This book is a super eerie but atmospheric speculative fiction tale. I love that it crosses different genres. I would recommend this to a lot of readers because it checks a lot of boxes and is really unique.

Clean Air is set in a climate apocalypse that has come and gone and "wasn’t the temperature climbing or the waters rising. It was the trees. The world became overgrown, creating enough pollen to render the air unbreathable." Been a decade since the event called the Turning and humanity has rebuilt. Izabel has gotten used to the dome that is her home, that is now her life along with her daughter, Cami, and her husband, Kaito, with the new world, and she feels stuck. But the peace of her town is shattered when someone starts going around at night slashing the domes, exposing people to the deadly pollen. A serial killer, the first in years. "Almost simultaneously, Cami begins sleep-talking, having whole conversations about the murders that she doesn’t remember after she wakes." Becoming fixed on the killer, she wants to take him down and understand him. What would make someone do this "with humanity finally flourishing again?"
This is a dystopia thriller like none other I've read before. I was fascinated by the world, how things worked, how things changed, and so on. I did feel like there were some scenes that were slow or felt off but for the most part, I liked the characters, plots, twist, and how everything unfolded. I was very intrigued by the pollen, this felt new to me.
I would have to say one part that was a letdown for me was that the characters feel like they were not connected together, they kinda felt that they were just acting as if they cared about each other at times; there was a bit of an odd balance.
If you are looking for a fast read that's easy to fall into, that has a one-of-a-kind and that might get you thinking about our own climate, then you may like this one.

It’s honestly been a while since I’ve read a purely dystopian book in this kind of sense, one that’s close enough still to our recognizable world to read differently than a fantasy book does. I also just wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this book, due to its focus on a serial killer on top of everything else that was just going on in the book. In the end, I actually really enjoyed this, even though it just wasn’t what I thought it would be at all!

I guess in the end I did expect a dystopian book alongside what I’m used to, with a strong focus on the injustices of the world, with the main character trying to somehow fix it, either willingly or not. Instead, there was a stronger focus on how people themselves might change after an apocalypse, and adjust to this new society, if they can manage to adjust at all. It was interesting to see how, in this world, people so quickly reverted to similar habits once the life-or-death aspects of the crisis disappeared. People went right back to wanting the prettiest house or the best stuff, just now within the limits that the climate crisis allowed them (though also already trying to push them, of course). However, what was most intriguing, was seeing the effect of a serial killer on a world setting like this. This community, and humans in general, only just barely managed to survive the dangerous pollen, so to then see someone decide to kill even more people was horrifying to this society. It was really fascinating to see through the perspective of our main character as well, who lost her mother to the pollen and suffers a near-death experience due to it right at the beginning of the book as well. She becomes obsessive over the man who is behind it, writing to him and constantly thinking about him. She just wants to understand why someone could think to take a life, when every life that still remains was so hard fought for. I think the act of violence added to this as well. There was no physical violence, just the act of cutting open the safety net that everyone needed to survive, and letting the pollen in. However, the way it's written, this slicing of plastic feels just as gruesome as if the killer took the knife directly to the throats of these people, and it just felt really well done.

There are also some magical/mystical elements to all of this, almost adding a layer of magical realism to all of it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a magical realism dystopian genre crossover, and I honestly didn’t even realize it was something that could work this well! I loved the blend of these mystical elements with the harsh reality of the world, and it only worked to further explore that human element at the core of every dystopian novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and I think it’s one that will stick with me for a while! It just led to lots of thinking and reflecting, and honestly, that’s always the best part of dystopians like this!


Review will go live on my blog on May 29.

Another amazing contribution to the growing pool of climate fiction, Sarah Blake is an author I look forward to reading more of.

3.5 out of 5

There's a lot about this book I liked. The world building was a super interesting and unique concept that I've never seen til now. I wish that had been expanded on more, but that's just personal preference. I love the fact that the world building was fully unrealistic, but I don't have a problem accepting what the author says about the setting. (If you have issues with things being unrealistic in a fiction book, start here and dive on in!) I like that it had quite a bit of genre crossover. (I mean who doesn't want a supernatural, post apocalyptic, murder mystery?) The pacing was great for me.

The problem for me was characters. I am a character reader so I don't mind disliking characters, but I want them to make an impact on me and these guys just didn't hit the mark.

However- I would read something else by this author absolutely. I think she has a great creative mind and tons of potential.

“Dear Cami, We couldn’t breathe the air.”
——
I kept waiting for one more twist that never came. I can’t stop talking about this one though, so good!

What I liked:
- Dystopian and mystery mixed together!
- The mix between Covid and Climate change made this so possible that it made this even creepier to think about.

Meh:
- Left wanting more, didn’t believe the criminal actually did it as I said before I thought there was going to be one more twist.

"They want us to have had a real, robust change in response to violence, to the return of violence, but there hasn't been one."

"Why do you think that is?"

