Wakeless

by Lisa Johnston

One future. One chance at redemption. Emma has somehow survived the wreckage of the 21st century—gas reserves have run dry, hospitals have shut and deadly diseases are rampant. She now faces her greatest challenge. Discovered living in a basement hideout, she is proclaimed clean and moved to Redemption City. Despite escaping the contaminated world, Emma soon learns that life is no better in the promised utopia—secrets abound, no one is free and eyes are always watching.A young woman in a repressive role, Emma begins unraveling the true purpose of Redemption City. Rebelling against the male hierarchy, she reluctantly joins forces with a potential ally. Troubled by ghosts of her past and an unreliable vision of reality, Emma must find a path to redemption or pay the ultimate price.

Content violence, abuse and sexual assault.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Action

322 pages, Paperback

Published April 17, 2021

Reviews

[Juliet Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It started a little dense with backstory and world-building but quickly picked up to a dark tale of apocalyptic destruction and control. The main character is hard to connect to because she is supposed to be. A life time of trauma has led her to dissociate and disconnect from reality, allowing her to survive. It feels like 1984 meets the Truman show. If things are looking a little too rosy, read this book. It will set you straight.

[Karen’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a bleak apocalyptic dystopian in the vein of The Handmaid’s Tale that you’ll have a hard time putting down, look no further. Wakeless is what you’re looking for. I was up very late last night to finish because there was no way I was going to be able to sleep until I did.

I love this genre and I was disturbed quite a few times at how horrific this world became. And then, the protagonist is “rescued” and brought to a utopia where not all is as it seems. Emma is brought to a sealed town called Redemption City where she can thrive and have a future with her assigned husband.

But Emma, in her paranoia, can’t just accept her new life and with her chosen mate Ryan in tow, seeks to find the answers of what is really going on.

The protagonist is unlikable and I yelled at her a few times. I did like Ryan a lot and she was very lucky he was chosen for her.

The ending had me gasping. I sure didn’t see that coming! If this is the debut book of Lisa Johnston, count me in for her upcoming book.

*Thank you to the author and to Emily Keough Publicity for the gifted copy!*

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, prepare yourself; this book may leave you unsettled! Lisa Johnston has written a dark, somber dystopian novel, and it hits on some notes a little too close to home.

Emma and her family have taken refuge in the basement of their home. They are just trying to survive in the world, or what’s left of it: disease rages, food is scarce, no electricity, no commerce, no sewage system, no police - every person must fend for themselves.

Until one day, men in white hazmat suits come and rip Emma away from what’s left of her family and take her to a domed, biosphere environment called Redemption City.

The Protectors, a male hierarchy, have set up a “new world” with rules to ensure food, work, and, yes, repopulating this healthy city. But Emma is not about to give in to their dictates so readily, even with the memories of the rotting world right outside Redemption City.

​​𝐖𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 is chilling! If you enjoy dystopian novels or a dark twist, you’ll want to read this one.

Thank you to @emily_Keough_publicity and @lisajohnstonauthor for this gifted copy.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: Wakeless
AUTHOR: Lisa Johnston
PUB DATE: 4.17.2021

It is 2055
Diseases rampant
Hospitals shut down
No Grocery Stores
No Electricity
No Gas No Cars
People starving

I started WAKELESS and simply could not put it down. The world building from the first chapter was incredible. The first person narrative was so chilling and disturbing. It was so believable and frightening.

The story is about Emma who was one of the few rescued from a devastated world, and into a protected dome called Redemption City where every aspect of life is calculated and monitored. Emma should be grateful she is not starving - she is provided food, housing, and even a partner Ryan. Emma rebels against the protectors and finds herself once again escaping a tragic world.

Dystopian is not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed Wakeless as the story telling style was very thrilling and suspenseful. The writing was incredible and as I was reading this book I kept imagining how wonderful this would be as a movie or a series.

If you want a read that may be outside of your usual genre or comfort zone, do give Wakeless a try. I recommend it.

[Amanda Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the pace and concept of this dystopian novel. I enjoyed most of this storytelling and found my self flipping through the pages to see what would happen next.
However, the main character was a struggle to connect with and her choices were sometimes confusing. It was very similar to handmaids tale, highly recommend if you liked that book. I didn’t care for handmaids tale, so I struggled a little with this one as well. It started really well for me and had my interest, but the foreshadowing was too heavy for me to be too shocked by the plot twists. The ending left me with more questions than answers and too much was left from the story that felt needed wrapping up more.
If you enjoy dystopian novels and stories like the handmaids tale, then I recommend this novel for you.

[janinereadsandreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wakeless by Lisa Johnston
I give this book 4.25 stars

Emma has somehow survived the wreckage of the 21st century—gas reserves have run dry, hospitals have shut and deadly diseases are rampant. She now faces her greatest challenge. Discovered living in a basement hideout, she is proclaimed clean and moved to Redemption City. Despite escaping the contaminated world, Emma soon learns that life is no better in the promised utopia—secrets abound, no one is free and eyes are always watching.

A young woman in a repressive role, Emma begins unraveling the true purpose of Redemption City. Rebelling against the male hierarchy, she reluctantly joins forces with a potential ally. Troubled by ghosts of her past and an unreliable vision of reality, Emma must find a path to redemption or pay the ultimate price.

A well written page turner that drew me straight into the gripping storyline.An unsettling and somewhat creepy read about what could possibly happen to the world and whether being picked and then controlled for the new future makes you one of the “”lucky ones”’ This book reminded me how much l enjoy dystopian /(soft) sci fi genres.
This is the authors first fiction novel and lm signing up to be infected with her next …..The Castra Project!

[Randy Gagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wakeless is captivating and thought-provoking about the harsh realities of a fictional world that had me living on the edge as it transported me into the story. I found myself having to stop and think about how I would have faced the many challenging and frightening situations. Even though it's a fictional world, it seemed all too real and believable. I was hooked from page one and now a fan of Lisa Johnston.

[Tanya Tanaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m left wanting more!! Lisa Johnston does not paint a pretty picture of the future. But do you want a pretty picture when you read a dystopian novel? No, because the mere definition of dystopia is that of “a fictional community or society that is undesirable or frightening.”

The novel Wakeless challenges the reader to think about what they would do with the deck they’ve been handed if they were the protagonist of this novel. The answers are not always as simple as we might want them to be. Emma - our protagonist - experiences life in two worlds. Is the one that Emma is “saved” from worse than the one she finds redemption in? And can she truly find redemption?

This novel really made me think about how our individual upbringings shape and form the choices we make in life and how - depending on those upbringings - we can view our protagonist in differing ways. Some of us will like Emma and some of us may even despise her. Regardless of how the reader views Emma, they must understand this: she is not a pure, basic, two-dimensional heroine or protagonist. Emma is a complicated character born in a complicated world and left to make complicated choices. Emma doesn’t always do the things you expect her to do, but the choices she makes are necessary for her.

I can’t wait to see what else Lisa Johnston shares with her audience!

[La Femme Readers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 2055; Emma and her family survived deadly diseases, gas running dry, and hospitals shutting down. She now faces her greatest challenge, Redemption City. Discovered living in a basement hideout, she is proclaimed clean and moved to an isolated community. Despite escaping toxicity, Emma soon learns that life is no better in the promised utopia where no one is free and eyes are always watching. How will Emma find a path to rebellion in a male-driven hierarchy?⠀
⠀
I've always been a fan of dystopian books reminiscent of 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale. Lisa's WAKELESS nightmare was an exceptional complement to the genre. Emma's account of the "utopian" trickery endured in Redemption City instantly gained my attention. This community had one agenda in mind, to rob the survivors of their freedom and individuality, leaving Emma to find a way to live yet again. Through her words, I developed a kinship with Emma. Lisa created a connectable narrative where I solemnly observed Emma's beliefs and sentiments. I cannot fathom what it felt like to lose your rights and turn into nothing but a female vessel. As for her assigned husband, Ryan, I adored his kind nature and loyalty. I deemed Emma quite lucky to have someone by her side who embraced her with safety.⠀
⠀
As the story went on, I was rooting for Emma's rebellion towards the city's superior figures. Some of their acts were utterly disgusting and cringe-worthy. By the third and final act, it took a turn I was not expecting. Sometimes life isn't greener on the other side, and Lisa did a great job conveying that message. Overall, I positively enjoyed this emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. My only criticism would be that the plot was a bit dry in some parts, but it didn't necessarily take away from the book as a whole. If you're looking for a dystopian read, then I hope you check out WAKELESS! Lisa’s seasoned writing was highly evident in her noteworthy debut and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

[K.A. Masson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a compelling, powerful and beautifully-written book this is – I felt like I was with the protagonist Emma every step of the way. Only the other day I read a post that said 'bad decisions make the best books'. That statement is definitely true for Wakeless; at times I found myself shouting at the book, willing Emma not to do the thing she was planning to do. There are some scenes that left me reeling, and on reflection I think it's because they perfectly summed up how messed up the human race is.

