A review by whatyoutolkienabout
The Green Panthers by Tom Vater

5.0

As always my reviews are always 100% honest and my own opinions. I will try to never fully spoil a plot. This particular copy I was given access to a copy to review as part of a book tour by Henry Roi PR Book Tours. #HenryRoiPR #HenryRoiPRBookTour #TheGreenPanthers #TomVater #BookTour

Wow. That’s the best word I can use to sum this book up. It was certainly a thrill ride and offered a lot more than I expected. This may seem like an aside but anyone who knows me knows that the state of the world, climate and how we are interacting with the environment, particularly animals, are big issues for me. Now I have no chance of ever dreaming to join a group such as the Green Panthers (if they existed) but I can see I enjoyed that this dystopian science fiction thriller gave me the feeling that I was right there in the action with them.

The Green Panthers are a privately sponsored, multi-national underground army on a mission to hold corporate polluters to account. They are Clara Green, Emerald, Chartreuse, Olive, Hunter, Juniper and Forest.

What should be a simple rescue of a snow leopard hunted by British tycoons in Siberia, the Green Panthers stumble onto Project SILEO, a millionaires; plot to abandon an overpopulated, dying planet battered by climate change and pollution. SILEO is a lot more than it seems and the Panthers soon learn of an even greater threat to humanity. From Britain to Thailand and the privately-owned space station Stella blue, the panthers race against time to save the human race from a man only known as a Slow King. Soon riots and unrest take hold all over the world can they stop the Slow King’s apocalyptic ambitions?

This book explores systemic corruption, capitalism, space exploration and climate change as well as the nature of friendship and courage in a future world where everything is for sale.

While this is a dystopian thriller set in a future world it is easy to see a lot of the issues the Green Panthers face are evident right now in the world we live in. It might seem bleak but I feel that Vater and those like him who take these themes and explore them in fiction shed light on how it’s not too late to find the issues and start a change. The Green Panthers is action packed and sometimes dark but thread throughout is the idea of hope. Each of the Panthers hold strong to their beliefs and wanting the best for humanity and ultimately it keeps them going. I honestly could not put this down when I started. Each character was well developed, even ones like the Slow King and while this had a bit more science fiction than I expected (not a bad thing at all) I can honestly say I adored it!

A little bit of spoiler but one of my favourite parts might seem silly but is the start and end following the snow leopard who arguably started it all. It was lovely to see that nature was continuing especially with the cubs. It was just a brilliant way for Vater to drive home just what the Panthers had done and I really would instantly buy a sequel to this and hope we might see it in the future.

If you are looking for an action packed dystopian thriller that deals with environmental issues this is one for you. Even if you are not interested in the environmental side you are still sure to love this. I know I did!