..."Maybe because there was more violence around us to start with than people realize. What the trees did, and are doing, can be seen a violence. Sickness is a violence. Death is a violence. Murder- criminal violence- it's not so different."

In the 2040s, the Earth's oxygen is no longer safe to breathe. The Turning led to the air's pollen levels becoming completely lethal. Millions suffocated that first spring, and those who survived were forced indoors, into carefully and elaborately sealed homes where the air is heavily filtered and safe. Even brief exposure to the air outside and you are dead.

Young mother Isabel struggles with the loss of her mother and her place in life as she raises her young daughter, Cami, and when a serial killer begins slashing through homes in their town- exposing the occupants to the air and suffocating them- Isabel springs into action as she tries to protect those closest to her.

Wow! Clean Air came as a total surprise to me! Given the relatively low ratings this book tends to get, I wasn't so sure I would enjoy it, but I really did! It's part sci-fi, part fantasy, part thriller- and the amalgamation of genres is, for me, something that lends the book a lot of its uniqueness and intrigue. I never knew what to expect next while reading it. While it's a bit slow in the beginning, it was interesting getting to know this world post-Turning, and the plot quickly turned very interesting for me. I found it unputdownable (that's literally a word now, apparently) and read it in less than a day. If you enjoy dystopia with a taste of fantasy and a sprinkle of murder mystery...consider checking this one out.

This novel was a bit stagnant for me, unfortunately. First, it started out with too many descriptors, in the beginning, to almost seem bland. I was thrown out of the story numerous times with each slight movement or eye blink from each character. It did loosen up throughout, though.

Living in a post-apocalyptic world, Izabel is finally aiming for peace in her surroundings in her airtight bubble of a home. Raising a young daughter and keeping her marriage intact were her main priorities until a serial killer shatters her newfound bliss.

Feeling as if her world has turned upside down yet again, her daughter, Cami, starts saying frightening things in her sleep, and Izabel tries to track down the killer that has invaded her neighborhood. She can only find tranquility and bliss again when someone catches the killer.

Overall a decent read if you want something quick in between books. I wanted to love it, but it lacked some spark for me. I couldn’t connect or honestly care about the characters, yet the plot was intriguing enough for me to finish the book.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @algonquinbooks and @SarahBlakeauthor for the ARC of Clean Air. I'm excited to be able to promote this book. It's part apocalyptic and part thriller which is something new that I've never read before. It is a tense read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Earth is suffering from climate change. A large part of the population died from air pollution from an overabundance of pollen. People have to live in secured homes. On top of that, a serial killer is on the loose and breaking the protective barrier on family's homes.

I am of two completely different thoughts regarding Clean Air. Sarah Blake wrote a decent mystery. I didn’t guess the killer which I really liked. I do wish that the killer had had more depth, but maybe in today’s world (even though this a futuristic piece) maybe this actually fits the mentality of today’s killer. I thought the tension between Izabel and Jana regarding the killings was well written and made the excitement richer.

I am not a huge fan of the supernatural climate theme which runs alongside the story. I wish there had been a clearer explanation for what happened to Cami. I feel like threads were left hanging in the story which left me feeling unfinished.

Clean Air has some diversity which is great. It tackles a subject that is vital in today’s world. It also addresses a reality we face today while keeping it futuristic. The mystery is the hook for me and why I liked it.

The setting of this book was something I almost couldn’t turn away from. It felt faraway yet shockingly within reach. I thought the serial killer twist added some flair. I will say this is like a 3.5 for me as the dialogue just seemed to fall flat every now and then. But there were lots of twists and turns and it kept me interested.

Clean Air by Sarah Blake, 320 pages. Algonquin Books, 2023. $27. LGBTQIA
Language: R (40 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
In 2042, the airborne pollens that come from trees blooming are deadly, which caused a massive reduction in population several years ago. Izabel (30yo) lives with her husband, Kaito, and their four-year-old daughter, Cami, in the new homes built to protect them from pollen, and life continues mostly like normal. But someone thinks that there hasn’t been enough death. They call him a serial killer. And that’s when Izabel’s daughter starts talking in her sleep.
I love that this stay-at-home mom and her four-year-old are the keys to the story. Watching everything unfold was exciting, and I couldn’t wait to see how things escalated and resolved. Blake’s thriller is almost realistic fiction, but then there’s a supernatural element that doesn’t feel out of place because Kaito is constantly telling Cami Japanese stories, including about mythological monsters. The combination of fantasy and realism is done seamlessly – my heart wants to label it as realistic fiction even as my mind is telling me it’s technically fantasy.
Izabel is Jewish and Uruguayan, Kaito is Japanese, and Jana is Muslim. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of drugs, and mentions of penis, rape, and sex. The violence rating is for murder and mentions of guns, self harm, and suicide.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Clean Air by Sarah Blake

