This is a duology that I’ll be reviewing together. Why? Because I’m lazy and don’t want to make separate reviews. I used to do this a lot for series, but then I started reading a lot of unfinished series and was unable to do that anymore. Maybe I’ll go back to this style if I binge more completed series.

No spoilers. Onto the review!

A long time ago, I got a advanced ebook copy of the first book in this duology, then I got the second one when that was coming out. I just now got around to reading them. I kept saying I wanted to, because they sounded really cool, but I kept putting it off for some reason. I promise I’m trying to read my review copies, albeit slowly.

This duology is set in our world, but after some sort of virus has made some people become shapeshifters. And by shapeshifters I mean they turn into animals and go crazy. In response, the government built a huge wall around the infected city, Orion, and locked it down until the virus is cured.

Our main character, Courtney, works at a coffee shop on the west side of town. She was a little kid when the wall was built, so she never really had a chance to travel, and now she’s stuck.

One day, a customer comes in and leaves a switchblade as a tip. Everyone is freaked out by him except Courtney, who just thinks he’s a little strange. Then one day there’s a hold up at the coffee shop while Courtney is working and she gets dragged into the nonsense.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this duology, because the actual summary is so vague. But I quite enjoyed it. So much so that I read both of them over the course of just three days. I couldn’t tell you how I did that. It just sort of happened. It helps that these are fast paced books that’ll keep you hooked so you don’t want to stop reading before bed.

What did I love so much? Obviously, the first thing that caught my eye was the shapeshifting. If I could turn into a fox for real, I would. No more human problems. Just a cute little fox that hunts in the woods and occasionally wants pets from its humans. That would be me.

Although it’s not that mundane in these books. When someone gets infected with the virus and turns into an animal, they go totally nuts. Most of the animals they turn into are big animals like a bear or a crocodile, which could really hurt a lot of people. Hence why they’re so desperate for a cure.

This duology is marketed as YA, and I guess? Though it is pretty violent, especially once you get to book two. It’s like how Arcane is marketed to teens sometimes, even though people are always getting hurt and some serious topics are explored. I mean, one of the main characters just straight up forgives a murderer because he had good intentions. You just kinda have to roll with it and assume it’ll all work out in the end.

I can definitely see this appealing to all of you who read the hunger games and never got over them. I cannot tell you how many people I’ve met working at the library who are specifically hunting for a book series that will fill the hunger games shaped hole in their lives. This could be that, so go ahead and give it a try if you think it sounds cool.

A walled city is becoming increasingly common in dystopian fiction, so I won't say that this is a truly unique premise but it does take the plot in some interesting directions. There's a lot of promise here that the book doesn't really live up to. Characters are flat or inconsistent. The plot is a bit scattered and fails to maintain engagement as the book progresses.

A great dystopian book filled with mystery. This book was great.


Thank you netgalley for letting me read this book.

Look, I love an enigmatic man as much as the next person but W is genuinely the worst. He basically gaslights Courney into doubting her entire lifestyle. You can have a character who opens the eyes of another without it coming across as patronising mansplaining. Additionally, if the girl was bright enough to get to med school she is definitely bright enough to follow W's "alternative" philosophies, yet she often comes across as practically infantile in his presence.
The characterisation of W and his major role in the novel was a huge shame as it really impacted my enjoyment. The actual plot is interesting! The idea of the quarantined city and the mysterious transforming virus are all good elements. Fox's descriptions were also very appealing and built an almost peotic atmosphere at times.
Overall, I am sure the positives of this book were enough to make it a fun read for others but I just couldn't endure the pages of W and his "interesting ideas".

I read this book a while ago and forgot to leave feedback. I picked it up again to reread and enjoyed it once again. I loved the character and the pilot.

While I liked the concept of this book in theory once it was read it became harder to swallow. The setting was unrealistic and since this was the driving plot point it made the story harder to read.

This book was really exciting and fun. I love anything dystopia or scifi, and this was a little bit of both. Highly recommend it.

i requested this off netgalley, both the cover and description had me curious.
i liked it it was kinda slow at times tho, and i thought about dnf the book bc i wasnt that interested in what was happenin and it wasnt grabbing my attention but at same time i was curious to know what was going to happened and i also wanted asnwers, the characters arent bad or anoying i actually like W hes very mysterious and interesting to read about. i like courtney and her friend dina too and their friendship. jasper i like him but not as courtneys bf. courtneys relationship with her dad while i do understand it i also wanted her to give him a chance. the book is mostly told with courtneys point of view. sometimes we get point of view of jasper and the doctor. i think we also get one or 2 times W point of view. i liked the idea of the book, the virus and the craziness that makes people change into animals usually. also like that some people change to different things like the giant. i might read the sequel bc i am curious to know how this is gonna end and if they are able to stop whats happening and save the city and people. and to see courtney workin with her friend and where they stand and what they will do etc. there isnt romance in this book, or should i say there is but kinda hidden and not in your face. we also got some asnwers concerning some characters and what happens to changers. its a good easy and fast pace read with likeable and mysterious characters. but i must be in a reading slump that it was taking me longer to read it and i wasnt enjoying it as much as i shouldve!

