I should start by saying I’m not super huge fan of dystopian novels, but I have come across a few that I have loved. This was not one. The world building fell flat and The story was too vague when it didn’t need to be. The Characters were one dimensional and emotionally detached. The reader doesn’t get to see or hear the emotions inside the characters, even though each dialogue POV is in first person. The thoughts are shallow and we don’t get a deep look inside their heads. All we really get are surface thoughts and emotions.

The world Willow and her best friend Olivia live in is grim. Plants no longer grow, food is scarce, and the last child in their small town has died. But Willow does all she can—both in terms of getting plants to grow again and by spreading forbidden books, even if the spread of knowledge (a privilege of the Elite class) could get her arrested or killed by soldiers. And if the soldiers don't kill her, the zombie-like creatures known as Claeg will.

When an unusually-sized wave of Claeg descends on their down, Willow and Olivia find help in Liam: a soldier who has seen the error of his ways and plans to fake his own death to escape. As the three travel abroad and learn to trust each other, they discover together that Willow has the power to make plants grow and rain fall. Willow and Liam also begin to fall in love, and that love seems to increase her powers. But once word gets out that Liam is alive and a girl who can bring green back to a dead world is out there with him, the Elite and their soldiers are quick to react. As the three separate to find allies, they also begin to discover more about what makes Willow special, and what that could mean for the world.

The Forgotten Earth opens with a lot of promise, especially what appear to be roots in Celtic mythology. But a lot of its promise fades quickly into standard post-apocalyptic YA, complete with a Chosen One and her one true love. Olivia, one of the most promising characters in the story as she navigates the loss of her wife Kat, spends most of her time as the sarcastic sidekick, with most of her actions being winks and smirks. And, while ample content warnings are given at the front of the book, there is a strange amount of sexual assault—moving far past a reflection on real-world systemic injustice into a sense that the author can only think of one way to keep tension high. The final battle feels rushed and strangely truncated, with little lead-up to establish the sheer importance of what is accomplished in said battle. There are threads and tendrils of great story here, but so much of what works feels insufficiently explored or tamped down into stereotypical post-apocalyptic YA. With room to grow, evolve, and subvert, this story could be something more and greater.

🌿 The Forgotten Earth by Brilynn O’Neal
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

The Forgotten Earth is a thrilling blend of dystopian survival, forbidden knowledge, and unexpected magic that completely pulled me in. Brilynn O’Neal delivers rich world-building, a deeply thought-out magic system, and compelling characters in this strong debut.

In a future where plant life has been erased and knowledge is tightly controlled, Willow is a rare defiant soul who dares to bring life back to the earth—a crime punishable by death. When elite soldier Liam is sent to eliminate her, he finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew. As they navigate a crumbling world filled with mystical creatures, hidden dangers, and a sentient house, they must decide whether to fight for a future or surrender to the oppressive Elite.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its detailed world-building—from the remnants of a lost civilization to the eerie sense of a world on the edge of total collapse, every setting feels immersive. The magic system is equally fascinating, and Willow’s abilities are revealed in ways that feel both organic and mysterious. The characters, particularly Willow and Liam, are well-developed, with emotional depth and chemistry that builds naturally over time.

Part One alone could have been a full novel, packed with enough tension, discovery, and development to stand on its own. But O’Neal continues to raise the stakes, pushing the story into unexpected directions that had me fully invested by the end. While the pacing slows at times, the unique mix of dystopian themes, fantasy elements, and character-driven storytelling makes this a standout debut.

