I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Willow, Liam, and Oliva are each likeable, well developed and work well together. I love the comic relife Olivia brings to an otherwise dark world with her sarcasm and wit. I love that Willow is a smart FMC and Liam is a broken flawed MMC that you can root for. There was some dialogue between the two that felt rushed and more of an info dump to move the relationship forward than an organic conversation but other than that I enjoyed their romantic subplot and loved what each of them brought to the table.

I liked the combination of a destroyed dystopian wasteland with restorative elemental magic. I felt like there were some consistency and logic issues that pulled me out of the story but at the end of the day I think this was a solid debut novel and O'Neal is an author to watch.


3.5 rounded up

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book didn’t hit the landing for me, there were issues in too many areas for me to enjoy the reading experience and become immersed in the story.

- while we’re in an apocalyptic setting with zombie like creatures, at no point did I feel any real sense or danger or urgency. I didn’t worry about our characters because I didn’t feel like they were ever really in danger

- too many plot conveniences/telling not showing. Problems were solved instantly and I didn’t form any attachment to the characters because everything was told instead of being shown by their actions

- the characters were very flat, again I didn’t feel like I was getting to know them much, especially Olivia who just popped up for a line or two to continue the story

- the magic and world building was not explained in a way that was compelling - this was such an interesting concept and I wanted to know way more, especially when they first left the city and were out in the wild.

*The Forgotten Earth* by Brilynn O'Neal explores a post-apocalyptic world where environmental collapse has left humanity struggling to survive. As a group of survivors navigates the remnants of the earth, themes of rediscovery, survival, and rebuilding lost knowledge emerge. The novel blends intriguing world-building with a focus on survival, but its pacing and character development may leave some readers wanting more.

While the concept of a forgotten earth and its ecological challenges is captivating, the pacing is uneven, and some sections feel slow or overly detailed. The characters, though interesting, aren't always fully developed, making it harder to connect with their journey. However, O'Neal excels at creating a vivid world, offering a fresh take on the consequences of environmental decline. Overall, *The Forgotten Earth* presents an engaging premise, but its execution may not resonate with everyone.

**Rating:** ★★★ (3/5)

If you enjoy strong world-building and environmental themes, *The Forgotten Earth* has its moments, but uneven pacing and character depth may limit its impact for some readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Regeneration Lives for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!

The Forgotten Earth feels like the start of something truly extraordinary. Brilynn O’Neal crafts a haunting world teetering on extinction—where plant life is a myth, the earth is barren, and humanity’s survival is a fragile thread. Compelling characters, rich world-building, and a plot that refuses to let go.

At the heart of this story is Willow, a fiercely intelligent protagonist with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Desperate to save her starving community, she risks everything to uncover forbidden truths hidden in ancient books—truths that could rewrite the future. Joining her is Liam, initially tasked with stopping her but instead becoming her unlikely ally, and Olivia, her unwavering best friend. Together, they ignite a rebellion that challenges the decaying status quo.

The characters are the soul of this book- complex, relatable, and brimming with life. Willow’s determination is infectious, Liam’s moral conflict adds depth, and Olivia’s loyalty ties it all together. The pacing kept me hooked, even if a few moments lingered longer than necessary. Every scene felt purposeful, and I devoured this story like a feast in a famine-stricken world.

O’Neal’s world-building is masterful, painting a stark yet vivid landscape of despair and hope. The contrast between the desolation of the earth and the vibrancy of knowledge and resistance is beautifully executed.

This book isn’t just a story—it’s a call to imagine what we could lose and fight for what matters most. I’m already counting the days until book two. If you love dystopian tales with high stakes, unforgettable characters, and a glimmer of hope in the darkness, The Forgotten Earth should be your next read. Highly recommend

The Forgotten Earth is a dystopian novel that follows two characters in alternating points of view. We learn about this desolate land from the points of Willow and Liam and their interactions with different characters. I wish there was more information about the background, why is the world like this, who are the Claeg, what is the motivation for all these characters. It was a super interesting premise I just was not hooked on the book. For fans of dystopian Earth, this will be a sure hit.

