DNF at 26%, unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one and ended up having to DNF. The writing style just wasn't for me.

A thought-provoking dystopian novel covering a wide variety of subjects, such as pollution, extinction religion, cults, technology, and mortality; with an insightful look at our current society. Although it started slowly, the author weaves enough suspense into the story to keep you reading on. The characters are well developed, compelling, believable and likeable for the most part. His easy writing style makes this a very quick read that will resonate with many readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The Sanctuary failed to impress me. It isn't well written, it doesn't build an interesting universe, its characters don't possess individuality, their motives aren't convincing, and it fails to build any suspense or tension that could captivate me.

The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray was a very intriguing and interesting story.
I was super excited to start this book and I’m glad to say it didn’t disappoint.
This near-future, Sci-Fi, mystery was so entertaining. I was hooked almost immediately. This slow-burn story was engaging and sometimes thought-provoking.
The story line was unique and kept me interested! I can’t wait to read more from Hunger in the future.

Thank You NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

art way through the first act of this explicitly three-act SF novel, I was finding things distinctly depressing. (But there's better news to come.) The first person protagonist, a portrait artist named Ben, lives in a low-key dystopian future for a country that is never explicitly identified, though is fairly obviously England. Cities are in decay, the economy seems to be pretty much non-existent and the only places that are pleasant to live in are Villages (with a capital V) - walled communities where old rich people are waited on hand on foot by the young poor.

Andrew Hunter Murray has a very cool, detached, almost period writing style - combined with the dismal setting (it's never really explained how we get from where we are now to this miserable future) made the first act difficult to engage with - but the whole feel of the book changes with the second act when the action moves to a private island - the sanctuary of the book's title. This is an apparently utopian society, constructed by the billionaire behind the Villages. Ben manages to get to the island (half-killing himself in the process) to see his fiancée who works there - he expects to hate the place, but initially he finds it beguiling.

The key characters that Ben encounters on the island are surely derived from The Tempest. The Prospero figure is John Pemberley, the billionaire who set up the island, who is even described as a magician, and is accompanied by his daughter, Bianca (the Miranda figure, who only knows life on the island). He has two main supporters - an Ariel equivalent in the scientist Angela, and Caliban represented by the security chief Munro, who only really seems to be in the book to make sure that Caliban is represented as he has very little part to play in the plot. But Ben's growing relationship with John and Bianca, combined with a well-thought through utopian environment really elevates the interest - especially as cracks start emerge and as Ben tries to uncover John's background and what is really happening on the island and how this will change the world at large.

If there is an element of The Tempest here, it is inverted - rather than the shipwrecked sailors transforming Miranda's view of the world, ultimately the book is driven by the Prospero figure's plans - and the 'brave new world' here is the island itself, not the rest of the world. We travel with Ben mentally as he unravels the darker side of the utopia and how it is shaped by John's origin story. The two big denouements at the end of the final act are reasonably well flagged up in advance, so the reader may well be able to predict the ending, though there is at least one unpredictable twist.

All in all, despite a slightly underwhelming start, as soon as Ben reaches the island this book soars and it never loses impetus from then on. It's a thoughtful, impressive science fiction thriller.

I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

In a post climate change, dystopian England of the future, our story is told by Ben. He is working as a portrait painter and his life revolves around his fiancée Cara. She is working for a mysterious company that runs the walled towns where the wealthy live, and to Ben’s frustration, she has been putting off returning home. He is utterly confused when he receives a break-up letter from her with little explanation. This compels him to travel to her last location, a mysterious island called The Sanctuary, a journey that will lead him to discover what is really going on.

Andrew Hunter Murray is a very talented writer and I enjoyed his writing on a sentence level. However, the novel was just too slow going. If the pace had been increased it would have been a 4 or 5 star for me.

Unearth hidden truths and embark on an unforgettable journey…

Book Information

The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray is a 400-page mystery that was first published on May 26, 2022 and is due to be rereleased on January 23, 2024. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.

Summary

In a turbulent, crumbling near-future, Ben, a city-dwelling artist, embarks on a challenging journey to Sanctuary Rock, a secluded island owned by the wealthy philanthropist, Sir John Pemberley. This journey is prompted by Ben's attempt to rekindle his engagement with Cara, who has chosen to make the island her permanent home. However, as he explores the island's enigmatic society, Ben uncovers unsettling truths about Sir John's purported utopia, leaving him to question whether Sanctuary Rock is the paradise it's claimed to be or a concealed realm of darkness.

My Thoughts

Andrew Hunter Murray's "The Sanctuary" is a versatile and thought-provoking novel that defies easy categorization, weaving an intricate narrative that delves into many themes. This character-driven story could be classified as a mystery, thriller, cult thriller, science fiction, and more. It touches on various thought-provoking subjects, such as capitalism, pollution, extinction, technology, religion, cults, and mortality.

While the book starts at a slower pace, it gradually transforms into an imaginative tale that kept me hooked. Initially, I was skeptical and was convinced this would be a three-star read at best. However, as the story progressed, it became increasingly engaging. I found myself constantly considering the mysteries within the novel and eagerly anticipating what would unfold next, even when I wasn't reading. As the book progresses, you are transported into a world where every word feels like a puzzle piece in a mesmerizing narrative mosaic.

As is common in dystopian fiction, "The Sanctuary" offers insightful commentary on our current society, encouraging readers to reflect on their own world by presenting an alternate reality that mirrors some of our own societal issues. The book's thought-provoking narrative invites readers to question the status quo and consider the potential consequences of our actions.

Andrew Hunter Murray's writing style is excellent, and his storytelling is skillfully executed. He excels in creating a vivid and immersive setting that draws readers into the world he has crafted.

While the book does feature twists and surprises, they are delivered in an understated manner, consistent with Murray's writing style. These moments are not bombastic or earth-shattering but rather subtle shifts that add clarity to the narrative and propel the story forward. The twists in 'The Sanctuary' are like hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, keeping you guessing until the very end.

Recommendation

"The Sanctuary" is a compelling and multifaceted novel that offers a slow but rewarding start, an intriguing plot, and a cast of well-developed characters. With its ability to explore a wide range of themes and thought-provoking commentary on contemporary society, this book is a thought-provoking and well-crafted read for those who enjoy character-driven narratives with a touch of mystery, thriller, and science fiction. Recommended.

Rating

4 Enigmatic Stars

This book was well written and the characters developed nicely. I gave it 3 stars because parts of it felt repeatative and drawn out. Definitely not my usual genre either, but I still enjoyed the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and BlackStone publishing for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall the book was honestly not quite what I was hoping for. It did have promise. I was really excited for this book. Some parts I enjoyed more than others. For me the beginning was too slow of a start and the ending could have been better. I do recommend this book to those who like slow burners.

This reminds me of a cozy sci-fi feel and I genuinely enjoyed it. It was a little more of a slow burn which isn't my cup of tea, but I liked the story and how it was told. I was engrossed in the story the entire time.

The book is set in the future and opens during the same week that the King and the last elephant have just died. It's a scary time to live, the cities are full of poverty and animals are going extinct every day. The story focuses on an artist (probably one of the last of his kind) whose fiancée works for a millionaire and spends lots of her time working away on various of his projects. One day he receives a letter from her saying that she is not coming back, and he goes to find her. This involves traveling to 'Sanctuary Island' where he comes face to face with the philanthropist, and continues the search for his fiancée. The book is really well written, there are great twists throughout, it never got boring. I loved it!

This book was definitely not what I was expecting, and I say this in best possible good way.

It’s not a fast-paced story at all and still, I couldn’t stop reading. Andrew Murray has a great style of writing, and it made the story both engulfing and addictive. In the beginning, it seems like the usual thriller, where the main character is driven to a remote location and bodies start dropping. It’s not in the case with this book.

It seemed to me that the plot unraveled in the future, but no. With the consequences of climate change and the growing number of animal species going extinct, this setting doesn’t look that farfetched, with this overpopulated world and the people with money attempting to act like gods. This book slowly turns from realistic towards a dystopian ending, which I wasn’t expecting. It’s masterfully done.

In a near future where the world is turning lawless, Ben, a painter, journeys north to an island off the coast of Scotland in search of his fiancé after she breaks their engagement and disappears on the island. After an arduous journey there, Ben is introduced to an utopian society, where people live in villages, producing their own food, and thriving on sustainable energy. A safe haven away from the rest of the world, where its owner Sir John Pemberly rules single-handedly. However, Ben begins to slowly understand that there’s a horrid truth behind this apparently perfect society and that its owner has far bigger and more dangerous plans than creating paradise on Earth.

The idea for this plot was very well explored and described, and the characters were developed in-depth and given unique perspectives and personalities. Since Ben sets foot in the island, there was a growing sense of unease for me, and it slowly built up throughout the book.

The descriptions are incredible and detailed enough to having me stand on this island alongside Ben as he explores it. He’s a simple man, and his love (or obsession) with his ex-fiancé Cara, is his major driver. His relationship with Pemberly is complex and develops into something deeper as they progressively get closer.

Pemberly himself is a bit of a mystery and is very complex as a character. He rules this island where normal rules don’t apply, controlling every moving part in this supposed paradise. He sounded very much like a cult leader at some point in the story and it didn’t get any better.

My only critique is that I would have liked to see more action elements throughout the book and not just in the final chapters. The twist was a nice surprise, but it was the style of writing that kept me reading. I usually prefer something with a quicker pace.

Still, I would have to have a sequel to see what happens after that unexpected finale. I will definitely be reading other books from Murray.

This can be grouped into so many genres! Dystopian, Sci-Fi, mystery, thriller even cult thriller. Ben has lost his girlfriend, Cara, who has moved to a remote island, Sanctuary Rock. When he decides to win her back, Ben sees that Sanctuary Rock is nothing like he thought it would be. This is a slow burn read, as Ben sees the truth about the island and the millionaire philanthropist who owns it. The island is cult-like. You will question how close to reality this could be and ask yourself a lot of what if questions. I personally am not a dystopian fan and I rarely read a sci-fi novel. But this book has my interest peaked and I will find more from this author and others in these genres.

In a disintegrating and increasingly lawless land, a young man is travelling north. Ben is a young painter from the crowded, turbulent city. For six months his fiancée Cara has been living on the remote island of Sanctuary Rock, the property of millionaire philanthropist Sir John Pemberley. Now she has decided to break off their engagement and stay there for good.

This was really slow and I didn't feel like the pay-off was worth it. Wouldn't recommend.

In the near future, earth and its citizens are in trouble. Overcrowding, climate change and crime have made life a living hell. Ben’s fiancee has been living and working on a remote island belonging to uber-wealthy philanthropist, Sir John Pemberly. Now she has informed Ben she’s not coming back and has broken off their engagement. Determined to find out why, Ben begins a perilous journey to the island, where he finds what appears to be a utopian society, but he soon learns the island is anything but a sanctuary