I can’t wait for the next installment in this series! Fans of dystopian fantasy with slow-burn romance, rich lore, and high-stakes adventure will find plenty to love here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

“Remember , energy can only be transferred. It cannot be lost. You will see me again. In the flames of the fires you will set to transform the world into a beautiful living canvas.” She paused and whispered in my ear, “It has been an honor,”

The Earth is dead, the ground made up of dry cracking soil where nothing can grow. The Elite class rules over the lower class of the Forgotten who are starved and abused. But one woman's hope and thirst for knowledge paired with his strength can save the world and help it grow anew. The Forgotten Earth is such a fresh take on post apocalyptic dystopia. You get the grunge of a dead planet mixed with zombie like creatures and a ruthless rich government, but you also get feminine rage and hope mixed with rich elemental magic. And then you add the element of Romance and Spice and it just makes this story a must read! There is also representation for the LGBTQIA community through its amazing female best friend! The Forgotten Earth releases February 5th so preorder your copy because you don't want to miss out on this new series! Thank you to @netgalley and @forestsandfantasy for the chance to read an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. This was unexpected in all the best ways. What a wonderful dystopian standalone romantasy! And this is a debut?! I was hooked from the dedication, that's how fast this pulls you in. Our FMC, Willow, is a smart, strong, lead character who embodies empathy and knowledge. Our MMC Liam has a tragic backstory and is an absolute cinnamon roll I would have enjoyed even more development of their characters and more detail in their relationship, but it was well rounded and blossomed throughout the story. The plot was shockingly relevant to today's world and had some really lovely ties back to Celtic mythology. A lot of the action was packed into the last third of the book, and I could have used more spread out, but there was a lot of development of the underlying story and the relationships. I would probably have read another 3 books like this and will look forward to whatever she writes next!

I haven’t read Dystopia genre in a while and it’s usually not something I seek out but the description of the book seemed interesting. , the storyline seemed interesting. The world-building and characters, were amazing with and element of spice. Thank you so much for the ARC copy!

This dystopian novel is set in a future where plants have ceased to grow, and an evil entity is bringing about the end of humanity. I can't help but feel that the story would have benefited from being split into two books to expand and allow for deeper world building. The relationships between the characters, especially the slow burn romance between Willow and Liam, as well as the lovable third wheel, Olivia, were fantastic. I would have appreciated the opportunity as the reader to build a stronger connection with each character or more insight into their backgrounds. I did struggle with the reasons behind the state of this world, as well as the presence of powers in some but not others, making it unclear. Additionally, Liam’s super-soldier-like abilities were never fully explained. However, if you’re a fan of dystopian settings, slow-burn romances, and forced proximity, this book is definitely worth reading.

*Thank you to Brilynn O’Neal, Regenerative Lives and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Many years ago I read all the dystopian novels that came out. Then I grew tired of the genre and today it feels like the worl is an dystopia in itself. But this book caught my eye and I liked the description. Reading it was fun and enjoyable but not without some problems. The characters were a bit under developed and that makes it hard for the reader to enable a relationship to the characters. You don't feel lika a part of the story but rather someone looking at the story through a window. I believe that O'Neal has it in her, maybe with some help from a good editor, to write a book that has it all.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you haven’t read a dystopian novel in a while—or if you’ve been avoiding them because real life feels dystopian enough—this book might just pull you back in. It’s a gripping, story that gradually unfolds, expanding the world and stakes alongside the characters’ own growing awareness. While it takes some time to find its rhythm but, you’ll be hooked before you realize it.

The story follows Willow, a determined young woman armed with forbidden knowledge from banned books, who hopes to restore a dying world by reintroducing plants and fixing the broken food system. But her knowledge makes her a target in a world ruled by a ruthless Elite. Enter Liam, a soldier bound by duty and despair—until he meets Willow. When their paths collide in the chaos of a crumbling city, their survival depends on each other, forcing them to confront dangerous truths about their world while discovering Willow’s unexpected power to bring life back to the Earth.

The pacing is deliberate, focusing on character development and world-building rather than immediate action. At first, this can feel disorienting; the world isn’t handed to you on a platter, and there are moments of confusion as you piece things together. But this slow build works to the book’s advantage, mirroring the characters’ journey of discovery. As their understanding of the world broadens, so does yours, drawing you deeper into the story without you even realizing how invested you’ve become.

The stakes are raised further by mystical elements—monsters, magic, and even a sentient house—that add an intriguing layer to the dystopian landscape. The emotional core of the story lies in the growing connection between Willow and Liam, who must balance their hope for a better future with the constant threat of being hunted by the Elite.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy slow-burn dystopian tales rich with character-driven plots, unexpected magic, and themes of survival, rebellion, and hope.

Dystopia genre is usually not my cup-of-tea, but this novel proved me otherwise. I was first intrigued with the title and the blurb when I applied for the ARC. But when I started reading this, I was invested in the story. The world-building, characters, plot foreshadowing, the element of earth magic and the spice completed a well-written fantasy novel.
I love how the author incorporated such unique and thought-provoking conflict - the desire for a new earth, and how the theme of earth magic is slowly introduced through the character growth of our very strong and smart FMC. I enjoyed the pacing, the suspense of each chapter as well as the supporting characters.
Another special note was how closely rooted the novel is to books and the Earth. This quote gave a realistic jab on the relevance of books:
“Books are dangerous. They give ideas. They give you possibilities. They allow you to see what the world could be. And most dangerous of all, they give you hope. Unrelenting hope. That is why they don’t forget any of us to have them.”

Thank you for this ARC. I enjoyed reading this book!

I absolutely loved every moment of this book! A dystopian romantasy with elemental powers, well developed loveable characters, and hints of Celtic lore? I am glad this book looks like it might be a series, based on the cover, because I devoured every moment of it!

This book takes a look at what Earth could look like with water drying up and plants dying off. While scientifically, I don't think it would be possible for humanity to survive without plants, given that they create the oxygen humanity needs to survive, this didn't bother me because at a certain point you just have to assume magic since that also exists in the world.

Each character has their own motivations, struggles, and vulnerabilities, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journeys. What they've had to go through is awful and yet there's this beautiful message of hope underlying it all. I loved Willow's character and her love of books and plants. She was a quiet badass throughout the story. I enjoyed the romance between her and Liam and thought they were well paired. I also loved Olivia's humor and snark and thought her character brought some lightheartedness to the rather bleak world and situations they all go through.

Favorite quote: "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. Unrelenting hope. That is why they don't want us to have them."

THE FORGOTTEN EARTH BY BRILYNN O’NEAL
He is the solider who is supposed to kill her for the knowledge she stole but she is the one that gets him to fight for her instead. In Coria where the elite have so much power, food supply, access to education and all they could ever have. They treated other people awfully rationing their food their movements and also their access to information. In a region where information is burned, and solders are ruthless and the forgotten are treated terribly their resources all taken their food rationed.
Willow is like a guardian angel helping those who need she is just another forgotten but she helps everyone even if she is left with nothing. While Liam may not be an elite, he is their solider probably their best solider if you believe the rumours. Liam just wants to escape the elite and not work for them anymore but Willow during a dire situation convinces him to help her and her friend.
Power and authority- those in power in coria tend to misuse it all the time for instance the way the elite treat the forgotten draining from their supplies and subjecting them to labour while they enjoy all the good stuff. The emperor all used his power terribly by controlling the Claeg to destroy any threatening communities. We also see willow use her power to actually do some good in the world build hope.
Conflict in these world they are always pledged with conflict for instance the forgotten fight each day to survive the ruthlessness of the elite. The people fight for the resources as the land is completely dead. The battle of Claeg who are vicious and essentially killing machines. Every single situation was hight stakes
Love and friendships in these world where things are uncertain bonds of friendships are made in unlikely places for instance Liam’s friendship with Marvin who work together and don’t even seem to like each other turn out not to be just the best of friends but also allies. Willow who is a forgotten and Marcus who is an elite working above her become such close friends that they end up becoming allies and lastly Liam and Leeann, going from unlikely allies to friends. Finally, Willow and Liam falling in love with each other.
Willow is kind to the point of giving someone else who has no food her food. She is absolutely brave and hopeful maybe too much hopeful, annoyingly stubborn to the people around her but they love her for it. She loves reading and that was one of the qualities I loved the most about her.
Liam is a soldier, so he is driven and motivated and also very determined. He is emotionally closed off due to trauma and hence very robotic. He is selfless as in many occasions he has offered himself as the last line of defence. He is just as stubborn as willow direct quote from a character who knows Willow so well
The story was intriguing from the beginning to the end. It kept me at the edge of my seat, as it was always action-packed and adventurous. The sentences were easy to follow, and the story was well-curated. I also loved every supporting character in the book.
The most memorable thing in the book was when Olivia told Liam he is as stubborn as Willow. The use of willow reading knowledge to help solve their problems. When Liam offers himself up as bait to save everyone even when most of them hated him that so slayed.

I loved the book the setting was amazing. The magic system was simple but easily understandable you get to learn a lot that is happening in this world as the characters are also learning it. The characters were different had layers to them and were likable. Even the supporting characters had depth and some back story.
There were things I wanted to know that were just glazed over for instance we are told the world started dying I wanted to know what caused the world to start dying in the first place. I wanted to here more about what the world was during Circe’s time. I wanted to know why Liam was the way he was. What happened to all the elites? We know they didn’t just disappear. I have a lot of questions but that is normal with a fantasy. I do not know if there will be a sequel but if there is I will read it for sure

The Forgotten Earth by Brilynn O'Neal is a gripping dystopian fantasy romance packed full of hidden magic, rebellion and top notch banter with a sprinkle of spice.

I'm usually not one to pick up a dystopian fantasy, but this one was hands down one of my favorites and I can't wait for book 2! I will admit that it was slightly slow in the beginning but picked the pace up fast and had me devouring the whole story. Willow, the FMC, is my favorite being she's a booktrovert and yearns for the knowledge to bring Earth back to its once glorious state. The other main characters Liam and Olivia are also amazing and the banter between the 3 of them had me bursting out with laughter at part.

The world-building and magic system is far better then I expected for a debut novel and we get to see more of how the magics work farther into the book which was nice to see. Overall, I really enjoyed this read and would recommend it to anyone who loves dystopian fantasy, banter, and rebellion in their books!

Thank you to NetGalley, Regenerative Lives and Brilynn O'Neal for providing the eARC!

The Forgotten Earth by Brilynn O’Neal is a captivating debut novel that masterfully blends dystopian elements with a touch of romance and fantasy. Set in a world where Earth magic pulses through the land, the story follows Willow a smart, fierce and determined FMC as she navigates a society divided by elites and plagued by terrifying creatures known as Claeg —reminiscent of zombies.

Willow’s journey is complicated by her forbidden love for Liam, a broody and broken MMC whose mysterious past adds depth to their relationship. O’Neal excels in developing well-rounded, emotionally complex characters that make their struggles both relatable and compelling. The world-building is immersive, weaving together themes of power, survival, and connection with a touch of magical realism.

This NetGalley ARC was a thrilling read, showcasing O’Neal’s ability to craft a rich, tense atmosphere while keeping readers invested in the characters’ fates. If you’re a fan of dystopian romantasy with strong world-building, Earth magic, and intense character dynamics, The Forgotten Earth is definitely worth picking up.

This was an interesting read, I enjoyed the story line and how it kept you wondering throughout the story. The characters were dinamic and captivating.

2/5 ⭐

Disappointed is how I felt at the end of the book. I was really thinking to DNF it by the middle but I was hoping that the situation might become better which never did.

The story is not very well written with a lot of plot holes and too many questions left unanswered. The romance is almost non existent and where there is hope for it feels so unnatural and flat. I couldn't care about the characters. When it comes to world building you can get a glimpse of it by the end of the book but by that time it is a bit too late.

Overall, it seemed that there is no purpose of all the actions of the characters.

I come to think after this book that maybe I dropped out of the dystopian books and I don't find them so interesting. Maybe this will be a hit for someone in their dystopian era.

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

The synopsis for ‘The Forgotten Earth’ drew me in immediately and I was quite excited to read about the smart woman stealing forbidden books, the soldier tasked with killing her, and their dystopian society. The story sounded intriguing.

Characterisation is extremely important to me as a reader. There are two protagonists in ‘The Forgotten Earth’: Willow, the woman who steals forbidden books, and Liam, the soldier who is supposed to kill her. They are the most developed characters in the story and while both have their good points I found a lot of important aspects of their backstory and their arcs to be glossed over or ignored. This meant they felt incomplete as main characters. The secondary characters fared even worse with their development never being more than surface level. This includes the main antagonist, who I can only describe as a ‘cartoon-villain’. This meant I never really cared much about what happened to any of them.

The world-building and setting in this novel can also be described as under-developed. There is only one paragraph towards the end of the book which offers a possible explanation for how the world ended up barren and full of Claeg, without really explaining anything at all. There is no explanation of who the Elite are or how they got to be in positions of power. There is no explanation of why only three people managed to develop elemental powers or how it was possible.

Which leads me to the plot. This was probably the strongest part of the storytelling and even then it fell extremely flat. The first half of the book set up the romance and the introduction of elemental magic. The second half of the book was rushed to squeeze in a heap of action and obstacles for the protagonists to overcome while showcasing their growing power and why they are the ‘chosen ones’. The ending itself was somewhat satisfying but because of all the previous problems mentioned I was also glad to have finished it.

Overall, ‘The Forgotten Earth’ has an excellent premise but unfortunately the execution is disappointing.

I absolutely loved this book. The style was impressive and the general story kept me entertained.

Willow was an absolute favorite of mine and I really enjoyed that the author took the time to dive deep into each character in the story.

I look forward to book 2 and the promises that it’ll be even better than the first!

I thoroughly enjoyed this dystopian romantasy novel!! It had a huge broken earth with magic healing being a main counterpart to this juxtaposed world. The earth is dying due to the actions of humans and Willow is determined to find a way to help. She has a run in with Liam, a young man questioning the government he’d been loyal to for so long.
I feel for Liam. He goes through so much from the very beginning by being broken down and lied to from the beginning. The side characters were all amazing as well! They had huge contributions to the story.

I really wanted to like this book, but it missed the mark on almost every level. The premise had so much potential—set in a post-apocalyptic world with a desperate quest to revive life on Earth—but unfortunately, the story fell flat.

The writing felt stiff and uninspired, often relying on awkward, overused phrases to express emotions, leaving me disconnected from the characters. I couldn’t feel any of the supposed intensity because the descriptions of how the characters were feeling became repetitive and mechanical. Every time the characters smiled, smirked, or frowned, it felt like it was just a placeholder for actual emotional depth.

The pacing was another problem. It was like the author was checking off boxes rather than letting the plot flow naturally. Things happened when they were supposed to, but not in a way that felt earned. There was no organic buildup to the supposed “big moments,” and it was so easy to predict what would happen next.

The world-building was weak at best. There are too many questions left unanswered. Why are some characters considered "special"? Why are there vague references to a secret society or world-ending events that are never fully explained? It left me frustrated, unable to connect with the world or its rules.

The characters were all one-dimensional and unrealistic. Liam’s character was particularly troubling. As a captain, he was complicit in terrible actions that he never tried to stop, yet he’s the supposed love interest? That’s just not okay. Willow, the protagonist, is just as problematic. Despite her tragic backstory, she brushes over major issues and doesn’t process anything in a way that makes sense. It felt like the author was trying to create complex characters but instead ended up with flat, unlikable figures who had no real emotional depth.

The romance was non-existent. There was no chemistry between Willow and Liam, and it came out of nowhere. I didn’t understand why they were suddenly involved, and even when they were supposed to be having a tender moment, it just felt forced.

Overall, this book had serious issues. It lacked the thoughtful character development, world-building, and writing needed to make it even remotely enjoyable. It was full of tropes, missed opportunities, and, frankly, bad writing. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. 1 aka 0 ⭐.