I let out a sigh of relief when I finished this book. I know that sounds harsh, but I had such high hopes for it. Even though I have a shaky relationship with YA, there are still many books I enjoy. However, these characters felt very young and naive for someone who has had a hard life. There were multiple times when the FMC just couldn’t believe that she was this new person or that they had to do certain things. Repeating this thought multiple times, and I just was not into it. I loved the premise of having to survive in a new environment while being manipulated by others. But it was focusing on things that I just did not care about, since I did read the arc, it was very raw. To the point where there were multiple words missing, and I got annoyed that I might be missing something important. This book was just not for me, but I could see people who really love young adult books being satisfied.

Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen Publishing, I received an ARC for an honest review!

Anyone who knows me knows I love a dystopian book. I couldn't get enough YA dystopian back in the day, and now that we find ourselves living in one (albeit a poorly written one with really unlikable characters), that hasn't changed. I do find myself wondering about the plausibility of them, and wow, this one feels absolutely realistic. Terrifyingly so, really. The rich just want to get richer while keeping the poor as oppressed as possible, offering them scraps just so they keep working for them. Literally and figuratively using the poor and oppressed to keep themselves afloat. It's horrible, and it's honest, and it will make you mad. It's supposed to, after all.

Fox is trying to rescue her sister after a heist gone wrong, and to do so, she finds herself infiltrating the government's competition to find new recruits for their military. Two of her friends join her, for their own reasons (and to support Fox, but not just to support Fox) and they find themselves in a brutal competition where the losers don't just get to go back home and live happily ever after. This book is definitely brutal, and this government (much like our current one) has absolutely no qualms about using anyone and everyone for their own gain. Fox just wants her sister back, but the lengths she'll have to go to even survive are wild.

Add to it, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes situations that Fox has no idea about, and it will all come into play. The story is an absolutely wild ride, and I adored the characters and the world-building (I also hated said world, but again, that is supposed to happen). There really, really needs to be a sequel happening, or I think we have to overthrow Peachtree? Is that how this works? Idk but I neeeed more, okay? Thanks!

Bottom Line: Relevant and maddening while being entertaining and emotive, this was a win all around!

Climate of Chaos is the best recent science fiction YA book I've read. The world, the dystopian vibes, and the technology were so spot on. I loved the ways in which Newbould asks questions about how we view bodies, their usefulness, and society in the future. It's a world in which we only watch out for ourselves, in which our lives are a hairs breadth away from destruction. A society where they have all these lives which they deem acceptable to lose. Climate of Chaos is a story about what we would sacrifice for community, ourselves, and the cause. And what happens when it doesn't work both ways.

Climate of Chaos is a compelling addition to the dystopian YA genre, offering a high-stakes survival story with a refreshing and much-needed disabled protagonist at its center. The world-building is immersive and unsettling, drawing clear parallels to present-day issues like climate change, corporate power, and the consequences of unchecked inequality. The characters are dynamic and well-developed, and the plot moves with a sense of urgency that keeps the tension high.

However, I found the book to fall a little flat when it came to the emotional payoff. While the stakes were consistently high and the characters faced intense challenges, the resolution didn’t fully deliver the catharsis or depth of feeling I was hoping for. Key moments that should have hit harder emotionally felt somewhat muted, leaving the ending less impactful than the journey that led there. Despite this, the book remains a thought-provoking and important read, especially for teens interested in stories of resilience, resistance, and survival in a fractured world.

I was very excited to read this book, because a dystopian novel focused on the healthcare crisis and se in my city (Seattle) sounds right up my alley, and while I did really enjoy it I am a little disappointed to learn that it's actually the start of a series, which was frustrating, seeing as I don't start a series until all of the books are out. So heads up for everyone else, this is not a standalone. Now, on to the rest of the review. The world that Newbould has created is a fascinating one, and I think for the most part it does what it accomplishes, but I do wish we got a little more depth into that world. I get the feeling that it was really just a climate ravaged world but I'm not sure I got a full picture of what happened to the rest of the US, and the world as a whole. I'm also not sure I understand the hierarchical structure of the haves and the have-nots. Like, is there upward mobility or? And what is the school structure like? I think the other thing that stopped this from being a 5-star read was how the main character would come to some of these conclusions about things. I don't want to spoil anything, but there was a really big one that is kind of the catalyst for the ending events, and honestly I'm not sure how that came about. Maybe it will make more sense when I re-read it once all of the books are out, but for now I'm a little stumped as to where she was coming up for the evidence for this big "discovery" she made. It mostly just seemed like that's what she wanted to think because it fit her narrative, and then she managed to get all of her friends to agree to it to. All of that being said, I really loved Fox. It was great seeing a disabled character as the lead in a dystopian world (especially one where healthcare is the big thing the story revolves around), and the side characters were also a lot of fun. I already ordered in copies for my store, and I plan on writing a shelf talker when I get the time. I'll also be buying a copy for myself, and I look forward to seeing where Newbould takes the series with the next book(s), because it's set up to be an exciting ride.

