"We cannot allow your callous destruction of its [Earth's] resources, or its precious animals continue" (Galuppo, 2025).

Eco Reign by L. Galuppo is a science fiction novel set in the aftermath of an alien invasion on Earth. The story follows 14-year-old Lauren and her family navigating a world controlled by the "Invaders." The Invaders claim they have intervened to save the planet from humans' destructive behavior. Lauren has a unique ability that sets her apart from other humans, leading to a closer relationship with the aliens. Through this relationship and the relationship with other "special humans, she begins to wonder if there's a different motivation to the Invaders' arrival.

Eco Reign is a thought-provoking and immersive read. It has themes of environmentalism, survival, and human resilience. The environmentalism themes were especially intriguing to me. The aliens' motive to "protect the planet" and the ethical dilemma it presents raises important questions about how far we are willing to go to protect our planet. This exploration of extreme conservation and extinct species revival is an interesting twist to the traditional alien invasion story.

This is the author's debut, and they have hit the ground running. The writing was engaging and descriptive, making it easy to visualize this new world. The pacing was well-balanced, with moments of tension and introspection that kept me hooked from start to finish. No, really. After the third chapter, I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting.

There's a reason why I wasn't into it until Chapter 3. The dialogue is underdeveloped. It comes off as very unnatural and doesn't flow. But despite this, I still loved it. Also, I spent the first chapter with no idea if we were dealing with preteens, teenagers, or young adults. Finally, in the second chapter, we learn that Lauren is 14 and her brother is 11. So now you can enjoy the first chapter without wondering like I did!

These are very minor annoyances that don't take away from the story. The vivid world-building and well-developed, complex characters make it so that I won't forget this book anytime soon. This makes it 4 stars.

Eco Reign is a must-read sci-fi and dystopian fiction. L Galuppo's debut offers a fresh perspective on alien invasion stories, blending environmental themes with a captivating narrative. It's a story that has left me pondering the ethical implications of our actions. I am already looking forward to what Galuppo has in store for book two.