This book was not for me, received it for a tour years ago and did a spotlight in order to not put my bad review rating on the promotional tour. The pacing didn't work for me and I struggled to get through to the end of the book, and I didn't vibe with the idea of so much energy being put into these teens having sex and becoming mothers. I know it was a lord of the Flies-like emergency life-or-death situation, but It made me feel uncomfortable while reading.

Oh god. Where do I start?

I didn’t finish this book. I couldn’t bring myself to finish, even though I was very curious about how it’d play out.

The writing was awful, the characters were made to sound illiterate and naïve. Completely clueless to everything. The names of everything was so juvenile and unoriginal.

Then there was the issue of once you turned 15, you become a “mama,” whether you want to or not. With the same few boys as the father(s).

If you can look through these things to the bigger picture, more power to you. Just wasn’t for me.

Mayfly has almost all the components that a good science fiction, dytopian needs. Right from the completely wrecked, no-hope-can-be-seen world to curious protagonists who want to find a solution, and an excellent writing, research, and plotting accompanying it, Mayfly impressed me.

Let’s start with what I admired the most–the immense world building. The dystopian cliche was torn away in this book when the future world didn’t consist of just one set of survivors; the world has survivors belonging to different areas or groups who stay away from one another’s boundaries in order to save themselves from any unwanted violence. You’ll find a particular group of people who believe in things that the other groups won’t. Basically, there are cultures and traditions incorporated into this dystopian world and the best surprise is: all these are inspired from this present world.For instance, the characters believe that there was once a time when men and women (known as the Parents in this book) dressed up “to meet with the gods, on the red carpets as long as the entire streets.” And the kids reached this conclusion from magazines they found in this destructed world.

Speaking of the destruction, the story is set in Los Angeles with vivid references to Hollywood and other landmarks. This gave a more realistic approach to this story. The main conflict of the story is the unknown reason why everyone dies at the age of seventeen, if not before. Due to this life limit, there are some rules that the Olders (the older kids) have set, like a girl needs to be a Mama at fifteen, “roll with a guy” for the same purpose, and supervise the society they’ve set up in all these years after the destruction.

Here, women are in-charge and men are not given all the rights–they’re primarily for producing babies and using strength to fight against other tribes (a reason why they’re also called Muscle). It’s like a completely opposite take on today’s world but an unfair world nonetheless. Not only this, the language spoken by the characters isn’t the most perfect and it’s a great take on what a dystopian struggle would be ; plus, those who can read are considered bruja or witches. Overall, the world built is stunning with the details, both new and old, that are incorporated into the dystopian Los Angeles.

The characters are really well created and developed. Jemma and Apple are curious about this world but smart too. Their romance is a swiftly constructed matter and I would agree I found myself attached to them both. The side characters are just as much precious and it would be fun if you found them out yourself because they all give something to the bigger picture.

The thrill in this ride is epic! The pacing, plot, and revelations are woven into a mixture of exhilaration. Something’s at stake every minute and the readers are hooked to the book because what’s going to happen next? The only thing that slightly affected me was the scientific explanations or the lack of them. When the ending was explained, it left a lot of vague ideas and while that excited me for the sequel, it also deflated me a little for I need closures sometimes.

Overall, it’s a read I definitely recommend if you’re a lover of young adult dystopias and a world building that would pull you right through.

Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, rape scene, infectious death, bullet shot, graphic violence, inequality, misogyny, misandry.

4.5 - Wonderfully Unique, Weirdly Fascinating, and Thrilling Edge of Your Seat Story

Mayfly by Jeff Sweat is a wonderfully unique, weirdly fascinating, and thrilling edge of your seat post apocalyptic adventure. It's fast-paced, well-written, and dangerously exciting from start to finish.

This book's a masterpiece, but I did have some minor issues in the beginning. After reading a few chapters, I actually wasn't sure I would like the story. I did think the concept was interesting, but there were a few scenes that just didn't sit well with me. Having said that, I surprisingy could not stop reading. There was something about the story that just pulled me in and I was so intrigued by the characters and their way of life. I'm definitely glad I pushed through with this because it was simply amazing.

Jeff Sweat brilliantly created a terrifying, but utterly unique and fascinating dystopian world. I really enjoyed exploring Los Angeles in this reality and figuring out why no one ever made it into adulthood. The plot had action, mystery, romance, awesome friendships, a bit of humor and twists that kept me guessing until the end. The characters were realistic, engaging and full of surprises. I had a blast seeing the world through their eyes and ached when I witnessed them make difficult choices to survive. From one danger to the next, I was holding my breath and hoping for the best...for the characters and for the rest of the world.

This story was a phenomenally creative, positively insightful and incredibly compelling read. Jeff Sweat crafted a unique and addictive post apocalyptic adventure that will leave you wanting more. I do hope that ending is just the beginning because there are so many more questions I need to be answered.

If you loved Hunger Games, Maze Runner, or any other dystopian books, then I think you'd really enjoy this one.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mayfly
Jeff Sweat
Feiwel and Friends, May 2018
ISBN 978-1-250-13920-7
Hardcover

From the publisher—

Jemma has spent her life scavenging tools and supplies for her tribe in their small enclave outside what used to be a big city. Now she’s a teen, and old enough to become a Mama. Making babies is how her people survive—in Jemma’s world, life ends at age seventeen.

Survival has eclipsed love ever since the Parents died of a mysterious plague. But Jemma’s connection to a boy named Apple is stronger than her duty as a Mama. Forced to leave, Jemma and Apple are joined in exile by a mysterious boy who claims to know what is causing them to die. The world is crumbling around them, and their time is running out. Is this truly the End?

Several years ago, I read two books of a dystopian trilogy that were based on the concept of all adults having died and the children had very early deaths to look forward to, much like the story in this book. Those books left me kind of cold and there were gaping plot holes, more like sinkholes, but I felt this particular tale was handled much better and I was not left so dissatisfied.

Remnants of the world created by the parents, such as lawns and swimming pools, have been turned to new uses by the children so that they can survive in this mutated version of California and they think of TeeVee as a god. Jemma, a Gatherer, wants out of this community before she can be forced to have a child and Apple, her friend and a sixteen-year-old Muscle, agrees to go with her when she makes her break.

Worldbuilding is weaker than I would have liked—there are lots of small details, which I welcomed, but big gaps in the larger issues—and I really couldn’t stop wondering why these kids go on as they do, bringing babies into this harsh world. I understand the human drives for survival and procreation but, like Jemma, I don’t think I could give birth to a baby with no future beyond seventeen years and, perhaps worse, not even the comfort of a mother past one year.

All that notwithstanding, I had no idea where Mr. Sweat was going to take me and it’s a perilous and wonderful journey indeed. Failings aside, this series debut is well worth the time and I hope to get more answers in the next book. There will be a next one, right, Mr. Sweat?

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, May 2018.

**I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

All I have to say is, I’m not giving it a rating because I didn’t finish it. I just couldn’t get into it. I wasn’t that great, I had a hard time actually getting into it, and I just didn’t feel that it was going anywhere.