Julia Martel

Praise & Reviews

In a society where everyone’s jobs are assigned by a special department within the government—in the hopes of leading society to transcendent evolution—19-year-old Noa finds herself with a new career in the Cavalry, as a rancher, in Martel’s mildly fantastical dystopian debut. Noa, who has already lived life as a nurse and bureaucrat when she is Reassigned yet again, worries about dark rumors that this change is just a way to “get rid of problem citizens.” Meanwhile, 13-year-old Tali fights her urge to be different amidst the never-ending sameness at Main Ranch, where she and her cohort prep the land for the arrival of the new Cavalry “Drops.”

Martel sets up an intriguing world that is both divided by the strict rules driving career assignments and banded together by the collective fear and uncertainty plaguing its citizens. Noa and Tali initially have nothing in common, but, as the tension in the story builds, their paths inevitably cross—and bring to light a society that functions on mystery and secrets, from the enigmatic Pastor (described as a “nobody, or everybody”) who delivers broadcasts for the controlling Variety to attempts to suppress the unusual gifts some citizens possess. Those citizens include Noa, who, believing herself to be some type of prophet, soon finds out she’s not the only one experiencing visions—and the government is on to her.

That realization drives the story’s quest to expose the truth—and potentially overthrow the government. Martel supplements the action with touchstone themes of friendship, loyalty, and, of course, an unexpected romance, in the shape of Noa’s crush on her trainer, Amar. The story muddles somewhat as the Cavalry recruits confront the artificial intelligence at the heart of the Variety, but, still, dystopian fans will relish Martel’s uneven heroine and cold, controlling society.

Takeaway: Dystopian society is fractured by rigid rules and dark underlying secrets.

Book Life Review