Above Ground
"Mayhem, violence, and danger: a story about fighting the odds, and surviving."
Synopsis
When Lilith’s friend Emma buys tickets to the Affected Parade, Lilith is over the moon at the chance to experience life above ground, to see, firsthand, the infected, the monsters which roam the surface of the planet. But the infected have a reputation for being dangerous, and Lilith is about to find out why.
This is the story of Lilith, and her struggles for survival as she is plunged into an unfamiliar world that is far more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.
Reviews
A rich world which draws you in & holds your attention (9/10)
I am finding Above Ground to be a real page-turner, the sort of story you can’t step away from until you reach the end.
The story follows its main protagonist, Lilith, as she steps out of her subterranean world for the first time in her life. Visiting the surface world for a show, she soon finds herself running for her life…
Enjoying the Affected parade (8/10)
I’m not much of a review writer, so please bear with me. Also, I agree wholeheartedly with Thornealder’s review of the story.
"Above Ground" is a familiar yet distinct fantasy world. Science fiction and fantasy readers know what to expect from werecreatures, vampires, and witches…
Content Advisory
- Some Sexual Content
- Some Violence
- Some Coarse Language
Recent Comments
While I’m not a huge fan of the apocalyptic fantasy genre, Above Ground is well-written and well-paced enough to keep me invested despite my bias.
The story opens with an exceptional hook, protagonist Lilith and her friend Emma, dwellers underground, visiting the surface for a freak show. The events that transpire at the show introduce Lilith to a werewolf named Silver, and thus her adventure (literally "above ground") begins.
The world is well-conceived and introduced in careful bits and pieces, filled with weres of all sorts, money-grubbing ewtes and hints of the complex social strata of an underground city. The writer keeps a firm grasp on the narrative, moving the reader along at a quick pace without neglecting the details that make the world so believable.
The cons: I was put off by the white text on the dark background, and had to stop reading several times due to eye strain. Though the weres and other creatures are well-described, physical descriptions of humans are rather thin—we don’t discover how old the protagonists are, or even what they look like, until several chapters into the serial. The main characters seem poised to become the Alpha Couple of the series, a trajectory that starts off subtle but veers into obvious and slightly unbelievable considering how short a time they’ve known each other.
Posted 19/09 09:23PM by _thelighthouse
I’m not much of a review writer, so please bear with me. Also, I agree wholeheartedly with Thornealder’s review of the story.
"Above Ground" is a familiar yet distinct fantasy world. Sci-fi and fantasy readers know what to expect from werecreatures, vampires, and witches. A. M. Harte does a wonderful job exploring human and humanoid interactions and the nuances of their cultures. I’m enjoying the world-building as much the protagonist Lilith’s adventure. Harte drops enough hints to keep my curiosity piqued without leaving me frustrated. I’m looking forward to more!
Posted 31/07 10:01PM by tenaciousN
Just read the prologue. My curiosity is piqued. Rating may increase as I read more.
Posted 24/07 09:25PM by tenaciousN
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