319 Pages
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Release Date: February 8, 2023

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Sci Fi, Fantasy, Mystery, Dystopian, Serial Killer, Climate Change

Climate change has changed the world, but it was not temperature or rising waters that caused it. It was the pollen from the trees which made the air unbreathable. Everyone lives in plastic dome houses, wear masks, and stay inside all the time. No one can survive more than a few seconds before they are overcome with pollen. Izabel’s mother died while she was going to college. She was considered one of the first deaths associated with the Turning (the change in the environment). Now, Izabel is a stay-at-home mother while her husband, a former surgeon, operates farming robots. The news announcement is full of events that a family was murdered when someone slit open their plastic dome house. This is the first killing since the Turning and everyone is on edge. Izabel’s daughter, Cami, seems to be tapped into the killer and talks in her sleep. She knows where he is going and when he is going to kill again.

The book has a fast pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. The author has done an amazing job describing a post-apocalyptic world. Living in Florida, it is disturbing to find high pollen levels in January. With that thought, I can see the possibility of this type of world in our future. If you like sci fi/fantasy dystopian worlds, you will enjoy this book.

What a great book! It has a blend of futuristic qualities with mystery. Both are some of my favorite genres! The author did a great job of introducing you to the time we are in pretty quickly. She even managed to reference the pandemic without it being awkward, which I think is an amazing thing. I loved the mysterious element the most when the characters are trying to solve the murder. I thought this was done the best. A great book if you love mystery and sci-fi blended in together!

It's a fascinating original book about survival, anxiety, and motherhood, but also funny and hopeful.

This was ultimately too bizarre for my taste. I need to believe the world I’m reading and even understanding that we’re in a post apocalyptic future setting where supernatural/mystical things are believed and may occur, there were things I couldn’t let go of and believe as true, mostly because they were bizarre human reactions. Trees talk to children in their sleep and no one even pauses to say hmm that’s odd, never mind that’s ridiculous. (I know they’re in an environment that believes more in mystical things but they don’t report it to the police because they think no one will believe them so they agree it’s odd, yet their first reactions depict nothing more than mild curiosity rather than disbelief, confusion, fear… I would think a more extreme reaction or questioning would be expected). Another example, a man rings a doorbell and is invited in a house and is immediately arrested for suspicion of murder just for showing up (so he must be the guy!) and no one questions anything? It’s way too far beyond believability. The cops letting a civilian question a prime murder suspect any way they want to and reveal information to him if and when they want to? No way. If it’s intentional to be bizarre then it wasn’t taken far enough to make it feel normal for this world. Other than these handful of incidents, the world feels quite plausible and reactions are understandable which makes these moments jarring and unbelievable, taking me out of the story.

I did like that it had a unique twist on a mystery thriller and felt like a fresh take on a Post apocalyptic setting. I was intrigued by and enjoyed the setting a lot. It also was better than a typical whodunit because I didn’t feel like there was a set list of suspects to narrow down… there weren’t really any clues so I kept reading because I needed to know who the killer was and how Cami knew details in her sleep. However, it took me weeks to get through and took too strange a turn for me. I felt like I didn’t understand the people in this world.

I have always been eager to pick up a climate fiction and quite enjoyed reading Clean Air. Trees in attack mode with poisonous pollen. An all-too-real climate apocalypse. Hoping to pick up the audiobook soon for a reread.

Sarah Blake’s new novel “Clean Air” is set in a near future with just a hint of the supernatural. It’s a decade after “The Turning” when the trees shed so much pollen into the air that the atmosphere became unbreathable for humans. The trees have, ironically, saved the remainder of the human race from their own polluting nature. We never get a full description of how it all happened — that’s not what the book is about — but to save itself, humanity had to contend with a flood of pollen and a lack of the titular “clean air.”


https://forward.com/culture/483593/sarah-blake-clean-air-naamah-noah-biblical-flood-climate-change-apocalypse/

I really liked the premise of the story. However, the execution was a bit of a struggle for me. The characters were pretty unlikable, except for Cami. They seemed almost robotic, in fact, initially, I thought it would be revealed that they were robots! There's quite a bit of telling and not showing which to me, slows down the narration and engagement of the storytelling.

After having read Naamah, and reading the description and reviews of this book, it was still not what I had expected. I actually really enjoyed it, although I don't read a lot of sci-fi/dystopia. I always love the way that Sarah Blake writes the interior lives of women. I wasn't really expecting the sort of mystery/thriller aspect of this book, and although it was a bit strange/literary at times, it read a lot more genre than Naamah. I think it's a pretty approachable dystopia book and fits into the "cli-fi" genre as well. I really enjoyed the blending of genres, the characters, and the relationships between characters. Overall I thought it was very different and I liked it a lot. I thought the ending was a bit rushed and kind of tied up a bit too neatly, the interrogation between her and the killer wasn't the most believable. And I have to say that I thought the character of Paz was not particularly well-written. But overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit.