In Transition Age, Tyler Corriveau creates a phenomenal world that feels so familiar and uncomfortably close to our own. Establishing a rich, detailed history of wars, conflicts, and rebuilding, Corriveau does more than just set the stage; he provides essential context for why the characters feel and act the way they do. As a sucker for world-building, this was easily my favorite part—Corriveau’s descriptions are so vivid and thorough that you can visually see every detail he describes.

The story follows the main character, Iris, through a whirlwind of emotional ups and downs as she struggles to regain memories of her life and what she has been through. The reader is right there with her, feeling every bit of her shock, heartbreak, and anxiety. I was stunned by how much plot and emotion were packed into just 100 pages. The ending hit like a cannonball, and now I’m left trying my hardest to be patient for book two. Thank you, Tyler Corriveau, for such a compelling and well-created page-turner!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, it was a thoroughly engaging experience!

https://www.transitionagetrilogy.com/

A rich, scifi world opens up and races forward in a chase which keeps tension high the entire way through.

Iris suddenly wakes up in a lab, riddled with injuries and connected to machines, but there's little time to think as alarms howl and smoke rises. She has no idea what is going on...she has no idea who she even is. But that she needs to escape or die is very clear. Heading toward what she hopes is an exit, she bursts free and falls into a river just before everything falls apart and would drown if a passing small boat didn't fish her out further down the river. The man immediately recognizes that she's in trouble and promises to take her somewhere safe to give her care, while showing obvious disdain for whatever place it was that she escaped from. Unfortunately, those who held her are never going to let her go and will hunt her down no matter what.

The author begins this tale in an original and potent way. Instead of diving right into the story, the first 17 or so pages hit with summaries of the years, starting with modern times and ending when this story takes place, 2159. These lay out political and social events in a grabbing way to show how present day mutated into the world, where Iris faces her adventure, and the logic is nicely presented to create an intriguing and solid foundation. Then, we meet Iris...or the girl who later learns that she's Iris.

The moment Iris awakens, the book races with just enough breath in between action scenes to let the characters each gain a bit of depth as well. While it's not clear what Iris is up against, at first, the danger of the situation is impossible to miss. The hunt for her identity soon molds into a thick web of intrigue, which seems to grow more sinister and dire with each secret that's revealed. Add the constant ticking of the clock, which Iris faces since those hunting her are very powerful and capable, and it's a read to hold in the pages the entire way through. Considering that it's only around 150 pages, that's a short burst, too.

My critique: the book is too short...and I say that without taking away stars from my review. The book grabs and I found myself at the end faster than I realized that I'd reached the last page. That doesn't happen often. Unfortunately, the ending hits on a huge cliffhanger. It gives me the impression of a quick episode of a tale rather than the first novel in a series because everything is open and nothing is tied up. But I definitely want to know what happened next. So, those readers who don't like cliffhangers will have a problem with this, but those who simply enjoy good, grabbing tales in quick bites at a time...well, this one is exactly that.

Well, this was exciting! The central plotline is one I'm familiar with, but usually it's something I encounter in movies or TV shows rather than in a book. It definitely leans into dystopian territory, offering a glimpse of a future that feels unsettlingly possible.

As the first book in a trilogy, it does a good job of laying the groundwork and leaving me curious about what comes next. There are still plenty of questions to answer, and I'm interested enough to continue with the series to see where the story goes. If you're a fan of dystopian fiction and stories that explore possible futures, this is worth checking out.