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As It Always Was,” a futuristic apocalyptic novel by M. Saffron, explores the theme of lies and truth. The story shares similarities with the movies Logan Run and Equals. I found it intriguing and well-paced. I had this strong sense of urgency to see the MC to see freedom. The author weaves a compelling and entertaining narrative. I liked the world building and found it unique.
Thanks, Mystery Theater Works via NetGalley

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I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting and engaging. It kept me coming back to finish it. I enjoyed the plot and the whole world.

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As It Always Was is a refreshing and unique addition to the YA Sci-Fi genre. In the novel, we follow Damon as he begins to question the world around him. He was born into the city of Palpine, and we enter in 72 years after the Total War, a war that wiped out the majority of humanity, leaving the planet uninhabitable due to radiation. “Luckily,” for Damon and his classmates, technology and medicine have advanced enough that he can live in this new space protected from radiation-X by taking his daily dose of LEEF. Only, Damon begins to question the safety and truth behind it and what they’ve been told about those who go “manic” from radiation exposure…

What a unique story! I would recommend this for fans of Severance, or for a younger audience that is intrigued by the show Severance but might not be old enough to watch! I won’t say too much, but I think this concept is very intriguing and something new. I haven’t read anything quite like it, and I can feel (lol) the author's inspiration from corporate life in these pages. Because it reads younger, it’s a great introduction for those looking to get into the Sci-Fi genre, but might be intimidated by the lengthier/heavy world-building stories. This book has a great balance of world-building and description without being overwhelming.

I loved how it wrapped up in a way where I could see a continuation of the story, but also in a satisfying way.

The main issue I ran into with this one was some redundancy in the writing. In other words, a little too much telling and not showing, as well as some repetition. Again, I did read the arc, so these issues could have been fixed with additional editing! I also believe editing it down a little will help with the pacing and will keep the story moving forward. I fell off a little just before the 50% mark.

Additionally, I was confused at one point when the story suddenly shifts to Kayla’s POV, and I think it could’ve been left to Damon’s POV or maybe been given a clearer indication of or consistency in POV shifts.

“The beauties of humanity sit right next to the horrors,” a quote that sums up this novel quite well. An unfortunately, increasingly relevant story and a great reminder to focus on the beauty of the world and to never stop looking up!! (as long as you don’t look directly at the sun and don’t forget to blink!) :)

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This is a dystopian that feels close to the Giver in the ideas it explores.
One of my favourite things is how there are no revolutionaries - there are people who have escaped the mind control and are just living with the advantages it gives them while other people are senseless zombies. It’s unnerving, and I like that in a dystopian, that the feeling people seem friendly but might actually be hurting the system as much as the government.

Romance Rating: Soft
Violence Rating: Level 3
Content Warnings: None

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