The war is over, but the fight continues.
A desperate class struggle rages on between Covedale and Riverlea—sister cities far from the front lines and the newly-established global government, World United—that threatens to tear them apart from the inside. Organized crime has infiltrated key positions locally and is using its control to pit the cities against each other, manipulating citizens and businesses alike to achieve their mysterious ends. On one side of the river, residents enjoy modest creature comforts and never want for food. On the other side, however, it’s a fight to survive. Basic rights like food, shelter, and safety are mere wishes in Riverlea.
Upholding the status quo is in Covedale’s favor, but Riverlea won’t continue living in abject poverty. An underground movement has firmly established itself as enemy to the unknown puppet masters who have thus far acted without repercussions and kept Covedale in power.
The last thing either side is expecting is the impact Oliver Conway’s seemingly-innocent arrival will have on events. Oliver may be ignorant to how deep the machinations go that brought him to Riverlea, but his instinct for self-preservation may just see him through . . . if he can avoid falling victim to his own ambition and resist being used as a pawn. Can one haunted soldier inspire a revolution or will he instigate a massacre?
This was an exciting read set in a near dystopian future that has frightening elements of our present. Characters are strong and believable as they try to survive in a world controlled by gangs, military forces, and self-serving governments. The pace picks up steadily as characters are developed and subplots are cleverly intertwined. I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
Sabanto is an intelligent but entertaining read set in a dystopian world that involves a story that has all the elements of a great crime thriller novel: steamy romance, deception, deceit and murder.
The novel revolves around two cities. In Riverlea, the people are broken, hungry and downbeat and live under the iron fist of the Gutters gang. In Covedale, they eat well and live comfortably, but if they step out of line they are hanged.
But the city of Riverlea now won’t accept being down in the dirt. They have a plan to conquer Covedale.
In steps Oliver who returns to Riverlea following a world war and he is one of the few who has enough money to quit Riverlea for Covedale. Oliver has his eye on a big goal there and will let nothing or nobody get in his way.
The author paints a fascinating, dystopian world that is worryingly close to where the real world seems to be going: the author’s fictional world has just pulled itself out of a world war (it brings the current Russia-Ukraine war to mind, which could plunge us into WW3) and suffers from hyperinflation (look at the prices in your local supermarket today compared to a year ago).
Let’s hope the real world doesn’t end up like the one in the author's fictional world. For now, let’s enjoy the gritty ride that is Sabanto.
