I love dystopian novels and this is one of the best I've come across. It really gives a fresh take on the genre, with brilliant, fast paced writing that kept me invested in the characters and wanting more!

It's set in a post apocalyptic world in a place called the Avalonia Zone. The Undying Tower is the first part of a trilogy and it is perfect for fans of Divergent series and Hunger games. This first installment sets up the series well and left me desperate to find out what's next for Sadie.

A great start for a new distopian series. A page turner with a great world building, interesting and fleshed out characters, and a compelling plot.
The author is a talented storyteller and i can't wait to read the next book in this series.
any thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I do love a good dystopian novel and this did not disappoint. I was pulled in right from the first line and could not put this down. I can't wait for the next installment. A must read.

This book had a really strong start, with a bit of dystopia and some really good world building. The first half was really fast paced and really gripping, but as the book went on I found my interest waning. It's a really shame, but characters reactions just started to feel out of place! It just wasn't for me.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver is another YA dystopian novel, but this one stands heads and shoulders above the pack! An incredible novel, one that I couldn't put down! I can't wait for the next two books in the series and just hope that the author follows through with the excitement.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

I wish I had more to say about this book. There's a good story here, but I felt that the world building wasn't there to support it. The background wasn't given to us in a way that I could make sense of, though I'm sure others did better than I did in that matter.

Sadie is an interesting character and she goes through a lot during the novel. It did feel like her fellow inmates trusted and made friends with her too quickly, but maybe they knew something was going on. I thought the synesthesia angle was really interesting - I've never seen it used before - but it seemed like Sadie had all the forms of it at once, and then at the climax when it might have been useful it just vanishes! That didn't make much sense to me, but maybe it'll be explained in the next book.

And I will definitely be reading the next one. Despite my (small!) problems, all of which I believe can be explained, I enjoyed the read and I'm excited to see what will happen next with Sadie and her friends.

Quote: "What if living forever was a death sentence?"

Summary/Description: The Avalonia Zone is in crisis after the discovery that a small percentage of the population has stopped ageing. The 'Undying' have been blamed for the state's problems, banished to the fringes of society and punished for every minor infraction. When Sadie takes the fall for an attack by a rebel group, The Alchemists, she suddenly finds herself wrenched away from her quiet life.

Pros: Incredible world building, lovable characters, simple and fast paced writing that's filled with action and suspense.

Cons: None really. This was an overall enjoyable read.

Content Warnings: ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ organ harvesting of minors ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

P.S. I received an arc copy to read and review before the official publishing of ths book. That being said this is an honest review with honest opinions.

"What if living forever was a death sentence?"

The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver was a really interesting YA Dystopian fiction set in Avalonia Zone. It's post apocalyptic world and Avalonia Zone was in Present day UK. The Undying Tower is the first part of a trilogy and it is perfect for fans of Divergent series and Hunger games. This first installment sets up the series pretty well.

I also got a few document's along with the proof which pertained to the story which was pretty cool. Files that are meant to be evidence for the outside world about the crimes committed in Avalonia Zone. The writing was articulate. The tone of the book was gritty. The characters were vivid. The plot was fast paced. The narration was in first person and had a non-linear timeline.

Sadie was a normal person until one day she was framed for bombing a gathering and was named a terrorist. She also found out that she was an Undying. Undying were people who didn't age or get disease and lived a very long life. But in this society with limited resources, they were unwanted and were lower class. They were not even considered a complete citizen. They were executed for the simplest of crimes.

The underage criminals were sent to the Tower. And this was where Sadie ended up. But she has a secret mission to bring down the Undying Terrorist group- The Alchemists from the Beadles ( Police). She ends up discovering things she was not meant to know. She also makes the unlikeliest of friends and together they strive to make a difference. I loved all the aspects of the book. The ending was kind of a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next book.

If you like YA Dystopian fiction, you must give this one a go. You won't regret it.

This is the first in a new dystopian trilogy, and was a great introduction to the series. I loved the world building and characterisation and also the premise of this which was really interesting and thought provoking. The protagonist in this was relatable and realistic. This definitely gave me Hunger Games and Divergent vibes however managed to hold its own with the storyline and concept. I also thought the mentions of the previous world were clever, which is the world we know today, such as the mention of the London monuments and fall of empires. Will definitely be picking up the other two books when they come out!

This was a dystopian type read. It has that similar theme to a Hunger Games, or the Shailene Woolley dystopian trilogy. This one is about a small community that doesn’t age. It tells one girls story of survival up against some very high stakes circumstances. Definitely not my favorite type of genre, but I love trying new things. If you love books themed in a dystopian age and a fresh new concept than this will be the book for you!

I really enjoyed this book! It takes place in a dystopian society where there are now people with prolonged lifespans called the undying. The undying are treated very poorly given the most dangerous jobs and very little food and housing. They also are hanged for the simplest of crimes.

The main character Sadie is raised to think that these undying are criminals that deserve what happens to them. Her best friend Jasper tries to convince her that the undying are people too and deserve better. He wants to help them, but Sadie worries this will get him punished or worse. Sadie’s dad needs a new heart and trying to help him is her first priority.

Sadie’s world is turned upside down when someone sets off a bomb during a hanging of an undying that she attends. She soon learns that everything she thought she knew about her life was a lie. Sadie needs to decide who to trust and what is truly important to her. Her life and those around her depends on it!

This book was fast paced and had some exciting twists! I can’t wait to see what happens next with Sadie and the gang!

LOVE THIS BOOK!

I whipped through this book in a couple of settings. What a fantastic start to a new dystopian trilogy. I loved the main character Sadie. She had a really interesting character arc that was well delivered in all the right places. I loved that she had synaesthesia as I do too! It gave extra depth to her character and me the opportunity to identify with her more. This book is moving and emotion with all the right twists and turns. The plot races along never leaving a moment to put the book down! Can't wait to read the rest of this trilogy!

Avalonia is struggling. The population numbers are exceeding food and other resources. Not only this, but about 5% of the population are the undying; that is, although mortal, they can live indefinitely. So they are viewed with contempt, required to fulfil the most unpopular and dangerous low paid jobs and essentially discriminated against.
Sadie is on a journey of self-discovery. Born privileged, she is beginning to understand the politics of the world she lives in as well as the unjust treatment of some people. She is framed for setting up an explosion at a public event, learns she is a hidden undying and blackmailed into agreeing to be a spy whilst sent to the Tower- a detention centre for the young undying, too young to hang. What transpires is a bizarre and scary exposure to the strange goings on in the Tower.

This is a strong debut YA dystopian read, which is heavily political with a focus on persecution and exploitation. Sadie is a bold, yet modest individual who is learning on her feet. She needs to find out what happens in the Tower, who she can trust and make a call to escape when she can fulfil her quest. The story with its risk and fascinating world quickly hooks you in and sustains your interest as the story progresses. Often tense, it was thoroughly absorbing. Great supporting characters that are memorable and interesting. The 1st in a trilogy, so scope for further character and world building development, it proved a cracking read, with a satisfying denouement in readiness for book 2.

The first part in this dystopian trilogy starts off with a bang, literally! Sadie and her sick father are at an hanging when a bomb goes off and shes accused of planting it but worse still shes accused of being one of the undying. The undying are a group of people who dont age and stay as an early 20 year old, forever. This puts tremendous pressure on society so they must die.

I really enjoyed this book, its very atmospheric as you get transported to this world. I enjoyed the plotline. What I enjoyed most is that Sadie is not your typical heroine in a dystopian book, shes actually one of the bad guys on the side of the hangings. I say bad guys loosely as she has to fight the system shes been a part of. Brilliant read and im looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

This book was incredible. I was hooked from the very first chapter. It was set up so well and only pushed me on to read more (way past my bedtime, should I add).

I loved Sadie. She was a headstrong, sometimes unconfident protagonist with a love of sketching and her loved ones. I loved her arc throughout the book - her changing, learning new skills, and growing into herself. 

The concept of the undying and what that’s done to the community was so well thought out, clever and different. It was creepy - to see how the government treated people because of something they cannot change and it reminded me of some judgements we face in our own societies. 

The world was so well fleshed out, and it was a richly detailed dystopian world. It was easy to create a picture in my head about what it would be like to live in their world. It was also terrifying, especially as opinions about the different classes of society were were spilt down the middle. 

