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Rainbow Plague
Maia Anna Robinson, a biracial gay high schooler, has never felt more certain of where she belongs in the world until the day she marched with her girlfriend at the pride parade. But because of circumstance beyond her control, the day that is meant to define her existence forever is the day that everything changes in her life.
It's the year 2026 and Doug Miller, a fanatically religious conservative, is president. He is obsessed with the idea that the members of the LGBTQIA+ community are "diseased" and thinks it is his "duty" to "cure" them. He has them taken from their homes and sent to camps, to be "changed" for the better.
They are sent to a place where their inner core is extinguished and all that remains is the ash of who they were.
Maia is one of those prisoners. She is only seventeen. She just saw her girlfriend die.
What will happen to Maia in this near future dystopian LGBT+ young adult novel, "Rainbow Plague"?
It's the year 2026 and Doug Miller, a fanatically religious conservative, is president. He is obsessed with the idea that the members of the LGBTQIA+ community are "diseased" and thinks it is his "duty" to "cure" them. He has them taken from their homes and sent to camps, to be "changed" for the better.
They are sent to a place where their inner core is extinguished and all that remains is the ash of who they were.
Maia is one of those prisoners. She is only seventeen. She just saw her girlfriend die.
What will happen to Maia in this near future dystopian LGBT+ young adult novel, "Rainbow Plague"?
392 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2021
3 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 17, 2021
This book was really cool. I think the aspect of the government completely turning the wrong way and leaving everyone helpless really got to me. This book had me rooting for the characters and sitting on the edge of me seat, and the characters had really unique personalities and looks that were easy to visualize.
March 21, 2022
This book is quite an interesting read. Once you start the story gets you instantly hooked to the point where you leave your bookmark to the side for a while. Highly recommend putting “Rainbow Plague” on your “Books to Read” List.
March 14, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Wow, this was a difficult, heart-wrenching read. I really loved Maia - loved her strength and determination to be true to herself. The plot was solid, and honestly, kind of terrifying. It's horrifying to think of what people could theoretically do once they have enough power. Overall, the book is well done. There are some parts that seemed to be drag a little longer than they needed to be, but still, a powerful novel.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Lia Athena for my copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wow, this was a difficult, heart-wrenching read. I really loved Maia - loved her strength and determination to be true to herself. The plot was solid, and honestly, kind of terrifying. It's horrifying to think of what people could theoretically do once they have enough power. Overall, the book is well done. There are some parts that seemed to be drag a little longer than they needed to be, but still, a powerful novel.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Lia Athena for my copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 17, 2022
Note: This review was originally written as part of Reedsy Discovery.
Rainbow Plague by Lia Athena is not an easy read for this 50-something queer person, but it is a novel that has great value for the young adults and teens who may have forgotten about the horrors of conversion therapy and about the major milestones achieved by the LGBTQIA+ community in the last few decades.
Maia's story is told in first person for the most part, with sections in bold indicating a departure from her point of view to that of President Miller. Her voice is clear, and the level of detail in her descriptions makes the story and its setting incredibly vivid to the reader. Maia, along with other teens, has been relocated to a camp somewhere with the goal of "curing" them of their queerness. Maia's character is well-developed, and as we read the novel we learn about her relationship with Aimee (her girlfriend), her parents, and her little sister Janice (nicknamed "Jam"). The reader easily identifies with and empathizes with Maia from the beginning, and as we all settle into her new life at the camp, we meet other characters who are also individuals. Details like how one of the characters is a YouTube celebrity whose shocking pink hair has been shaved off (even though she's female and baldness certainly doesn't fit the camp's idea of feminine beauty) help readers situate themselves in the near future of 2026.
That the book is set only a few years from now--two years into the next presidential term--is important to the overall impact. Not only does the timeframe mean that readers can identify with the mundane details, but also that the novel is sounding a clear warning bell. During the Trump administration, there were constant attacks on the progress made by LGBTQIA+ folx. And, President Miller is very clearly a satirization of Mike Pence--down to his discomfort about being around women who are not his wife and in his tendency to call his wife "mother."
Here's hoping that this novel doesn't become as prophetic as Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale seems at times; instead, I hope people read Rainbow Plague and realize how quickly things can turn around again. The novel is a disturbing reminder that we can't be complacent and assume things can't be turned back on a grand scale.
Rainbow Plague by Lia Athena is not an easy read for this 50-something queer person, but it is a novel that has great value for the young adults and teens who may have forgotten about the horrors of conversion therapy and about the major milestones achieved by the LGBTQIA+ community in the last few decades.
Maia's story is told in first person for the most part, with sections in bold indicating a departure from her point of view to that of President Miller. Her voice is clear, and the level of detail in her descriptions makes the story and its setting incredibly vivid to the reader. Maia, along with other teens, has been relocated to a camp somewhere with the goal of "curing" them of their queerness. Maia's character is well-developed, and as we read the novel we learn about her relationship with Aimee (her girlfriend), her parents, and her little sister Janice (nicknamed "Jam"). The reader easily identifies with and empathizes with Maia from the beginning, and as we all settle into her new life at the camp, we meet other characters who are also individuals. Details like how one of the characters is a YouTube celebrity whose shocking pink hair has been shaved off (even though she's female and baldness certainly doesn't fit the camp's idea of feminine beauty) help readers situate themselves in the near future of 2026.
That the book is set only a few years from now--two years into the next presidential term--is important to the overall impact. Not only does the timeframe mean that readers can identify with the mundane details, but also that the novel is sounding a clear warning bell. During the Trump administration, there were constant attacks on the progress made by LGBTQIA+ folx. And, President Miller is very clearly a satirization of Mike Pence--down to his discomfort about being around women who are not his wife and in his tendency to call his wife "mother."
Here's hoping that this novel doesn't become as prophetic as Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale seems at times; instead, I hope people read Rainbow Plague and realize how quickly things can turn around again. The novel is a disturbing reminder that we can't be complacent and assume things can't be turned back on a grand scale.
February 28, 2022
Bought this in Seoul.....i am a begining english learner...easy to read n very dramatic story.....i was amazed this writer's age. I hope to read next book.
February 1, 2022
There was a few points where I had to set this book down and come back to it because the story got very heavy at times. While saying that though, I would recommend others to read this thought provoking story. Maia's story really made me think about what I want to stand for as a person and how you can be strong even when you feel at your weakest. I really enjoyed this books message of staying true to yourself.
Thanks Lia for sending me a copy of your book!
Thanks Lia for sending me a copy of your book!
December 30, 2021
Powerful, yet calm, this story revealed a twisted reality of a radically conservative America that might not be too far off from our current track, now that I think about it. I appreciated how the characters encapsulated and exaggerated many of today’s positive and negative stereotypes while creating internal struggles within themselves at certain times. In addition to the vivid descriptions that brought these characters alive, this made the story much more relatable and dynamic.
I also enjoyed how the entire book conveyed a nostalgic as well as fresh perspective on warring, societal factions. Nostalgic because of the dystopian tone the story immediately sets (which kind of reminds me of Red Dawn), and fresh due to the inclusion of current issues like LGBTQ+ rights and dismantling patriarchal systems. However, my favorite aspect is the persistent glimmer of hope that kept me wanting to know what’s on the next page. There needs to be more books like this out there; queer young adult novels are what is going to inspire generations to come.
I also enjoyed how the entire book conveyed a nostalgic as well as fresh perspective on warring, societal factions. Nostalgic because of the dystopian tone the story immediately sets (which kind of reminds me of Red Dawn), and fresh due to the inclusion of current issues like LGBTQ+ rights and dismantling patriarchal systems. However, my favorite aspect is the persistent glimmer of hope that kept me wanting to know what’s on the next page. There needs to be more books like this out there; queer young adult novels are what is going to inspire generations to come.