At the end of the book I was delighted to see the author is working on the first book in a series, 'The Castra Project' – I'm signing up to be infected now!

[Jane Dennish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Johnston has created an eerily realistic world. The beginning is a gut punch of what could happen in our future if things do not change. The description of schools and the downfall of society is scary. Add in descriptions that are similar to our shut downs during the pandemic but 100 times worse, the author creates a setting and world that isn’t the utopia that it seems. This book is really good and the suspense builds. My only critic is the ending. That didn’t seem to hold up with the strength of the rest of the book. Thanks to Emily Keough Publicity for a gifted copy!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is next-level dystopian. I read it one sitting. It is absolutely riveting. I was immediately drawn in to the protagonist’s story and felt as if I was living in the horrid, suffocating conditions from the basement to the penitentiary to the dome.

The writing was outstanding. I can’t recommend this book enough.

[Debra H. Wruble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary

Scary good story about a future world where humans have destroyed the ecosystem and are hiding in basements, only leaving to scrounge for food. No power of water exists and so no working plumbing either. Will Emma survive?

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was interesting. Somewhat predictable. There is an SA trigger warning about 3/4 of the way through the book.

[Nerissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to get lost in a book you simply cannot put down, this is the one. From the opening line the tension builds and builds. The character development is outstanding, the story is engaging, and it's been ages since I've read a book that makes me want to dive in like this. Reads like a movie. This is the pandemic mental escape you've been seeking. Just...wow. Great job author Lisa Johnston!

[Erin Jarboe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected and definitely one of the best books I've read in a long, long while. I couldn't put it down, and that's saying something. Truly excited for more from Lisa Johnston.

[Brian Clancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know it's a good book when you wake up in the middle of the night and instead of bemoaning the sleepless time, instead are really excited to get back to reading "Wakeless". The prose makes it a gentle read, the words don't get in the way of the story - I love that. Just the right amount of treatment to some disturbing scenes to give the reader a full sense of what is happening, again without bludgeoning us with detail for the sake of itself. I can't wait to read more from Lisa Johnston!!

[Tracy Trotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoy Lisa's writing style - such a beautiful story teller. Taking us down a road of the uncertainty of the world but yet not so far out of the concept of possibility. There were parts that resonated with me that made stop and to ponder my own life situation. I couldn't put the book down and she had me captivated from the first page right to the end ... she left me wanting more. Can't wait to see what she has in store for her next book.
~Tracy

[Sharisse Normoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

A disturbing look into a world that could all too easily be. Ms. Johnston easily draws us into this place, and it's difficult to believe that this is her first fiction novel. I eagerly await further books by her. Like any good author, we're interested in the characters stories from the first pages, though they don't gain a lot of depth until a few chapters in. I had become unused to slow build novels, and I found it so pleasant that it was still interesting during those first few pages. Well done.

[Crazy Cat Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an unnamed cataclysmic event, society falls apart. There is no food, no clean drinking water, no sewage facilities, no hygiene, no electricity, disease runs rampant and humans have been forced to live in disgusting conditions, trying to eke out an existence in this new Mad Max reality. Emma, our main female character, is one of these humans trying to survive. She lives in squalor for years in the dark basement of what used to be her family home with her blind mother, her father and her younger brother all of whom are slowly starving to death. Her older sister has already died from one of those rampant diseases before the start of the novel. Due to the lack of social interaction and basic hygiene, Emma and her family have been reduced to savagery - often behaving more like animals than humans.

One day, the family “home” is invaded by men in white hazmat suits. They pluck Emma out of squalor and bring her to an old penitentiary that has been repurposed. There, along with hundreds of other young men and women, she is examined, fed, cleaned up and reintegrated as a human being as she is one of the chosen ones who will live in a newly-minted Utopia called Redemption City. Basically, a bunch of billionaires saw the end of the world coming a mile away so they pooled their resources together and built a lush, self-sustaining city under a giant glass dome - essentially saving the human race. The city is run by “protectors” and inhabitants like Emma, are expected to obey without question their new fearless leaders if they want to survive.