" He is fighting off a horde of flesh eating monsters, his wounds are so severe that he's dying, you are miles away and can feel him struggling to survive through your bond. With your new found powers you beg for the earth magic to save him "

The Forgotten Earth by Brylin O'Neal is a post-apocalyptic adventure with dystopian setting , dangerous creatures, magic, creating a fast-paced fun read. If you’re a fan of The Maze Runner, Fallout, or anything in the post-apocalyptic genre with supernatural elements, then you will probably like this book.

The story is set with humans on the brink of extinction. With the planet dying and the population fighting disease, starvation, and the Glaeg flesh a eating monster , making survival a daily battle. To make matters worse "The Elites" have taken control, enslaving the remaining humans and assigning them to roles within society. Our FMC Willow, works in a laboratory but secretly sneaks into a forbidden library to learn about the old world in the hope of finding a way to restore life to Earth.

Liam our brooding and deadly MMC has been sent by the Elites to kill our girl Willow. Liam is struggling with inner turmoil as he carries the weight of innocent blood on his hands, I mean ......we are introduced to Liam assassinating poor innocent people right off the rip 😅. When Liam meets Willow, he finds himself unable to carry out his mission. There's something about her that sparks hope, and he begins to question everything


A Gleag horde attack the city and Willow and her best friend, Olivia, seize the opportunity to escape. During their escape Willow gets caught by a Cleag. Liam finds and saves Willow from the Gleag, cutting off its head and dragging her back to safety. I mean who doesn't love a knight in not so shiny armor coming to save the day 😝

The only thing I would have liked more would have been more interaction or development between Willow and Liams relationship. I felt it was a quick and would have loved more ❤️

There is so much more about this book I loved and would love to discuss but I don't want to spoil it all 😂 guess you will have to read it 😘

Im excited for more books from this author! I love me a dystopian post-apocalyptic ride or die romance!!!

Post apocalyptic, or maybe more accurately mid-apocalyptic, this story has creatures that hunt humans, a ruler who fancies himself a new “Roman” emperor and a cast of rebels who try to bring life back to barren land. This is a great story for fantasy, sci-fi, and fans of the under dogs. I would love to read a sequel!

*PG-13 romantic scene

What a surprising read this was! Brilynn transports us into a dystopian world that is on the brink of extinction, humanity is dwindling and all plants have vanished. From the very first chapter I was drawn in and incredibly immersed the whole time.

I adored the beautiful references to plants and their uses, I definitely learnt something. The pacing of this story is fast and easy to follow although I wouldn’t mind if it were slower so I could spend more time with these wonderful characters and feel more depth to their journey/past experiences.

I have had 24hours to sit with this book before writing my review and I have so many questions!! (Book 2, please!!)

As I mentioned earlier in regards to the pacing of the story, it was extremely fast but that is not a bad thing as not all books need intense depth but I desperately wanted more, I could have read 600+ pages of this. I have so many questions about our main characters, the world itself but in hindsight I realise Brilynn has done a wonderful job setting up a universe that has captivated me and is definitely going to make me pick up book 2.

The Forgotten Earth releases on February 5th, 2025 and I want to thank NetGalley and Brilynn O’Neal for the opportunity to read this ARC