December 3, 2021
When a right-wing president cancels gay marriage and sends gun-toting “morality guards” out to purify the nation, the future looks bleak for Maia and the other young people she meets in a reeducation camp where she’s at the mercy of a sadistic general and her staff of crackpot shrinks. By turns shocking, stirring, and satirical, her story makes for a gripping read.
April 20, 2022
Abrupt and unsatisfying ending, but fantastic book. A sequel would solve that! Please write it 😆
October 31, 2021
I enjoyed this story conceptually. However, I think it needs a lot more work in order to get to a point where I would give it rating higher than 2/5 for a few reasons. Before I get into those, let me outline the good bits. I love the fact that this book clearly is a work important to the author and I respect that a lot. I also appreciate having more queer works added to YA. Finally, I think the strongest aspect of this book is the flashback component. Personally, while I found the majority of the book more in the 2 stars range, I felt that the flashbacks were miles away better than the prose of the main story. Specifically, the portion of the book covering Maia's getting lost with her little sister was excellent. If that were a short story in itself I would buy it without a second's hesitation.
As for the rest of it, I would divide my issues into three components. First, the characters (including the protagonist) felt quite shallow at times and often seemed like means to an end for the plot. Second, the plot itself didn't feel compelling. The story's ending felt very deus ex machina to me. Third, I felt incredibly confused at the nature of the story's antagonist forces. They seemed to represent almost satirical compilations of various "bad" people in real life and had some components of their character that felt gratuitous in a way that problematically leveraged anti-blackness (something that bothered me a lot as a black reader). Rest of the review has plot spoilers.
First the characters. I found myself constantly craving more details about Maia and her girlfriend. I get little by way of detail about either of them. Even minor things like their lives before the camps feel somewhat like a mystery to me. Curiously, Maia goes out of her way to ask other side characters questions about their lives, and constantly rants internally about her life, but doesn't give much detail. These internal monologues came off very much as purple prose. This is not because the emotions expressed weren't valid, but rather because much of the prose concerning Maia, her thoughts, and her reactions felt very very drawn out, often with the same idea or notion repeated over and over across the page and then later in different sections.
For side characters, I felt like none of them were super distinct. Apart from their notably diverse characteristics, I didn't feel like, as a reader, I had a clear idea of how a lot of them worked as people. They all seemed to weirdly adjust strangely fast to living in a concentration camp and, including Maia, all of the characters seemed to develop bravery quite easily despite the threat of death looming over them. I would have loved to see more contract between people's lives before the camp, e.g. people with homophobic parents, people who weren't out but somehow were identified by the algorithm, etc.
Next, the plot. Looking at the camps, I understand the main idea behind them. The details of their operation felt sparse and sprinkled however. The main focus of the camps is on Maia's experiences with the other gay prisoners. Then, we get occasional references to how the bisexual programming works, and it seems weirdly lax (just writing letters to pen pals). While the author makes a point to talk about programming for trans, intersex, and ace people, I dont really get much in terms of how their experiences happen uniquely in the camp. Obviously the book cant be 1000 pages, but I think a lot of the rules of the camp seemed very much tied to gay teenagers despite the book frequently noting queer people of all types were at this particular camp.
I didn't like the entire escape plot. It felt very convenient that a trans man who had never been mentioned prior just happened to be conveniently pregnant for the plot. It seemed odd for the author to point to rape as the cause of that pregnancy but then quickly move on to the escape and not examine the impact of that on the character. He could have very easily have been pregnant voluntarily. Instead, it felt like the book was simply using an instance of trauma as a means to an end rather than really doing it justice. This was a consistent element with many aspects of action in the story. Maia is frequently conveniently able to quickly attack trained soldiers and even manages to beat up a General for several blows before people stopped by anyone. Guards are taken out with relative ease despite their not being able to be taken out when swarmed by kids in the early parts of the book. The ending of the book quickly rushed through a variety of events, showing very little of the adult camp despite constantly noting the brutality people experienced was much worse. The bracelets themselves have a convenient, exploitable feature. A teen just happens to be an expert in cryptography and his parents manage to communicate with a rebel group that happens to be able to bribe a guard and communicate with him. Every crucial element to plot movement felt thrown in. Even Maia's knowledge felt conveniently added in to dialogue while other prisoner's questioned her plans, as if the author anticipated objections to the convenience of things and wrote an in-lore explanation for why everything made sense (see the conversation about there likely only being one model of prisoner bracelet).
Finally, the antagonists. I want to talk about the President, because the way he was presented made me uncomfortable. I am queer black man, so I'm no stranger to the idea of white men fetishizing black men. However, what I don't appreciate is that the most representation black people got in the entire book was via the slave master daydream of a closeted homophobe. I only recall seeing one black character in passing within the book (someone who was forced to cut off dyed hair). If anything, I think there are more references to black hair and black holes than their are actual black people. The president feels incredibly tropic and his rise to power undetailed. He is for some reason midwestern and for some reason married to his mother...I think? It seems odd to center the book's history around real life events (Trump, fox news, mentions of real life social media networks) and then create a main villain so cartoonish, ridiculous, and disconnected from real life political events. I don't have a problem with him being closeted, if anything, I expected it. But it feels a bit gross to leverage this slave master / slave dynamic to make his character seem deeply evil when he already has plenty of evil to work with.
This was a common theme; I frequently felt like trauma that wasn't Maia's was instrumentalized for the plot. Trans characters became a means to an end while Maia consistently navigated the camp with a very biological essentialist mindset, making it weird that she painted herself as being very understanding in her own head. Maybe this was an intentional flaw. But, it wasn't presented in a way that makes me think so.
As for the other antagonists in the camp, they felt somewhat formless but fine. Like I said earlier, they all seem simultaneously competent enough to orchestrate this mass capture of 15% of the population but too incompetent to not get beat up by a drugged (if the drugs were even real) teenager. It felt odd that women were in charge of this traditional values espousing camp as well. Normally, I would give the author credit for sewing internal inconsistencies into a very Christian ideology, but these inconsistencies feel more like mistaken writing and not intentional to the plot.
I have a lot of other thoughts but I'll stop there. I think this book is something that could be reworked into a really really strong read. As things are, I simply don't feel compelled by almost any part of it. The flashback sequences were great, but almost every other part really needs work. I think the roots of something incredible are there though, and I sincerely hope the author keeps writing queer-centric work in the future.
As for the rest of it, I would divide my issues into three components. First, the characters (including the protagonist) felt quite shallow at times and often seemed like means to an end for the plot. Second, the plot itself didn't feel compelling. The story's ending felt very deus ex machina to me. Third, I felt incredibly confused at the nature of the story's antagonist forces. They seemed to represent almost satirical compilations of various "bad" people in real life and had some components of their character that felt gratuitous in a way that problematically leveraged anti-blackness (something that bothered me a lot as a black reader). Rest of the review has plot spoilers.
First the characters. I found myself constantly craving more details about Maia and her girlfriend. I get little by way of detail about either of them. Even minor things like their lives before the camps feel somewhat like a mystery to me. Curiously, Maia goes out of her way to ask other side characters questions about their lives, and constantly rants internally about her life, but doesn't give much detail. These internal monologues came off very much as purple prose. This is not because the emotions expressed weren't valid, but rather because much of the prose concerning Maia, her thoughts, and her reactions felt very very drawn out, often with the same idea or notion repeated over and over across the page and then later in different sections.
For side characters, I felt like none of them were super distinct. Apart from their notably diverse characteristics, I didn't feel like, as a reader, I had a clear idea of how a lot of them worked as people. They all seemed to weirdly adjust strangely fast to living in a concentration camp and, including Maia, all of the characters seemed to develop bravery quite easily despite the threat of death looming over them. I would have loved to see more contract between people's lives before the camp, e.g. people with homophobic parents, people who weren't out but somehow were identified by the algorithm, etc.
Next, the plot. Looking at the camps, I understand the main idea behind them. The details of their operation felt sparse and sprinkled however. The main focus of the camps is on Maia's experiences with the other gay prisoners. Then, we get occasional references to how the bisexual programming works, and it seems weirdly lax (just writing letters to pen pals). While the author makes a point to talk about programming for trans, intersex, and ace people, I dont really get much in terms of how their experiences happen uniquely in the camp. Obviously the book cant be 1000 pages, but I think a lot of the rules of the camp seemed very much tied to gay teenagers despite the book frequently noting queer people of all types were at this particular camp.
I didn't like the entire escape plot. It felt very convenient that a trans man who had never been mentioned prior just happened to be conveniently pregnant for the plot. It seemed odd for the author to point to rape as the cause of that pregnancy but then quickly move on to the escape and not examine the impact of that on the character. He could have very easily have been pregnant voluntarily. Instead, it felt like the book was simply using an instance of trauma as a means to an end rather than really doing it justice. This was a consistent element with many aspects of action in the story. Maia is frequently conveniently able to quickly attack trained soldiers and even manages to beat up a General for several blows before people stopped by anyone. Guards are taken out with relative ease despite their not being able to be taken out when swarmed by kids in the early parts of the book. The ending of the book quickly rushed through a variety of events, showing very little of the adult camp despite constantly noting the brutality people experienced was much worse. The bracelets themselves have a convenient, exploitable feature. A teen just happens to be an expert in cryptography and his parents manage to communicate with a rebel group that happens to be able to bribe a guard and communicate with him. Every crucial element to plot movement felt thrown in. Even Maia's knowledge felt conveniently added in to dialogue while other prisoner's questioned her plans, as if the author anticipated objections to the convenience of things and wrote an in-lore explanation for why everything made sense (see the conversation about there likely only being one model of prisoner bracelet).
Finally, the antagonists. I want to talk about the President, because the way he was presented made me uncomfortable. I am queer black man, so I'm no stranger to the idea of white men fetishizing black men. However, what I don't appreciate is that the most representation black people got in the entire book was via the slave master daydream of a closeted homophobe. I only recall seeing one black character in passing within the book (someone who was forced to cut off dyed hair). If anything, I think there are more references to black hair and black holes than their are actual black people. The president feels incredibly tropic and his rise to power undetailed. He is for some reason midwestern and for some reason married to his mother...I think? It seems odd to center the book's history around real life events (Trump, fox news, mentions of real life social media networks) and then create a main villain so cartoonish, ridiculous, and disconnected from real life political events. I don't have a problem with him being closeted, if anything, I expected it. But it feels a bit gross to leverage this slave master / slave dynamic to make his character seem deeply evil when he already has plenty of evil to work with.
This was a common theme; I frequently felt like trauma that wasn't Maia's was instrumentalized for the plot. Trans characters became a means to an end while Maia consistently navigated the camp with a very biological essentialist mindset, making it weird that she painted herself as being very understanding in her own head. Maybe this was an intentional flaw. But, it wasn't presented in a way that makes me think so.
As for the other antagonists in the camp, they felt somewhat formless but fine. Like I said earlier, they all seem simultaneously competent enough to orchestrate this mass capture of 15% of the population but too incompetent to not get beat up by a drugged (if the drugs were even real) teenager. It felt odd that women were in charge of this traditional values espousing camp as well. Normally, I would give the author credit for sewing internal inconsistencies into a very Christian ideology, but these inconsistencies feel more like mistaken writing and not intentional to the plot.
I have a lot of other thoughts but I'll stop there. I think this book is something that could be reworked into a really really strong read. As things are, I simply don't feel compelled by almost any part of it. The flashback sequences were great, but almost every other part really needs work. I think the roots of something incredible are there though, and I sincerely hope the author keeps writing queer-centric work in the future.
January 9, 2022
Beautiful, charming, creepy.
January 7, 2022
Having the fortune of talking to Lia and reading one of her novellas, and now Rainbow Plague, I can say she has a talent for imagining unique plots. She writes things that are different than what I'm used to.
There were a number of errors that the editor didn't pick up, but just ignore them and keep reading.
The protagonist rambles and repeats herself a lot, which I don't love, but others might.
There is a lot of excitement in the book which kept me interested and entertained.
I look forward to reading more books by Lia :)
There were a number of errors that the editor didn't pick up, but just ignore them and keep reading.
The protagonist rambles and repeats herself a lot, which I don't love, but others might.
There is a lot of excitement in the book which kept me interested and entertained.
I look forward to reading more books by Lia :)
September 16, 2022
A powerful, heart wrenching dystopian story dealing with important topics relevant to today’s world.
January 31, 2022
Rainbow Plague is a dystopian YA novel set in 2026 when the president of the United States forces all LGBT+ people into conversion camps. The story follows Maia, a 17 year old girl, as she is taken from her home, watches her girlfriend die, and is forced into one of these camps. She undergoes brutal therapies design to break her down until she no longer recognizes herself. Will she be able to survive this horrifying camp? Will she ever get out?
Parts of this book were really interesting and well done. Some of the writing could have used more editing in my opinion. It does not shy away from the horrors of a situation like this. I would definitely look at trigger warnings and go into this book knowing it is not a happy story. The amount of detail given to the conversion therapy kept me from enjoying the reading experience. While there is a message of hope, this is not an easy book to read.
As a queer person, reading about the violence towards queer people and the conversion techniques so explicitly was not the best for my mental health.
Parts of this book were really interesting and well done. Some of the writing could have used more editing in my opinion. It does not shy away from the horrors of a situation like this. I would definitely look at trigger warnings and go into this book knowing it is not a happy story. The amount of detail given to the conversion therapy kept me from enjoying the reading experience. While there is a message of hope, this is not an easy book to read.
As a queer person, reading about the violence towards queer people and the conversion techniques so explicitly was not the best for my mental health.
July 7, 2025
Every so often, a book comes along that redefines a genre. Rainbow Plague is that book for LGBTQ+ dystopian fiction. Lia Athena doesn’t just imagine a terrifying future she shows us a mirror of what happens when hate becomes policy and love becomes rebellion. And she does it through the eyes of a stunningly brave, heartbreakingly real protagonist.
Maia is the kind of heroine we need more of vulnerable but strong, broken but unyielding. Her love for her girlfriend is tender and fierce, and the pain of that loss is portrayed with gut-punch honesty. The themes of identity, systemic oppression, and the fight to hold onto oneself in the face of dehumanization are handled with care, intelligence, and deep empathy.
What I loved most is how this book empowers without preaching. It hurts, yes but it also heals. It reminds us that even when everything is taken, our truth is something no one can erase. Read it. Share it. Talk about it. Rainbow Plague is more than a book it’s a revolution.
Maia is the kind of heroine we need more of vulnerable but strong, broken but unyielding. Her love for her girlfriend is tender and fierce, and the pain of that loss is portrayed with gut-punch honesty. The themes of identity, systemic oppression, and the fight to hold onto oneself in the face of dehumanization are handled with care, intelligence, and deep empathy.
What I loved most is how this book empowers without preaching. It hurts, yes but it also heals. It reminds us that even when everything is taken, our truth is something no one can erase. Read it. Share it. Talk about it. Rainbow Plague is more than a book it’s a revolution.
July 7, 2025
I finished Rainbow Plague with tears in my eyes and fire in my chest. It’s hard to describe the emotional journey this book takes you on because it’s so deeply human, so heartbreakingly real. Maia’s story is one of unimaginable cruelty, but also of extraordinary strength. Lia Athena writes with a tenderness and precision that makes every moment matter. The beauty of this book lies not just in the pain it portrays, but in the resilience it celebrates.
This story is especially powerful for young readers, but its impact stretches beyond age. As someone who has watched the political discourse surrounding LGBTQIA+ rights grow increasingly hostile, the events of this book feel disturbingly possible. And that’s why it matters. It speaks truth in a way that is painful but necessary. It doesn’t shy away from darkness but it shows how light can still survive.
This is one of the most important novels I’ve read in years. Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, and ultimately empowering, Rainbow Plague deserves every bit of praise it gets. Lia Athena is a name we’ll be seeing a lot more of.
This story is especially powerful for young readers, but its impact stretches beyond age. As someone who has watched the political discourse surrounding LGBTQIA+ rights grow increasingly hostile, the events of this book feel disturbingly possible. And that’s why it matters. It speaks truth in a way that is painful but necessary. It doesn’t shy away from darkness but it shows how light can still survive.
This is one of the most important novels I’ve read in years. Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, and ultimately empowering, Rainbow Plague deserves every bit of praise it gets. Lia Athena is a name we’ll be seeing a lot more of.
July 7, 2025
Lia Athena's Rainbow Plague is the kind of novel that doesn't just tell a story it shakes you. From the opening pages, I was immersed in Maia's world, a world that is both heartbreakingly familiar and terrifyingly plausible. What makes this book stand out is its brutal honesty about where unchecked hatred and bigotry can lead. Maia is not only a beautifully drawn character she is real. Her struggles, her love, her grief, her resilience they pulse through the pages.
This book is unflinching. It doesn't sugarcoat the trauma, and yet it never feels exploitative. Instead, it gives voice to the voiceless and paints a picture of both tragedy and resistance. The parallels between this dystopian future and current social and political climates are impossible to ignore. It’s more than fiction; it's a wake-up call. I cried, I raged, and I felt empowered. Rainbow Plague is not just a story it’s a movement.
This book is unflinching. It doesn't sugarcoat the trauma, and yet it never feels exploitative. Instead, it gives voice to the voiceless and paints a picture of both tragedy and resistance. The parallels between this dystopian future and current social and political climates are impossible to ignore. It’s more than fiction; it's a wake-up call. I cried, I raged, and I felt empowered. Rainbow Plague is not just a story it’s a movement.
July 7, 2025
Rainbow Plague is not an easy read but it is an essential one. Lia Athena has created a dystopian novel that feels all too real in today’s socio-political climate. The world she builds is terrifying in its plausibility, and the story of Maia, a biracial gay teenager, caught in a government-led crusade to "cure" queerness, is raw and unforgettable.
The emotional intensity of this book is relentless in the best way. You feel Maia’s confusion, her grief, her desperation and most of all, her fierce refusal to be broken. What impressed me most is Athena’s ability to portray trauma without sensationalizing it. The scenes in the camp are painful, yes, but they are written with care and responsibility. They’re meant to disturb and they should.
This is not just YA fiction. This is a bold political commentary, a call to arms, and a fierce testament to the power of identity and resistance. Maia's voice will stay with me for a long time.
The emotional intensity of this book is relentless in the best way. You feel Maia’s confusion, her grief, her desperation and most of all, her fierce refusal to be broken. What impressed me most is Athena’s ability to portray trauma without sensationalizing it. The scenes in the camp are painful, yes, but they are written with care and responsibility. They’re meant to disturb and they should.
This is not just YA fiction. This is a bold political commentary, a call to arms, and a fierce testament to the power of identity and resistance. Maia's voice will stay with me for a long time.
November 16, 2023
Handmaid’s Tale meets Hunger Games and Red Dawn!
Powerful and heart-wrenching
I could not put this book down! It reads like a bestselling dystopian thriller and has the impact of delivering a strong social message. An incredible debut by a talented young writer. I hope there will be a sequel!
This is a GREAT READ!
Powerful and heart-wrenching
I could not put this book down! It reads like a bestselling dystopian thriller and has the impact of delivering a strong social message. An incredible debut by a talented young writer. I hope there will be a sequel!
This is a GREAT READ!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews