I did not expect The Last Beekeeper to affect me the way it did, but this is one powerful story. It will truly make you think about what life could be like without pollinators and make you wonder if this is our future if we continue on the way we are.

The story has a bit of a dystopian vibe (perhaps an all too real one) but is a wonderful mix of family drama, mystery, and relationships. I wanted a little bit more after the ending, but overall, the ending was fantastic.

The Last Beekeeper is not to be missed in 2023. It's an incredible, powerful read that will leave you really thinking about the world's future.

Thank you Tor/Forge Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Four years later after spending time in the state juvenile-care system Sasha Severn’s returned to find the research her father buried in their bee farm.

Her father’s first parole hearing is scheduled in less than a month and she intends to unearth the documents he buried before his release.

When she gets to her farmhouse, however, she discovers a group of squatters have taken up residence there. There’s Ian, Gino, Halle who are in their mid-twenties, and Millie who’s in her fifties.

While trying to settle in, Sasha thinks she’s a bee. Or perhaps she imagined it. Even stranger, everyone who claims to have seen one mysteriously disappears.

Thank you to Julie Carrick Dalton, NetGalley, and Forge Books for the arc of this book.

A bit of speculative fiction, a bit of sci fy and dystopia... add some mystery and twists and you have a perfect thriller for those who love to explore what might come next in climate change.

Sasha is the daughter of the last beekeeper. Her father sits in jail not speaking and she grew up in children's homes because of it. When she is finally old enough to strike out on her own she moves to the only place she knows - the place where there once were bees. In her old home she finds squatters around her age and she does her best to be absorbed by the group. But all of them have secrets they keep from each other, Is Sasha's too big for the group to handle? When she sees a bee, after years of extinction, out in the forest, she knows she needs to make a choice. If you love thrilling science fiction, dystopia and romance, or just love books about bees (don't we all?) Then The Last Beekeeper is for you!
#Tor #TorForge #TheLastBeekeeper #JulieCarrickDalton

This read like a historical fiction despite not having happened (yet). This story gave me a creeping anxiety because destroying the bees is the path we are already on, and our world will be bleak without the bees. Wonderful book, beautifully written and a message we all must attend to.

Dalton delivers an enriching story of the value of family and friends while weaving in a disturbing look at what the future might look like without bees. I enjoyed the mystery that unfolds as the protagonist recollects the past and unveils the secrets of her estranged father. The writing style drew me in with well-developed characters and lyrical prose.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton was a brilliantly written novel!

The writing is beautiful and so descriptive.
This book was so atmospheric and I really enjoyed the talk of climate change and the honeybees and their existences.
The added mystery was a major plus and icing on the top for me.
Dalton's lyrical writing shows the relationship between us as people and nature and the power of secerts.
This was a very powerful sophomore novel, and I look forward to more books from the author.

Now I'm getting onto the Kindle Store to purchase her debut title Waiting for the Night Song!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Tor Publishing & Forge Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

The last beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton is such an amazing story to read and I am grateful to Netgalley and Carrick Dalton for letting me read it! It is about a world where bees are extinct, and the aftermath, where humans have to make do and, at the same time, are trying to find solutions to this catastrophe. The story revolves around Sasha Severn, who returns to her childhood home in order to find the research her father, the infamous Last Beekeeper, hid before he went to jail. As she returns she finds herself again at home with security and contentment. But just as she is settling in, she thinks she spots a bee. Was it her vivid imagination or real? And why does everyone who claim to have seen one, disappear?

This was such an important story in today’s world of climate crisis and its consequences. Carrick Dalton writes so well that I was sad when the story ended, I just wanted it to continue. Such thought provoking writing. Recommended reading for everyone!

The Last Beekeeper is a novel set in the near future where all the bees have disappeared. A young girl has returned to her family home to seek the answers that her father (The Last Beekeeper) took to jail to protect the remaining bees and his plans to continue their existence . A beautifully written story, well developed characters and a book that will make you think more of what we need to be doing to protect our environment. A highly recommendable book.