This was a very interesting story. I would love to see a movie or tv show about it as it made me want to see it live and with real people. I think anyone who loved comic books or superhero is going to fall for this one! I know I did. I can not wait to get my hands on book two.

☆☆☆☆ /5
(English below)

Malgré un début plutôt lent, l’autrice m’a totalement emportée dans son récit aux allures dystopiques et de fantasy.
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La ville d’Orion est en lock-out depuis dix ans. Courtney Spencer, une barista désabusée vouée à vivre une vie « normale » dans un bocal à poissons en quarantaine, est certaine qu'elle ne reverra plus jamais le Mur.
Jusqu'à ce qu'un soir pluvieux, Courtney se lie d'amitié par inadvertance avec W, un client excentrique qui laisse un cran d'arrêt dans le pot de pourboire. La connaissance inattendue ouvre bientôt la porte à une série effrayante de questions qui bouleversent tout ce qu'elle sait. Trébuchant dans un monde de secrets, de mensonges et de vérités troublantes, Courtney est aux prises avec une tentation brûlante de regarder à nouveau le Mur. Entourée de citoyens entraînés à ignorer son ombre imminente, Courtney n'en peut plus. Intriguée et terrifiée à l'idée d'élargir son monde, Courtney se retrouve sur le fil du couteau entre la loi et la justice, apprenant rapidement que les deux ne sont pas toujours compatibles.
Elle veut s'accrocher à sa morale. Elle veut aussi rester en vie. Mais surtout, elle veut revoir un certain client, même si tout lui dit que W est dangereux.
¤
Au début, j’avoue avoir ressenti un peu d’ennui. Le début est assez introductif. L’autrice prend le temps de nous présenter Courtney et le contexte dans lequel se retrouve la ville d’Orion. C’était intéressant de savoir pourquoi la ville était en confinement depuis toutes ses années et j’ai apprécié découvrir le personnage de Courtney.
Ce qui m’a le plus marqué dans le personnage de la jeune femme, c’est sa normalité et son humanité. C’est rare et ça fait du bien de voir un protagoniste qui ne sort pas forcément du lot, qui ne se place pas au-dessus des autres. Dans ce roman, on suit une protagoniste à la personnalité nuancée, avec autant de qualités et de défauts. J’ignore si je me suis attachée à Courtney et je pense que c’est une bonne chose car il y a autant de choses qui m’ont fait l’aimer que des choses qui m’ont fait la détester. Et c’est pour ça que je la trouve vraiment humaine.
Passés les premiers chapitres, le rythme commence à s’accélérer et l’intrigue se dessine. L’autrice installe une certaine tension dans son récit que c’en est prenant pour le lecteur. Les mystères s’épaississent et les révélations arrivent petit à petit. Bien que j’ai pu prévoir quelques événements, le reste du texte était imprévisible.
L’univers est sombre, complexe et complet. J’ai apprécié les descriptions qu’en faisait l’autrice. Également, je dois dire que j’ai passé un agréable moment en compagnie de tous ses personnages fort intéressants.
Finalement, ce roman fut une bonne lecture dans une ville dangereuse qui renferme plein de secrets. Les aventures de Courtney m’ont entraînée.

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ENGLISH REVIEW:

Despite a rather slow start, the author totally carried me away in her dystopian and fantasy-like tale.
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Orion City has been on lockdown for ten years. Courtney Spencer, a disillusioned barista doomed to live a “normal” life in a quarantined fishbowl, is certain she’ll never see over the Wall again.
Until one rainy evening, Courtney unintentionally befriends W, an eccentric customer who leaves a switchblade in the tip jar. The unexpected acquaintance soon opens to the door to a frightening string of questions that flips everything she knows upside down. Stumbling into a world of secrets, lies, and disturbing truths, Courtney grapples with a burning temptation to look again at the Wall. Surrounded by citizens trained to ignore its looming shadow, Courtney no longer can. Intrigued and terrified to expand her world, Courtney finds herself toeing a knife’s edge between the law and justice, learning quickly that the two are not always compatible.
She wants to cling to her morals. She also wants to stay alive. But most of all, she wants to see a certain customer again, despite everything in her whispering W is dangerous.
¤
At first, I admit that I felt a little bored. The beginning is quite introductory. The author takes the time to introduce us to Courtney and to the context in which the city of Orion finds itself. It was interesting to know why the city had been in lockdown all of its years and I enjoyed learning about Courtney's character.
What struck me the most about the character of the young woman was her normalcy and her humanity. It's rare and it feels good to see a protagonist who doesn't necessarily stand out, who doesn't put herself above the rest. In this story, we follow a protagonist with a nuanced personality, with so many qualities and faults. I don't know if I got attached to Courtney and I think that's a good thing because there are as many things that made me love her as things that made me hate her. And that's why I find her so human.
After the first few chapters, the pace begins to pick up and the plot takes shape. The author instills a certain tension in her story. The mysteries thicken and the revelations are coming little by little. Although I was able to predict a few events, the rest of the story was unpredictable.
The universe is dark, complex, and complete. I liked the author's descriptions of it. Also, I have to say that I had a great time with all of these very interesting characters.
In the end, this book was a great read in a dangerous city that contains many secrets. Courtney's adventures have drawn me.

There is a plague in the city, a plague of shapeshifting. This isn't a world of magic and shapeshifting can't happen. In reaction to the plague the city is walled off, like Coventry. No one may leave. Strangely, outside information and entertainment are also blocked, effectively demoting the citizenry. There is no telecommuting here. As a reader I ask if this means that those outside know that the plague will eventually consume all. Courtney Spencer dropped out of med school because she couldn't stand the sight of blood and is working as a barista, marking time while she tries to reorganize her world.

A stranger comes into the café and strikes up a conversation. He comes back and their communication continues. He says cryptic things. He saves her from muggers. He might be a master criminal.

Meanwhile, over at the government research center we overhear the scientists who are trying to figure out the plague. Or did they cause it? Hmmm. In any case they capture, test, and eventually euthanize the shifters.

This is a debut novel and it's a pretty good one. Pacing slows a bit in the middle but picks up again. It ends on a cliffhanger so we will have to wait for the sequel to see what happens.

Some of the blurbs make this a YA story. There isn't any strong sex or violence but the euthanasia is kind of grim for a young reader.

Of course, is this only my personal opinion on the book and just because I give this rating to the book doesn’t mean, that everyone will have that opinion. Thanks to the publisher for providing me an ARC. This is an honest review and the fact that this was an ARC does not change it.

It´s been a hot minute since I read a dystopian novel but this book was just right!
To be honest, I had some problems getting into the story first because I did not understand the whole city and quarantine situation but after like 5 chapters I understood more.
This book gave me the same vibes as Vicious by V.E. Schwab, even though both books are totally different.
I loved the character development of the main protagonist and I can’t wait for book two. This book really took me by surprise.
Really interesting plot, morally grey characters and character depth – what do I want more? I didn’t even miss the smut that I almost need in every book, but maybe there will be a few mild spicey scenes in book two. The book doesn’t have a hard focus on romance, in my opinion, and I loved that because most dystopian novels with a female lead that I have read, are all about which guy she will choose in the end . So this was a super nice new dystopian novel.

Conclusion
This book really took me by surprise!

I give 5 from 5 Stars

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Overall rating 3.5. First half was slow and nothing really happens. There was a lot of banter between characters that just wasn’t that interesting to me. This was character driven in the first half but felt repetitive with Courtney’s mundane life as a cafe barista. I'm guessing thats the point to highlight nothing interesting happens to her, that she has a bad relationship with her dad and her seemingly non dating life. Then something happens to break her routine and up pops cop Jasper and she’s going out with him.

Luckily the story redeemed itself in the second half with many plot revelations and the pacing picked up. The interactions with W the mysterious sugar guy got more interesting and the story headed in a direction I didn’t think it would which was great cause I was gearing up for a zombie type virus quarantine situation which would have been too typical. I’m happy to say This book is not that!

There is a love triangle in this but I loved the slow burn love interest with W way better. Nothing quite like a mysterious guy that saves your life!

Overall I am intrigued enough by the cliffhanger and unanswered questions to want to find out where the story is going and will be looking forward to the second book in this duology.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this ebook for review. All opinions are my own.

How are you always in the middle of everything weird that goes down in this city?

That’s what Courtney and her friends keep asking when Court’s life is suddenly shaken up after the interesting arrival of a new customer at the coffee shop where she works. This encounter begins a process of awakening something that has been lying dormant inside Courtney and challenges her to begin reevaluating the ideas she holds about her life’s direction.

I very much enjoyed reading T.D Fox’s ‘The Walls of Orion’. I found the characters to be compelling and well written. However, I did find at times the pacing of the story was slower then I wanted and there were some threads and questions that were still unanswered for me. I hope that these will be addressed in the second outing of this Duology.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself on this ride and despite the issues I found with pacing in the first 30% of the book I will certainly be buckling up for the next instalment of Courtney’s journey.