Upon arrival, Emma is horrified to discover that her new existence is completely regimented and about 150 years in the past. There is no technology such as cell phones or televisions as they are deemed unnecessary. Women are expected to fulfill the traditional female roles of homemaker and child-rearer while the men are assigned more traditionally “male” roles such as doctor, trolley-operator, landscapers, plumbers, electricians, dentists, etc. Emma, like all the other young women, is assigned a “husband” named Ryan with whom she is expected to produce two children. Or else….

While the new environment is weird as hell it is infinitely better than the squalid existence she was living prior to being “chosen”. Yet it is somehow worse. Granted, the inhabitants are fed, clothed and all their basic needs are met, but there is no love. No fun. No music or literature. No independent thought. No freedom. They are nothing more than sheep expected to breed and obey. Then, suddenly, when “sheep” begin popping up dead and the protectors are caught in contradictions and lies, Emma and Ryan begin to question wtf is really going on in the “perfect” world of Redemption City.

I read The Castra Project a few months back and loooooooved it so naturally I wanted to see what else Lisa Johnston had written. That’s how I found Wakeless. And I bought it immediately.

Was it as gripping as The Castra Project? No. Did I like it as much as I liked The Castra Project? Also no. But that absolutely doesn’t mean it’s a terrible book. Like Castra, it is a beautifully-written but bleak dystopian tale about what is essentially the end of the world as we know it.

And I have a special place in my heart for these kinds of stories.

But this book reminded me of……something. At certain points, it has an unmistakable Handmaids Tale vein running through it. But then you turn the page and you start getting a strong Stepford Wives vibe. Then in the next chapter it feels exactly like 1984. It’s like a mish-mash of tales we’ve already heard somewhere before….yet, Johnston’s story is somehow different and it works.

Some other reviewers have mentioned that Emma is an unlikable character who is impossible to relate to. This is true. She’s mentally damaged, savage and paranoid and very cold - almost devoid of any kind of human emotion. At the beginning, you feel sorry for her and completely understand why she’s like this after everything she’s been through. Seems like a pretty normal response to trauma to me. But she never develops or improves - she actually gets worse - and her increasing paranoia turns her into a really unreliable narrator. Her actions are, at best, confusing and, at worst, utterly infuriating so by the end of the book you despise her and start wondering if all the suffering she’s endured has finally driven her legitimately insane.

The plot of this book does not unfurl as you think it will and none of the characters behave how you expect them to which is a refreshing change. I hate predictability! The book actually ends on a very bleak note, the author leaving it up to you to decide what happens. Which I loved. I hate neat, happy endings.

There are a few plot holes. We never find out what the cataclysmic event was that felled society. We never find out what the grand plan of the “protectors” actually was. We never know why the lead protector and his wife were strapped to gurneys and fed a continuous cocktail of drugs. Or if they were good guys or bad guys. We never find out if life exists outside the dome - despite the fact that the author drops several hints that it does. But overall, I still liked this book. Like Johnston’s other works, it’s depressing and dark and puts you in this hopeless mood - which isn’t a bad thing because it elicits an emotional response from the reader which is what I look for in a story.

Johnston is an incredibly talented writer and it continues to baffle me how she and her work are not more well-known. She’s one of the very few writers whose next book I’m anxiously awaiting which is saying a lot because I hate everything. Do yourself a favour, put down that Colleen Hoover trash and pick up a Lisa Johnston, for the love of god. Your brain will thank you!

Definitely recommend!

[Bambi Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

unique

Very original. I’ve read books like the beginning and the end but never a book that combines post apoc with dystopian in the way this story does. The ending did feel very rushed compared to the detailed 80% of the book. But at the end the author says it’s her first fiction story so with that info it’s definitely a 5 star book. I look forward to reading more from this author

Side note I told my version of the story to my husband and he, not being a reader, kept saying he wished they would make a movie adaptation because he’d love to watch it

[Laura Juntunen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy dystopian, science fiction, and post-apocalyptic stories, then this is the book for you! I absolutely fell in love with this story! It is a standalone book, but I wish there were more from this world! The characters, the dilemma, the mystery - all of it is perfect. I am excited to read more from this author!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping read that will certainly keep you "sleepless," if not "wakeless"! It reminded me of the last Hunger Games book that went into Katniss's damaged psyche, but with slightly more adult themes. Good for New Adult or Adult audiences, and fans of dystopian future worlds!

[Kim (booked4life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

WAKELESS was a very interesting read. The author did an amazing job of writing this book in a way as if I were reading the main characters journal. I felt as if I were living the situation with her. Apocalyptic books are something I really enjoy.

