Title: Survivor
Author: Stuart Harvey
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media, LLC
ISBN: B0B8BPKFD7
Pages: 536
Genre: Dystopian / Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
When our world faces an event or series of events that shakes us to our core and makes such an impact on our world that it becomes part of what will be history to future generations, it is impossible not to think about the “what-ifs?”. One such instance of this in recent years has to be the COVID-19 Pandemic, which while still being battled, has had successes with vaccines after months and months of struggle. Yet the question remains in our minds, what would have happened if we hadn’t found a means of battling this illness? What kind of world would be left behind?
In author Stuart Harvey’s Survivor, this question is answered. In this modern alternative history read, the author explores a United Kingdom in 2020 which failed to prevent the near eradication of the human race. With 98% of the world’s population gone, a handful of survivors are left behind to either rebuild and create a new world for themselves, or head down a perilous and destructive path instead. Honing in on a young woman named Sam, the narrative focuses on Sam’s struggle to find her place in this new world and find a means of becoming a survivor.
The author did an incredible job of world-building and creating the proper amount of tension to capture the reader’s attention. The author was able to bring the iconic imagery and atmosphere found in many apocalyptic and dystopian reads, such as Stephen King’s The Stand. The imagery brought out a gritty tone and chilling atmosphere that elevated the tension and allowed the reader to fully feel the protagonist’s struggle. The haunting nature of the narrative will definitely stick with the reader long after the book’s end, as the use of our own near-miss dystopian future with COVID-19 still feels fresh and unresolved, and yet the notes of hope and light the author infuses into the narrative feel like the humanity we all could use more of in this day and age.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy thriller novels, especially those that include dystopian and apocalyptic narratives and include hints of a modern-day alternative history relating to real-world events. As a fan of these genres, it was both humbling and engaging to be able to immerse myself into the author’s world, as if finding a mirror held up to our faces and reflecting a dark reflection of what could have been. The richness of the characters and the notes of hope that they brought out helped balance out the grim and gritty nature of the narrative overall.
Thought-provoking, entertaining, and profound in its delivery, author Stuart Harvey’s Survivor is a must-read dystopian and literary fiction read of 2022. The very relatable nature of this apocalyptic tale and the emotional hits that the protagonist brings to life throughout the novel as they fight to survive made this story feel both authentic and alive on the page.