Dystopian fiction is one of my favorite genres to read. It probably goes back to my tween years when I first picked up Stephen King’s The Stand and read what would be my favorite book of all time. Although not quite the epic that tome is, Everest: The Chronicles of Zara Fae does a great job with the dystopian fix I needed. It’s the first book in a series, self-published by author Rachel Connell. There’s enough here that I would be interested in continuing with the series.

Zara Fae is an engineer, responsible for keeping the lights on in a compound known as Everest. It sits partially underground in the western desert, with a river running through it that keeps the power on. Over a hundred years earlier, there was a terrible disease from Europe that killed 75% of the population. Survivors have gathered in differing factions. Inside Everest, it’s a well-ordered society where the leaders are kept separate from the populace.

When a part of her power plant breaks, Zara Fae suspects sabotage. Who, though? The life she has here seems good, although they are frightened of people outside of the compound. When Zara Fae is injured, her memory seems to be triggered about a childhood she can’t remember. This sets the course for the giant unraveling of the lie she’s been an unknowing part of.

I read Everest: The Chronicles of Zara Fae in one sitting. It’s not very long or a terribly difficult read. In fact, I thought it might be a young-adult book. Zara Fae is a young heroine, although not in her teens. She’s been living a life that is a lie, and as that starts to crumble, she wants answers. This part of the story is reminiscent of other stories where a person is brainwashed into forgetting their past and a new one is created for them. This book does not answer why, exactly, but it hints at where the answers are.

The world outside of Everest seems to be Mad Max-style dystopian and has the answers Zara Fae needs. However, once she’s outside of the compound, that will be it; she can never return. Is that what she wants?

The characters are very interesting, although not too deep. Some things happen that don’t seem to make sense, such as Zara Fae being brought to one of the leaders of Everest and let in on some of the secrets there. There may be a payoff further down the line in the books for things like this, but it left me feeling like the story was incomplete. There are a few graphic moments in the story that also seem to be there just for shock value, but there could be a purpose further down the line.

I’m curious enough after reading this to keep my eye out for other stories, but unless you’re prepared to commit to the series, the story here doesn’t really stand on its own. I think perhaps this book should have been longer, with more details for the characters and the setting, rather than the clipped setting depicted. Much of what’s in the promotional blurb about the virus isn’t expanded on, so I’m not quite sure where it’s going to go. I have a wait-and-see attitude right now about recommending it because it doesn’t feel complete enough for me to form an opinion. I was left hanging with too many questions.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley and author Rachel Connell for the advance reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.