This is a unique and well written dystopian fantasy, with some dark and heavy themes throughout. For a debut novel, the world building is done well, but slowly throughout the story. I felt at times the book could have been a little faster paced but it held my interest the whole way and I am excited for the next book in the series!📚
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In a world where the dwindling human race is broken into a hierarchy and guarded against the Claeg, a nomadic group of monsters that arrived around the time plant life and vegetation died out across the world, Willow devotes her life to finding a way to bring back the greenery that once covered the earth providing food and medicine. Willow is driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to help those around her, even going so far as to evade the military and sneak out of the city and into the abandoned library of banned books in search of answers. However, when she is discovered by the military, the soldier sent to kill her finds himself fighting with her to bring back the rich green world she reads about setting them off on a journey in which they must trust and rely on one another to survive.
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Liam found himself a soldier in a regime that caused him to burry his morals deep down in order to carry out his orders and survive in their troubling world. When he and Willow are thrown together, he is surprised to find an intelligent, brave, and empathetic person who hasn’t been broken by their world of her desire to help others any way she can, even if it means risking her life or her safety to do so. Willow leads him to begin to hope for a different world. The characters are compelling and each have their own trauma and flaws they bring into the story. I enjoyed Willow and Liam’s character development and look forward to reading where O’Neal takes them with this series!!
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🌿Debut novel
✨Dystopian romantasy
🌿Dual POV
✨Open-door
🌿Trigger warnings
✨Banned books
🌿Green thumb
✨Opposing sides to partners/friends to lovers
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Thank you Brilynn O’Neal and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review!
Publishers release date 2/5/2025📚
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“It’s easy to take the things you value for granted and forget how easily they can be taken away. Humans are notoriously forgetful, and we’ve forgotten what we’ve lost.”
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“Books are dangerous. They give you ideas. They give you possibilities. They open doors. They allow you to see what the world could be. And most dangerous of all, they give you hope.”📚
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“I will fight for the world you dream of. I will fight with all I have to make sure you get the chance to live in that world.” 💐

Willow lives her life as a food scientist in a walled city - doing what she can to feed the less fortunate and trying to get as much information as she can from books. But when she attracts the attention of a soldier, Liam, her life changes...and the two must work together to survive what's next.

The book is a really interesting and unusual mix of fantasy and urban dystopian. The Claeg are interesting zombie-like antagonists, and the mix of the fantasy like elements of the plants the Fae and the urban dystopia (with a Mad Max style villain). I think some of the messages of the book, about the importance of caring for each other and our world, is incredibly timely.

Willow and Liam are both very three dimensional characters - Willow is compassionate, but a bit reckless, struggling with long term planning, while Liam is incredibly broody. I wish the rest of the characters had been given such depth. Almost every soldier is a one note character, threatening intimidation and rape, while there is a throwaway line about how Elites mistreat each other which is never really expounded on. What is really the benefit of being an Elite? How does the city of Tarraco survive without crops and by excluding much of the potential workforce? I wish these questions had been answered, and we'd gotten a bit more of a sense of a well-developed, nuanced world.

Set in the future. The earth is barren and food is created in labs. Willow sneaks around stealing books, which are forbidden, and Liam is a solider who is supposed to kill her. Then things in the city fall apart, and they end up having to work together to survive. They both have some kind of unexplained powers with Liam being something of a super soldier and Willow being able to grow plants by will alone. That is never really explained. The book marches on somewhat mechanically and quickly, the romance was unrealistic, and the ending was too abrupt. 2 stars because somehow I was engaged while reading it, but it was overall disappointing.

This book drew me in with its interesting and unique dystopian concept. The beginning started well and the plot moved along quickly enough. Also I liked that the FMC was intellectually inclined, which was refreshing to read.

While its evident that the author is a talented writer, i think the writing style was little too simple for a fantasy genre. There was not enough description as I was unable to picture this dystopian world. Everything felt a little too vague in my opinion. I also felt like the characters were a bit flat and cliched, for Olivia specifically. It was difficult to connect to these characters and want to read their story.

The romance however made no sense to me. In Chapter 21, we see the beginning of Liam and Willow getting closer. But it feels like a chunk of the story was missing from Chapter 21 to 22, where they are suddenly being intimate with each other. Willow had been consistently wary and a little intimidated by Liam until then, so it felt off character for Willow to desire him so suddenly.

From there, the rest of the story kind of dragged for me unfortunately.

Thank-you for the opportunity to read this book!

I did not actually finish this book, I only made it 17% or about 80 pages, and unfortunately ... it just isn't working for me.

I'm giving it three stars because the premise is interesting and there is definitely promise to it and I could see why other people might love it. The idea of a wasteland of a world and an FMC with magic to heal it? Sounds perfect! The worldbuilding and characters just felt lacking to me. I thought it was more of a fantasy world, and then there was the mention of guns and technology and I realized that no, it's just our world. Which maybe that soured the book for me, but I think it was really the fact that nothing was explained. There are the Elite and they .... are elite? And then the Forgotten who ... are forgotten? And soldiers who seem to exist mostly just to terrorize and kill people? Maybe if I read more things would be explained, but seeing as at this point in the book they've already started their adventure, I find it unlikely.

