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rachhenderson's review against another edition
3.0
In roughly 2060, the United Kingdom has been ravaged by disease and unemployment rates are sky high. A ship load of struggling citizens sign up to travel to Australia, after careful health vetting, with the promise of employment at the other end. Cleary is a young boy traveling with his single mother. Billie worked in the hospital death wards before losing her job. Tom is a struggling young teacher. Three weeks into their journey, a crew member is violently murdered and soon after passengers start dying of a mysterious disease.
I expected to really enjoy this. I love a good dystopian novel and sympathise with the plight of refugees (which was the unspoken parallel of the story). But I struggled to connect to the characters, and therefore found it a little dull. And, having lived through a pandemic, the premise that Australia would be disease free while other countries deal with mass illness and death just doesn't ring true.
2.5 stars rounded up
I expected to really enjoy this. I love a good dystopian novel and sympathise with the plight of refugees (which was the unspoken parallel of the story). But I struggled to connect to the characters, and therefore found it a little dull. And, having lived through a pandemic, the premise that Australia would be disease free while other countries deal with mass illness and death just doesn't ring true.
2.5 stars rounded up
neridah's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Engaging lovable characters, prescient plot, a bit more realistically grim than expected
tiahna1's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Up and down to pull me in, but bloody hell I hate ambiguous endings!
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
‘How did the captain know which way to sail?’
In this novel, set in the near future, a shipload of migrants is seeking a better future. These migrants, aboard the Steadfast, are seeking to leave overcrowded, disease-ridden countries in Europe, and are looking for a fresh start in prosperous Australia. Our window into the journey is via the points of view of three characters. Cleary Sullivan is nine years old, has been deaf for three years, and is travelling with his mother. Cleary is looking for adventure and new friendships. Billie Galloway, a Scots nurse assistant, is looking to put the past behind her, while English schoolteacher Tom Garnett is hoping for a brighter future. All the passengers have been subjected to rigorous health checks, so when a crew member is found murdered and passengers start falling dangerously ill, the Steadfast descends into chaos. Who killed the crew member? What is making passengers so ill, and can it be treated?
‘The facts point to commercial sabotage.’
The Steadfast becomes a modern plague ship, travelling though the ocean, unwanted. Cleary’s mother becomes ill: Cleary, Billie and Tom join forces. Who will survive? Will they find a place of safety?
This is a deeply unsettling novel. The near future of this fiction is (in slightly different forms) the current reality for many. We already have groups that are anti-migration, we already have island-sized patches of plastic choking our oceans and no-one needs to look too hard to find heartless politicians (who, distressingly, reflect a significant degree of public opinion). It’s not too difficult to believe that greed and inhumanity will (continue) to triumph.
How will it end? You’ll need to read it for yourself
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In this novel, set in the near future, a shipload of migrants is seeking a better future. These migrants, aboard the Steadfast, are seeking to leave overcrowded, disease-ridden countries in Europe, and are looking for a fresh start in prosperous Australia. Our window into the journey is via the points of view of three characters. Cleary Sullivan is nine years old, has been deaf for three years, and is travelling with his mother. Cleary is looking for adventure and new friendships. Billie Galloway, a Scots nurse assistant, is looking to put the past behind her, while English schoolteacher Tom Garnett is hoping for a brighter future. All the passengers have been subjected to rigorous health checks, so when a crew member is found murdered and passengers start falling dangerously ill, the Steadfast descends into chaos. Who killed the crew member? What is making passengers so ill, and can it be treated?
‘The facts point to commercial sabotage.’
The Steadfast becomes a modern plague ship, travelling though the ocean, unwanted. Cleary’s mother becomes ill: Cleary, Billie and Tom join forces. Who will survive? Will they find a place of safety?
This is a deeply unsettling novel. The near future of this fiction is (in slightly different forms) the current reality for many. We already have groups that are anti-migration, we already have island-sized patches of plastic choking our oceans and no-one needs to look too hard to find heartless politicians (who, distressingly, reflect a significant degree of public opinion). It’s not too difficult to believe that greed and inhumanity will (continue) to triumph.
How will it end? You’ll need to read it for yourself
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
thehaikubandit's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
thisgirl_writes's review against another edition
4.0
A very well-written book, and scarily close to home with the descriptions of the pandemic, PPE etc. Three distinct character voices and a compelling plot.
wyrmes's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Violence, Confinement, Drug use, Murder, Vomit, Xenophobia, Ableism, Blood, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Excrement, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, and Forced institutionalization
homicidal_potato's review against another edition
4.0
Thought this was more of a climate change dystopian when I picked it up, which it is, but the main plot has to do with viral pandemic. So, points to me for unintentionally starting a pandemic book during an actual pandemic. Again.