I have loved dystopian fiction since I was a kid, and this book is no exception. While I did notice some similarities to The Hunger Games, it invoked more of a sense of nostalgia in me than any annoyance - and this book proved to me that it can certainly stand on its own. With an original plot, an intriguing setting, and a fiery disabled protagonist, Climate of Chaos was thoroughly enjoyable to read from beginning to end. I look forward to recommending this book to the teens that I work with, and I am eagerly awaiting the author's next release!

A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

Climate of Chaos is extremely relevant to the world we live in today. Political upheaval, climate concerns, healthcare control issues, and so much more. Not only did I enjoy Fox’s personal journey of strength and growth, I also loved seeing her accomplish goals in spite of her health. It was refreshing to cheer for a character with true flaws and physical challenges! Truly an important message wrapped in a beautifully dystopian world. I loved every second of it! Would love to see a book 2!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Climate of Chaos by Cassandra Newbould is a first person-POV YA dystopia that takes place in the Pacific Northwest after America has collapsed. Fox (aka Leigh) and her younger sister Rabbit have joined their aunt’s cause in making sure everyone has access to medicine when the elite hoard it after a devastating virus spreads through the world. But on one of their missions, Rabbit is taken and Fox is forced to leave her sister behind before she can go back to save her.

Fox is disabled from the virus and we do get some insight into how it makes her life more difficult. She struggles with walking at times and during her training with Still Alive, she notices that strengthening her core does help her move but it also does cause her some pain. I did really appreciate how this nuance is showcased because exercise and stretching can absolutely help with some things and are necessary for keeping our bodies moving well (even young people should be stretching), but it is exhausting and the process can be very painful.

Rabbit is never really far from Fox’s mind. The two have a very close bond and since Fox helped raise Rabbit, they have a bit more of a complex relationship. When the two are separated, Fox even buys Rabbit a charm for her birthday (her star sign) and plans to give it to her when they are reunited. The strong thread of a sister relationship works fairly well in dystopia because it creates a very personal motivation that a lot of people can connect to and I think it worked well here.

The lack of access to healthcare might feel familiar to many young readers these days. Not too long ago, social media was full of rage because diabetics were being priced out of life-saving insulin and there is always a fear in American society that healthcare can be taken away because of how our system works. My hope is that most young readers will be familiar with the concepts but not have to worry about this in their own lives, but there is a risk that they will be deeply familiar with it. Rabbit having the potential inside of her to create a new vaccine that could save lives is both very cool and also horrifying because she’s still a child. Children shouldn’t be guinea pigs, but it’s impossible to say ‘no’ when you know you can save the world.

I would recommend this to fans of dystopia who are looking for climate fiction and readers who love a strong sister relationship in speculative fiction

It was just supposed to be a “simple” drug heist at the ER when the plan goes left. Fox and Rabbit, sisters, go in together but they get separated due to new protocols. They plan to meet later, and Fox completes the mission. Unfortunately, Rabbit never comes home. Now it’s Fox and her friends who are going back to save her sister, except no one is who they seem, and secrets are everywhere.

I’m not a fan of the cover and I think that’s because I just wrote a review where the author changed the cover to something just like this. I think this is my third cover this year like this and the books are good. BUT, I would have never bought it based on the cover. A lot of readers are cover ‘hos like me. Once again, I have a BUT, it does match the story.

Climate of Chaos is so good. It’s action-packed with great descriptive detail. I felt like I was sweating waiting in line. Fox suffers from chronic pain and asthma which makes what she does pretty badass. I will say that I’m envious of her mobility device as mine does nothing.😆

The story is complicated, and it’s supposed to be. Unfortunately for everyone involved it’s a long-term plan where difficult choices are made. It does make for great reading and action sequences. The core of the book is about friendship and found family. Sometimes you have no choice but to make your own community and Fox ends up doing just that.

