Between Sea and Sky

It has been sometime since Dystopian novels were extremely popular and those that were around? Were often bleak grey affairs where the world had become a plethora of destroyed cities etcetera.

Between Sea and Sky by Nicola Penfold is very different in that respect and brought a refreshingly new view of what our world could become in the future. With the land being destroyed by fire and the oceans poisoned, those that remain are separated between the two and it is very much a feeling that the two civilisations shall not meet... Distrust is rampant due largely to the control of information and the fear of the unknown.

What I did enjoy about the book was that despite it being bleak for those who remain, the world within Between Sea and Sky still has colour and other sensory elements - the world has died, but it also isn't completely dead.

I hope I'm not being confusing!

The characters are so well written that their individuality jumps off from the page, and the way the world is has caused each person to be affected differently which I think is very important - humankind as a whole doesn't react in one way to one thing and it is shown so well even between Pearl and Clover, two sisters who have grown up living on the ocean. One is content with what they have, and whilst it may not be easy for them? Wouldn't trade the freedom found on the ocean for that on land, whereas the other sister's curiosity for the unknown and feeling of being trapped even in something that brings pleasure leads to a longing to leave familiarity behind. There are wonderfully well-thought out relationships that again, are so relatable that you cannot help but feel as though you, the reader, are living within this unknown and unfamiliar world. Whether it be the quirkiness of childhood friends, the close bond of a mother and child, the fragility and strength in siblings and the fractured relationship between a grieving father and his children? You cannot help but relate to a degree and be moved by their relationships in such adversity.

You have no real knowledge of what happened and when for the world to be so destroyed and I think given the fragility of our planet now, with the creation of a new ocean etcetera, a time frame isn't needed because this tale sadly feels all too likely if things do not change. But it isn't a completely sad tale of loss and destruction but of hope if we trust more and are willing to stand up and take accountability and ask questions of those who control our planet's future in their grasp.