It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington
THE WORLD YOU KNOW IS DEAD. WE DID THIS TO OURSELVES.
The epidemic struck at the end of the Third World War. Fighting over oil, power, and religion, governments ignored the rise of an anti-bacterial-resistant plague. In just five years, the Earth was annihilated. Only one city survived—Etyom—a frozen hell-hole in northern Siberia, still engulfed in conflict.
The year is 2251.
Two groups emerged from the ashes of the old world. Within the walled city of Lower Etyom, dwell the Robusts—descendants of the poor who were immune to The New Black Death. Above them, in a metropolis of pristine platforms called Lillipads, live the Graciles—the progeny of the super-rich; bio-engineered to resist the plague.
Mila Solokoff is a Robust who trades information in a world where knowing too much can get you killed. Caught in a deal-gone-bad, she’s forced to take a high-risk job for a clandestine organization hell-bent on revolution.
Demitri Stasevich is a Gracile with a dark secret—a sickness that, if discovered, will surely get him Ax’d. His only relief is an illegal narcotic produced by the Robusts, and his only means of obtaining it is a journey to the arctic hell far below New Etyom.
Thrust together in the midst of a sinister plot that threatens all life above and below the cloud line, Mila and Demitri must master their demons and make a choice—one that will either salvage what’s left of the human race, or doom it to extinction…
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About the Author’s
Gareth Worthington BSc PhD is a trained marine biologist and also holds a doctorate in comparative endocrinology. Currently, Gareth works full time for the pharmaceutical industry helping to educate the world’s doctors on new cancer therapies. His debut novel, Children of the Fifth Sun, won in the Science Fiction category at the London Book Festival 2017. He has a number of passions, including: martial arts (he trained in Muay Thai at the prestigious EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore), studying ancient history, and most of all writing fiction. Born in England, Gareth resides in Switzerland.
Stu Jones has served full time as a law enforcement officer for twelve years. Over the course of his career he has worked as an investigator, an instructor teaching SWAT close quarters and defensive tactics, and as a member and team leader of a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. He is also trained and qualified as a law enforcement SWAT sniper, as well as in hostage rescue and high-risk entry tactics. He is an Eagle Scout, a lifelong martial artist, and an avid outdoorsman.
My Review
4 Stars
It is 2251 and after World War 3 and the New Black Plague, most of the population of the world is dead. What remains is in a city called Etyom located in former Russia. Etyom is divided between the Robusts, those that managed to survive the New Black Death, and the Graciles, those that were bio-engineered to survive the plague.
Mila Solokoff is a Robust and a bounty hunter that has to deal with the dregs of Etyom. Demitri Stasevich is a Graciles with schizophrenia which is a sentence to death if anyone ever found out about it. The search for knowledge has them crossing paths and coming together with the secrets of Etyom and rebellion.
Mila is a bad ass and she has to be in this cruel world. Of course things go sideways and she is caught up in a revolution. I loved her, she was a great lead character. Demitri on the other hand is just another sheep following along with the orders but trying to keep his disease and drug addiction on the down low. I admit that in the beginning I was about done with him being such a wimp. But as the story progresses he does get a back bone and becomes a great partner for Mila.
I love dystopian stories and always jump at the chance to read them. This was a great story that quickly drew me in, left me wanting more, and knocked me on my butt with the ending. This is a great story and one that I recommend to those that love dystopians.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
I would like to thank Sage’s Book Tours for the opportunity to read and share this book.
jbronderbookreviews 
Thank you!
You are very welcome. Thank you for the wonderful read!!