The secondary cast is awesome. This is where friend code is showcased as strong, loyal, and life-risking. They all go in having no clue what happens next. They just know that they need to stop the plague from spreading and hopefully save Rabbit. Be prepared for some heartbreak because I fell for these characters right away and no one gets off scot-free.

I’m so glad that I signed up for this book. Cassandra Newbould gives us a fantastic young adult dystopian story that I hope is just the beginning of a series.

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book did not land for me. The premise was good, but I don't think the world building was very thought out and the plot felt very messy. The story was not bad, but...the fact that the ARC had so many letters missing and full sentences about what was on the signs was insane for a traditionally published book. It really took me out of this story and for that, I cannot review this any higher. Maybe this was just an error in how the arc was submitted, I'm not sure but I hope for the author's sake that these issues are resolved before publishing.

Some examples:
"At the bottom right corner of the sign in smaller font it says: -"
"Dicult" instead of difficult. "Eciently" instead of efficiently. "inger" instead of finger.

this was a great read! one of my first post apocalyptic reads and very much enjoyed it! Characters were well written and I genuinely was entered by their story! Pacing was great, I had a hard time putting this down and just wanted to keep reading!

This book was just an okay read for me. It took me a bit to get into it. The first half didn't really hold my attention but it picked up in the second half. I expected more of an apocalyptic vibe or more of how the climate caused the world's decline....but I was left with a lot of questions.

I love apocalyptic, end of the word, virus books and this one was okay. I would recommend it to anyone who likes this genre but expect to be left with a few questions.

Thank you for the opportunity!

Climate of chaos is a post apocalpse novel. Its a fast paste story about survival, love, faith and family. I absolutely loved this book and secretly hope for another book.

The novel delves into themes of survival, systemic inequality, and the consequences of unchecked climate change. Fox’s character is portrayed with depth, highlighting her resilience and the challenges she faces due to her disability.

twists were great, ending was great, everything was in general great!! would definitely recommend. 5 stars for this semi-throwback to the 2010s and semi-all too real and timely work. tysm for the arc.

I have to give Climate of Chaos credit for being an interesting topic and tackling some tough issues. The author did a good job of addressing seemingly real life issues and making the characters feel real. I also appreciated the disability representation in the story. Pacing was a big issue for me in this story because it was so inconsistent and made it hard to stay interested in the story. Overall, it was a good story and reflected the love the two sisters had.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Climate of Chaos had a really cool premise and tackled some important topics, which I appreciated. There were parts where the emotions hit hard and the characters felt super relatable. But overall, the pacing felt a bit off — some sections dragged while others felt rushed. I found myself wishing for a little more depth in a few places, especially with the side characters. Still, it had a lot of heart and some strong moments that made it worth the read. Definitely a solid book if you’re into stories about change, resilience, and finding your voice.

Climate of Chaos follows Fox LaRosa, a seventeen-year-old on her first mission to officially join her aunt’s mercenary group to restore the imbalance of medicine access. Their world is ravaged by storms and vicious virus. The only safe place is inside the Aegis Corp domes—except if you’re too injured or don’t work enough, then you’re sent to Harvest House and never heard from again. When Fox’s sister is taken on their mission, she risks everything to recuse her and infiltrates the domes only to discover there’s more danger than she thought.

Dystopian is such a good genre and it’s a shame there’s not more books getting released. They’re just so fun and interesting and gripping and Climate of Chaos was no different. I loved the exploration of medical debt and climate change. It was a very poignant read. The plot was really interesting, and I loved getting to learn more about Harvest House and the domes. The author created a really fascinating world.

Fox was a great main character and had such great disability rep. I loved how much she cared for her sister and how protective she was. Their relationship was so strong, and I think a lot of sisters could relate to it. And Fox’s relationship with her friends was so sweet. There’s such good found family in this book and I can’t wait to see where it goes in the sequel.

Overall, if you love dystopian, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try!

Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for the arc

This was a gritty dystopian YA with a vivid setting. Raging storms, a crumbling healthcare system, and the weight of medical debt. I really appreciated the disability rep in Fox (a fierce FMC) and the themes of survival, sisterhood, and rebellion were strong.

But overall, this landed as a 3-star read for me. The first big challenge took up such a huge chunk of the book that the primary plot driver started to feel like an afterthought. By the time the story tried to circle back, things moved so quickly that I didn’t feel like I had time to catch up or fully invest in the ending.

That said, I think readers looking for something gritty and socially relevant with ‘Maze Runner’ meets ‘Divergent’ vibes will still find a lot to enjoy here!