The plot twist was shocking. I did not expect it at all. The real reason for what the tower was used for was so dark, but also fascinating. I also loved how it related to Sadie’s life. It made Sadie and what she was doing mean so much more and we got to see her develop as a character as she tried to decide if to step over her morals. 

I struggled with the middle of the book. It kind of felt like nothing much was happening, and I got bored. However, the ending picked up and I’m glad I stuck it out. There was a certain event near the end which broke my heart and had me yelling at my kindle! So many twists and turns and reveals. One hell of a cliffhanger! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver is another YA dystopian novel, but this one stands heads and shoulders above the pack! Ms. Welliver has woven a tale of suspense, intrigue and horror at what people will do to one another in order to stay alive and relevant in society.

Sadie is part of the upper classes and is working hard to get into the Art stream in order to excel. She's also taking care of her ailing father, who needs a heart transplant. When she attends a Correction, which is a hanging of a person from the lower class (The Undying, who by some miracle of nature(?) don't age past their twenties and don't die by natural means, becoming a drag on society's resources), a bomb goes off and Sadie is caught in the aftermath and accused of setting it off...and being one of the Undying.

As Sadie is transported to The Tower, she meets some Undying teens and spends the next weeks learning about what actually goes on in this prison for them. It's a horror, one that she shouldn't be a part of as she tries to find out more about The Tower, the Undying and those that are in charge.

An incredible novel, one that I couldn't put down! I can't wait for the next two books in the series and just hope that the author follows through with the excitement and there is no disappointing, throwaway ending (I'm looking at you, #hungergames!) Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Agora Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Firstly I must state that I am an absolute sucker for dystopian YA books. The blurb for this book had me immediately intrigued and if it wasn’t for my pesky job I would’ve finished this book the same day I started it. Instead I finished it the following day and was then extremely annoyed with myself for not savouring the story. While I am very grateful to NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review, I am now experiencing the one downside to NetGalley and have to wait wait for any scrap of news in regards to the sequel - something I am eagerly anticipating.

I enjoyed the fact that that the main character Sadie didn’t start off as your typical strong-willed dystopian main character and instead had a more honest and realistic response to the uncomfortable truths with her society.

Also as someone who loves to draw, Sadie’s synaesthesia was a fantastic element that I thoroughly enjoyed visualising.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

In the Avalonian Zone there is a divide between the ‘normal’ citizens and the ‘Undying’ who have genetically evolved to stop ageing. The Undying are blamed for all the ills of society: the adults are executed for any minor infringement and the minors are imprisoned in remote facilities like the ‘Undying Tower’. 16-year-old Sadie has grown-up believing all the Avalonian propaganda about the Undying, until the moment an explosion tears apart her world and sends her to the Undying Tower. There, Sadie must discover the truth about her world and choose a side.

Sadie is not a particularly likeable character to start with. It’s very difficult not to compare any YA dystopian novel to ‘The Hunger Games’, and Sadie is no Katniss—she is a child of the Capitol, raised in privilege, who avoids even thinking about the injustice of her own world. It’s an interesting character trajectory, a bit more subtle than the usual ‘chosen one’ narrative, and possibly a more realistic response to facing uncomfortable truths about the society you’ve grown up in. Sadie also has synaesthesia, and I really enjoyed the colours of her world. The action is deftly scripted and the worldbuilding is rich and complex.

‘The Undying Tower’ is a wonderfully evocative title and, together with the retro cover design, gives this book a slightly surreal, horror-style appeal.

Perfect for fans of Ben Oliver’s ‘The Loop’ or Marisa Noelle’s ‘The Unadjusted’ series, ‘The Undying Tower’ is a compelling, thought-provoking read. Can’t wait for book 2!

I read this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Loved the idea of it and it kept me on tenterhooks at times. Great story line with some twists and turns thrown in
Really hope there will be a series and will follow this author

The Undying Tower is the first in a YA dystopian trilogy set in a future where a group of people, known as the Undying, cannot age. Immediately from starting this book I was hooked! The writing is fast-paced, throwing us instantly into action, with plenty of twists and unexpected reveals that truly made this a gripping read. The thing that most stood out to me about this book is it’s ability to discuss important themes of discrimination and inequality in a dystopian society that has hauntingly similar elements to our own.