I love this book so much!! I’ve finished this book at 3 a.m, it has been months since that last happened, I just couldn’t stop reading!! The first half of the book was more to introduce the world and our main protagonist, Courtney, so behold because the last half of the book is pure adrenaline and surprises along the way. I just wasn’t prepared to what happened to Court, which is amazing to be surprised like that. I love the characters and can’t wait to read the sequence to get some answers and to have another journey with Courtney and her friends!!
Thank you NetGalley and T.D.Fox for this amazing book!!

I was conflicted before picking this book up, because this kind of dystopian-scifi-isolated town is not my usual read, but I'm so glad I picked it up! This book took away my hours of sleep but it was worth it lol.

Where should I start? Courtney's simple, mundane life turned upside down when she got entangled with a mysterious man called "W" (who seems to have a very, very sweet tooth). The gritty street of Orion is full of dangers and mysteries. As events unfurled around her, Courtney found herself in the very middle of a big scene going on in the dark isolated Orion.

I like this book more than I think I would. I enjoyed the investigation, the characters, the plot, and everything in it. I can almost feel the tension, pulsed beneath the very walls of Orion. Waiting for a right trigger...
Anywayyyy can't wait to read more of Courtney and W in book 2!!!

<< Review copy received via Netgalley in exchange for honest review >>

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the writing and world building in this novel. Courtney is a realistic depiction of a young girl living in a post apocalyptic world going through the motion of her life as she unconsciously wishes she could be more. She meets W and he opens a world of possibilities. While I enjoyed the writing,I wasn't crazy about the pace. At times very slow to build up to action scenes and surprising revelations. Perhaps the sequel will be more of a revelation.

4.5 stars

I got almost exactly what I wanted from this book, and that makes me happy.

Courtney lives in a city that has been under quarantine for 10 years. After dropping out of medical school Courtney thinks she is resigned to her life as a barista until a mysterious stranger drops a switchblade in her tip jar, and her world slowly spins upside down.

This book was awesome. The worldbuilding was excellent, the pacing was almost perfect, and the characters were decent. But what I liked the most was how T. D. Fox explored morals. The world is never black and white, but books often portray it that way. And sometimes that’s why we read books, because we need a break from our complicated world and can escape through reading. But when an author decides to explore the very complicated grey area in between right and wrong and does it very, very well, I am completely on board. Not to mention T. D. Fox decided to tackle this in her debut, which is practically unheard of. There is a depth to The Walls of Orion that I appreciated. And FYI the official synopsis is terrible. It makes it sound like some dark underground lusty illegal romance, which it is completely not. So don’t read the official synopsis, just read the book.

Now I know what you’re thinking: why not give it five stars? Because I didn’t care about the characters as much as I wanted to. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is very good, but I never felt like I actually got to know Courtney. I wanted to be her invisible best friend; to know what makes her tick, what she’s thinking, why she does what she does. I wanted to see inside her head, and I didn’t. I felt more like I was sitting on her shoulder; I could see what she did and hear what she said, but I didn’t know her the way that I wanted to, so I didn’t care about her as much as I wanted to. I know that this sounds very demanding for a debut novel, but it’s something too important for me to ignore. I hope and expect that as T. D. Fox continues to write she’ll get better at this, and I’m excited to see where she takes the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mature content: about 10 uses each of d*mn and sh*t. A decent amount of violence, including a man getting shot in the head, but not descriptive.

Recommended age: 13+

I wasn’t expecting much from this book even though it had an interesting premise but it ended up blowing me away! It was a really unique concept and while some things I saw coming, others things I expected to happen didn’t. Pretty much every time there’s a wall in a ya book I expect the main goal to be crossing the wall and escaping and yet in this book it wasn’t: I will say while we saw a shallow glimpse of many side characters, I wish we got more. I loved the main character and her growth and I’m so stoked to see what happens in book 2

Wow this book had everything I want no make that need in a story. A heroine that I could really get behind, a grey almost anti hero and its all set within a mixture of an urban fantasy and dystopian world. With secretive scientists supposedly searching for a cure ten long years has seen this locked down city survive and yet what is the cost ? Society survives and yet it's evolution has gone backwards. All are waiting for freedom but some know the lies told mean there is no real escape. So what happens when subversive vigilantes take a stand ? Enemies or superheroes, can anyone tell the difference ?
I loved this and truly cannot wait for the sequel. I won't give away the plot because it's a journey my fellow readers really need to take. Very different to anything I've read recently and a huge recommendation.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair