I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A world free from violence and judgment looks towards a more hopeful tomorrow in author A-M Mawhiney’s “Spindrifts.”

The Synopsis

Racism, climate change, and violence are in the past. The new world values respect and collaboration with others. But are there secrets lurking in the shadows of the Land of Hope? What truth about the past is being covered up?

When fifteen-year-old Fania returns from Immersion, she is shattered to learn that the next phase of her education is at home with Alicia, her granny. She had hoped for something far grander that would prepare her for an important role with the Earth Project. Their two strong personalities clash as Fania begins to learn more about the past and her family’s role in it.

As Fania grows in confidence and power, she starts to wonder exactly what secrets Alicia is keeping in her underground lab. After Fania discovers the truth, she finds her calling: one that has the power to change everything.

The Review 

This was a particularly inspiring and engaging read. The Author does a wonderful job of flipping the dystopian sci-fi genre on its head by leaning into more hopeful undertones for the future despite catastrophe. The book is filled with powerful imagery, bringing the society that emerges from the Earth project to life in vivid detail.

What stands out most in this novel is the rich mythology and diverse characters that make up the story, as well as the deep themes it explores. Oftentimes, in stories such as this, the antagonist is a grand and powerful figure seeking world domination, but the author instead shows the potentially destructive nature of humanity itself and how we often are our own worst enemies. Instead, the characters embody the best of humanity in the face of that danger, and seeing the family dynamics at work among the Main cast was wonderful. It helped cement the emotional foundation of the story.

The Verdict 

Entertaining, thrilling, and heartfelt, and its delivery, author A-M Mawhiney’s “Spindrifts” is a must-read sci-fi meets speculative fiction narrative. The emphasis, the author puts on humanity, connecting deeply with the world and environment itself, both in literal terms, and in a spiritual sense, and the hopeful tone, the narrative sets when people are able to leave behind that which separates us as a people and instead focus on coming together for the betterment of the world, brings a little light and hope through this fictional work that our real world could benefit from represented well by this wonderful cast of emotionally driven characters. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

A-M Mawhiney was deeply moved by the events of 2020 and the cries from advocates fighting for equity and justice for people living precarious lives because of structural barriers and discrimination. As a former social worker and academic she has spent her career seeking ways to improve lives of marginalized learners through inclusive education for all students. Mawhiney has hope for a better future for us all. Her vision of what this might look like inspired her to write Spindrifts.

Anne-Marie lives in Sudbury, Ontario, in the territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in the Robinson-Huron Treaty Area, with Dave McGill and their canine companion, Charlie.

For more information, please visit www.ammawhiney.ca

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