As for the characters, Liam intrigues me. I always love a tortured hero and he is definitely feeling tortured about the things he's done in his employment, but I wasn't really clicking with Willow or Olive and since this is an adventure story following the three of them ... I have to actually want to read about them and I just don't. I do think the potential for romance between Liam and Willow is there, and the journey might give them a good chance to develop actual feelings, but I'm not feeling their chemistry yet.

So while the book didn't work for me, I can see how it would for others. If you like post-apocalypse and adventure stories and character focused books then this might just be the book for you.

I finished this mere hours ago, and I already wish I could re-read it again for the first time. I was captivated by this story from the beginning, and I cried several times throughout. I fell in love with Willow & Liam (as well as Olivia & some other very incredible side characters) I was fully immersed in their world. This has dystopian vibes and is also a romantasy with plant/earth magic involved - need I say more? There are some heavy elements involved, such as SA (nothing on-page, mostly implied) so check trigger warnings if needed. This is an amazing debut novel with profound character growth, lessons of love, strength, resilience, and the importance of nature & books. Book 2 can't come soon enough. Huge thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC!

The Forgotten Earth is a dystopian adventure that blends botany, Earth magic, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, all set in a world on the brink of extinction. The premise is original and well-developed, and the unique magic system centered around Willow’s ability to grow life from dirt, adds a nice touch to the grim setting.

Willow is a well-developed character whose passion for books and deep yearning for knowledge shine through despite the world’s decay. Her optimism, paired with her magic, creates a sense of beauty and hope in an otherwise bleak environment. Liam is a soldier who transitions from loyal enforcer to questioning rebel and has a complex character arc that adds significant depth to the story. His internal struggle between duty and morality is one of the book’s strongest elements.

The dynamic between Willow and Liam is one of the highlights with their banter providing both humor and tension. Their slow-burn romance feels earned as they grow from wary allies to something more while navigating a world filled with danger, monsters, and political oppression. The character of Olivia, Willow’s best friend, is a great addition, bringing lightheartedness and humor to balance the darker aspects of the story.

While the book offers an engaging plot, it can be somewhat predictable at times. Some of the twists feel foreseeable, though the foreshadowing throughout the novel does help build suspense and anticipation. The pacing is brisk and the tension mounts as the story heads toward its climax, but at times it could have benefited from more world-building and explanation, especially regarding the origins of the magic and the Elites' rise to power.

The Forgotten Earth is an enjoyable read with a strong premise and well-rounded characters. While some aspects of the plot may feel familiar or predictable, the emotional depth of the characters and the unique magic system keep the story fresh and interesting. If you’re a fan of dystopian tales with strong character development and an element of romance, this is worth checking out.

This was an interesting take on a dystopian Earth sci-fi fantasy book, and This would have been an amazing read had it not been for the swiss cheese level of plot holes.

There is so much that is never explained, expanded on, or hinted at that this book just really fell flat for me. The relationship between Willow and Liam really needed more angst and development before they were end game. Olivia's character was not needed, though fun at times, held no real value in the book over all. Wasn't even like the loveable side character, she was like an after thought.
The Claeg creatures were confusing and still kind of are. What are they? Where did they come from?

Willows Earth powers are never deeply explained or expanded on. Liam is apparently super human and his eyes glow with blue fire, but we never find out why or what either of their histories are, they just both have powers.

If this book didn't have any open door spice, and that was all cut out, this would be probably a great YA book for young people entering the world of sci-fi fantasy.

I believe this is a debut novel for this author and it was an ok read, sometimes really enjoyable and then sometime frustrating, I gave it three stars.

The premise of the novel is unique: The humans have stopped caring, the Earth is dying, society has collapsed and nature is basically at its end. We have our state of Coria where books and knowledge are essentially banned, including anything and everything related to plant life and Earth’s various ecosystems and oh, a group called the Elite serves as the core leaders in the place of an Emperor? More to follow on that. We then meet our main leads, Willow and Liam. Willow is a scientist who secretly has access to forbidden books about Earth with hopes of being able to revive them. Liam is essentially a soldier in the Elite force and slowly, becomes an ally to Willow after crossing paths with her.

The world-building and writing was almost there for me. I feel like we needed a bit more. I needed to know how the Earth came to be, and why the Elites were the powerhouse apart from others; and while we do get a little bit of the political stances it wasn’t until much much later that we get a glimpse of it. The monsters, the Claeg were also another key point that I enjoyed but again, what created them? We get some of these answered in conversations between characters but not to the extent that I would have liked. So I even think that adding a prologue with this information would be an amazing addition to a better understanding of this world.

The writing had its hits and misses. Some paragraphs felt like it was done well, but others felt inconsistent, clunky, and almost juvenile.

Oh, and the magic? Let’s not forget about that. Now I do like that the magic was very much rooted in the Earth, but I had a very difficult time understanding what its key purpose was for being incorporated into this novel. Has it always existed and it disappeared so therefore non-existent in current humans? Or is there a long line of descendants of humans being able to use this “magic” but died out? I'm thinking of it in terms of Final Fantasy VII and the Cetra. Anyway, it was entirely dystopian, with very few aspects of fantasy. I would love more lore on this and maybe I wouldn’t have had a difficult time wrapping my head around it.

I liked that our main characters were flawed. Willow is no one-trick warrior and she had to learn to wield the weapons given to her. Liam does his best to own up to the mistakes and the duality of morality vs duty is very much shown in this novel. However, the romance between Willow and Liam felt sudden to me even though I could tell while reading, it was meant to be a slow-burn romance. Maybe that's just how it is though… Two individuals in a desolate world yearning for affection and that's how it came about. I do wish the other cast had more important roles versus being solely there for plot purposes and comedic relief.

Overall solid 3 stars. Well suited for the people who enjoy dystopian themes and have a love for nature.

Thank you to Brilynn O’Neal for welcoming me to read and NetGalley for the e-ARC! I wish you the best for future releases and look forward to what comes next because well, I need answers.

There were a lot of things that were well done in this novel. This story was rich with elemental magic, relatable characters, a challenging political environment, and a fast-paced plot. The spicy scenes were tasteful and not overly-clinical, and I generally felt that the dialogue and characters were relatable and realistic.

A few things that I thought could’ve been better: I did feel like the writing was a bit clunky at times, and there were a couple of odd exchanges or actions in various scenes that felt out of place. The language was a bit juvenile for me at times as well. However, overall I thought it was a really great debut novel and I’d definitely read another book by this author!

This was a great read! Watching the two characters paths cross and become so intertwined was a really fun experience.

❁ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 ❁
by Brilynn O'Neal

In 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡, readers are transported to a dystopian world where society has collapsed, and nature is nearly extinct.
The story unfolds within Coria, a tightly controlled city run by the Elite, an authoritarian regime that bans books and knowledge, especially anything related to plants and Earth's lost ecosystems.

The central character, Willow, is a young woman who braves the regime's control by secretly accessing forbidden books and learning about Earth’s ecosystems in hopes of reviving them.

Liam, initially a soldier and enforcer of the Elite’s rules, crosses paths with Willow and slowly becomes her ally. Their bond grows as Liam starts questioning the Elite’s motives and Willow’s determination to restore life on Earth resonates with him.

The romance between Willow and Liam in is a beautiful slow burn—it’s grounded in a world where survival takes priority, making every moment they get feel more intense.
Throughout their journey, their bond builds through mutual respect and shared goals, even as Liam battles his past mistakes and Willow grapples with the responsibility of her mission.

What I loved most about 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 is how it balances the tension and action with a genuine sense of purpose and optimism. Even in a dying world, there’s still the spark of hope that Earth can heal, if people are willing to fight for it.🌎

If you’re looking for a story that’s equal parts thrilling and inspiring, definitely check this one out! It’s perfect for anyone who loves dystopias with a big heart and a love for nature. 🌱📚

A huge thank you to the author for welcoming me onto the street team and providing an ARC!
Mark your calendars for the release on February 5, 2025.