Til Freedom Do Us Part by Seven Nelson and Aleeza Nelson

Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano

Thank you for reading, sharing, and joining this reading community!

Welcome, fellow survivor of dystopian worlds! Before you descend into the depths of Riker prison, hit that blue follow button and join our resilient reading community. Want dispatches from the front lines of future reviews? Drop your email! If this review ignites a spark of rebellion, share it with a comrade or broadcast it across your favorite social networks. Your support is the lifeblood of our literary resistance! Thank you for reading, sharing, and standing with us in this community. May the odds be ever in your favor!

Quick Summary:

Til Death Do Us Part introduces us to a world where some of the United States’s population have powers- some controllable, others dangerously unleashed. Through shifting perspectives, we follow Requiesha, Anthony, Ironic, and Lamiyah- supers condemned to the infamous fortress-prison, Fort Riker. Each voice reveals a different facet of the brutal, twisted games of survival they must endure against hundreds of other teams to gain their freedom. Welcome to Fort Riker, where your stay will be a nightmare, the warden is a miserable human, and where supers (especially cryptics) are mistreated in prison and society.  

The Review:

THIS. BOOK. WAS. AWESOME! If you crave the ruthless spectacle of Squid Games or the sacrifices seen in The Hunger Games, then this book will electrify you! The warden of the prison of supers (people who have special powers) is following a plan called Project Hawke. However, unlike the plan where one team receives freedom if they defeat all the others, the warden decides the fate of the losers… and death is on the table. For their first challenge, each prisoner must choose a partner. Requiesha and Anthony unite, as do Ironic and Lamiyah, each pair navigating a gauntlet of violence and impossible odds. 

What captivated me the most was the masterful use of multiple points of view. The narrative shines a searchlight on each character’s inner worlds as they evolve- scarred yet still reaching for hope. Memories and present horrors intertwine, revealing how trauma shapes and sometimes shatters one’s world. Character development thrives in this chaos, reminiscent of “The DaVinci Code” and ESPECIALLY The Bloodsworn Trilogy by John Gwynne. Now, “Til Freedom Do Us Part” joins their ranks. 

Recently, I’ve been drawn to stories that wrench the heart, and this one is no exception. There were moments reading Til Freedom when I found myself holding my breath, tensing my muscles, grinning at small victories or cute moments, genuinely happy, or sad, mourning the losses that felt all too real. Anger shone through at the plethora of injustice. I hate injustice (I know that most people don’t like it, but it’s something that I tend to hyperfixate on). I hate it when people aren’t treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. The book forced me to step away, to question what justice could possibly look like in a system so broken, and whether anyone would be held accountable. Some characters were so twisted and psychologically unhinged that their enjoyment of suffering royally ticked me off. Imagine Umbridge from Harry Potter- only with more blood on her hands. 

Like Aleeza’s other work, Blank 12, the ending was wonderful. I always love a happy ending, as I truly feel that almost everyone in life deserves one. But especially in a dystopian world where injustice and suffering are rampant. I closed this book satisfied. The writing was sharp, the story tightly woven, and as Schmidt from New Girl would say: “No notes!” I’m giving it a solid 5 out of 5. If you’re craving a fresh dystopian adventure, do yourself a favor and READ THE FRACKING BOOK!

I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released in February 2026.

Up Next: Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano

Thank you for reading, sharing, and joining this reading community!

Welcome, fellow sci-fi book lover! Before you dive in, hit that blue follow button and join our vibrant reading community. Want updates on future reviews? Drop your email! If this review sparks joy, share it with a friend or blast it across your favorite social media. Your support fuels our literary journey! Thank you for reading, sharing, and joining this reading community!

Quick Summary:

Red Rising is set in the future where humanity has colonized the Milky Way, and a harsh caste system rules the galaxy. At the bottom are Reds, mining in the bowels of Mars for Helium 3, believing their sacrifices will one day make Mars a habitable place for future generations. This sci-fi, dystopian story follows Darrow, who quickly learns that the promise of reward is an absolute lie. Lost love leaves Darrow with a yearning for justice, a pining to destroy those who have enslaved his people. Darrow decides that risking everything to infiltrate the Golds is the only way to bring freedom and justice. 

The Review:

Listening to the audiobook, narrated by Tim Gerald Reynolds, was a treat! The Irish accent made Mars seem like a different place from where I live in America. 

***

I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.

WHAT AN OPENING! I am hooked!

***

Red Rising is an insanely fast-paced book that kept me engaged throughout the whole story. I found myself so engrossed that hours slipped by unnoticed. After I closed the book for the night, I continued thinking about what could happen next. The plot is packed with twists and turns, some predictable and others quite surprising, keeping both my attention and the tension high throughout.  

Pierce Brown’s world-building was impressive. Mars is vividly imagined with the advanced technology, strict social hierarchies and their expectations, and political intrigue woven into every aspect of life. The contrast between the Reds and Golds is stark: while the Golds flaunt their power and control - even leaving food uneaten to show self-control - the Reds struggle for survival, their lives focused on family. Themes of control, power, and rebellion are ever-present, making the story feel both epic and frustrating. 

Darrow’s character arc is one of the novel’s strengths. He starts as a confident Helldiver, one of the best, but as the story unfolds, he’s forced to adopt the mindset of the Golds while clinging to memories of his Red past. I found myself wanting more insight into the supporting characters of Cassius, Goblin, Mustang, and Jackal. I wanted to be a brain worm and know what they were thinking, how their survival, conquest, struggles, and accomplishments were going. I wish I had known what adventures Goblin was enjoying. I wanted to know what Cassius was doing after his betrayal. I needed to know what Mustang was thinking during the time she was taking care of him and what her strategy was. I wanted to see how the Jackal was a terrifying conqueror who seemed to deserve to win. It also would have been fun to be in the head of a Proctor or two. However, all of this could have potentially ruined a few of the twists that had occurred. Maybe a 1.5 book should be in the works!

Sevro was my favorite character. Sevro was able to think outside the box to not only survive but thrive. He stood out for his loyalty, resourcefulness, and quirky personality. His contributions to Darrow’s missions were invaluable, and his shenanigans brought much-needed levity to the story. He and his Howlers were a blast to follow!

My biggest qualm with this book was the sexual violence. While it may serve to highlight the brutality of the Gold’s society or mimic early Greek culture, it is a difficult topic that deserves thoughtful handling. This topic is something that our society takes lightly, and it pisses me off. The impact on the assaulted victim is lasting, and I feel like when authors use this subject in their story, it continues to normalize it. Victims must live with the pain of the memories of what happened to them, while in many cases, the perpetrators walk or get a measly slap on the wrist. 

Despite these darker moments, my overall experience with Red Rising was fantastic. The high-stakes action and rich world-building makes for a thrilling read. This book shall receive a 4.7/5. If you want a fast-paced, thought-provoking sci-fi dystopian novel with rebellion, intrigue, and heart, I highly recommend you READ THE FRACKING BOOK!

Up Next: Til Freedom Do Us Part by Seven Nelson and Aleeza Nelson