of everyday life? How will they survive? I found myself drawn into the world of tribes and turf wars, every character coming to life before my eyes. How will they cope?
An excellent read.
February 14, 2024
The adults are all dead.
Groups of children are formed, tribes? Gangs? Will fighting and warfare ensue? Everyone has their own theory about what had happened and why but are they all blind to the much bigger and infinitely more dangerous threat surrounding them?
What a brilliant story. Kept me gripped the horror/fear element is insidious and left me gripped wondering when people would start to see the impending threats, or if they would overlook them. Can't wait to read book 2.
Groups of children are formed, tribes? Gangs? Will fighting and warfare ensue? Everyone has their own theory about what had happened and why but are they all blind to the much bigger and infinitely more dangerous threat surrounding them?
What a brilliant story. Kept me gripped the horror/fear element is insidious and left me gripped wondering when people would start to see the impending threats, or if they would overlook them. Can't wait to read book 2.
May 5, 2024
A fast-paced, entertaining read, aimed at young adults, but great for any fan of dystopian, eerie, post-apocalypse scenarios. Reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, Children of the Corn and borrowing familiar elements of various tv shows, movies and novels, yet combining them into an original and gripping story line with well-rounded characters and clever plot development.
June 29, 2023
When the majority of adults are wiped out following years of viruses, the kids and teenagers are left to fend for themselves. Some take charge and others follow. Gus, a boy who is happy to be free of his parents, convinces the kids in his small hometown to follow him, and exile anyone else.
One of those kids is Reuben, a survivalist who has always had issues with Gus. Chess, a teenage girl orphaned with her little sister, joins Reuben and the others who don’t want to live under Gus’ new rules. As well as dealing with him, they come to realize the animals are behaving strangely. And as nature itself gives them a record summer that has stopped all rainfall, they may soon be dealing with more than just the new world dangers.
The Day The Earth Turned is full of characters who are gritty and a premise steeped in relatable truths. Under the author’s talented writing skills, it’s an excellent start to what is sure to be a thrilling new dystopian YA series. Highly recommended.
One of those kids is Reuben, a survivalist who has always had issues with Gus. Chess, a teenage girl orphaned with her little sister, joins Reuben and the others who don’t want to live under Gus’ new rules. As well as dealing with him, they come to realize the animals are behaving strangely. And as nature itself gives them a record summer that has stopped all rainfall, they may soon be dealing with more than just the new world dangers.
The Day The Earth Turned is full of characters who are gritty and a premise steeped in relatable truths. Under the author’s talented writing skills, it’s an excellent start to what is sure to be a thrilling new dystopian YA series. Highly recommended.
November 3, 2023
This may be my favourite work of Chantelle's that I have read so far. The story is intricate and fast paced, never boring. The characters all feel so real and flawed, and I could picture Heron Village so clearly in my head. I didn't want it to end!
September 19, 2023
A compelling survival story. This is the first in a series of four books which are clearly going to rotate through the seasons and the challenges that this will present. It’s a well written book with a compelling cast of characters and plenty of mystery and intrigue. Be aware though, that this series functions very much as a whole, rather than a series of standalones, so you will need to commit to reading all of them. There are a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions and I’m looking forward to seeing how this new world Chantelle has created all pans out
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