[Ziggy Nixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Do not get the impression that this is a love story. I do not know if any of us could have possibly experienced such an emotion anymore. There was no love in Redemption City. This is a story of survival. The strong among us will last. The weak will be destroyed."

3 1/2 stars. A well-written but depressingly bleak look at a future that is more easily imagineable than a large portion of most dystopian / apocalyptic tales out there. And the fact that this could be considered borderline YA fiction just made it all the more terrifying. However, the utter lack of anyone resembling a 'heroic' figure or really of any major conflict than just the reality around the limited cast made this a very difficult book to finish, particularly as the sexual violence included is particularly disgusting and was at least in my opinion not necessary in how graphic it was presented. There was no love in Redemption City, but there were also no good people or anyone that really deserved better.

Speaking of which, the statement I copied above - which appears about a third of the way into "Wakeless" - is a pretty good summary of this book. Make no mistake : this is not an uplifting or inspirational tale in any way, shape or form. Even if you're like me and enjoy more than your fair share of dystopian books, this story will come across as lacking any hope. I cannot stress enough just how bleak and borderline nauseating the story becomes in parts. It is akin to what for me crosses the line in the horror genre to become gore. This isn't well-imagined, it's a pure nightmare put into print.

And to be honest, the fact that the book is THIS dark caught me off-guard, as I assume this was written like so many other have been in wake of Margaret Atwood's "Handmaid's Tale" books. But there is no humor to be found here, no trace of a potential better future for anyone involved around the corner. Think of it as Kafka for a new generation if you will. The only other cultural reference I can think of that I can relate to how I feel now that it's done is the 1983 movie "The Day After" that left me nauseated for days. We're all doomed, we get it but geez...

Do not misunderstand : Johnston's writing is more than adequate and the editing quite professional. I do not generally enjoy books that are only told from the perspective of a single character but the entire 'this is my daily thought journal' approach is not without merit. But again, it is just so... and here I can't think of any other word for it... depressing. If this then is a disadvantage of using the starred system here too literally - no, I didn't like this book at all but I still couldn't stop reading it - then so be it. I've tried to rate it fairly. And hey, if you enjoy putting yourself through experiences like this, then by all means, enjoy! I hope to be better informed before I try something like this again.

[Jeremy Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚

Title: Wakeless
Author: Lisa Johnston
Number of Pages: 316
Genre: Dystopian
Publication Date: 04/17/2021
Rating: 📕📕📕📕🔖(4.5 stars)
(Rounded to 5 stars on Goodreads)

This is the first book I have read from this author. I love the cover.

And this book we follow Emma who somehow survived the wreckage of the 21st century and moves to Redemption City.

This book was unlike anything I've ever read before. I loved this survival dystopian that had me hooked from the start. The author did a phenomenal job writing a book that was paced well, with a very unique plot. This is the kind of book I could see being optioned for a movie or a Netflix series that would be very entertaining to watch. Lisa did a wonderful job with her character development. I can't wait to read more books by this author in the future!!!

[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was addictive! Once you open it, you won't be able to stop reading!!

Emma lives with her family in the shell of humanity that is left. The story starts with Emma describing how the world fell apart through sickness and environmental disasters. Day after day, year and year, Emma takes the reader through her absolute hell of a life. Then one day, she is taken from her family and thrown into a jail cell. Except they feed her, and they clean her, and eventually she is taken to a Utopia...or so it seems!

Lisa Johnston's descriptive writing brings this story to life. I could envision every detail. I could hear what the character was hearing, and it was fantastic. This is a story that will shock and surprise you, and I highly recommend it!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤!

Omg, I loved this book so much, I went completely blind and I read it in one sitting.
I don’t like to compare books but I haven’t read an apocalyptic dystopian this good since The Grace Year. Emma’s character was unlikeable, complex and perfect, the story was disturbing and addictive and the ending left me completely shocked. I can’t beleive this is a debut. All the stars.

Thank you Emily Keough Publicity and Lisa Johnston Author for this gifted copy.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘋𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢, 𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘋𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...

[Cara Lynn Kasonovitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent book, great idea, but full of bland characters and not a lot of action. I kept reading because I was really into the premise. Unfortunately it didn’t pan out very well. Despite having so much potential and some great, twisty moments (albeit few and far between), the climax was anything but. The final resolution was sloppily done and the ending was rushed. I had looked forward to this one, and if it was good I anticipated diving into the Castra Project series, but now I am leery of reading the latter.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool plot idea but slow and didn’t go anywhere