I really loved this third book in the Antipodes series. More like Book 1, there was a ton of adventure, and new plot points were brought in that really deepened the story to another level. Cam is dealing with a serious loss, and embarks on a quest to fulfill promises, honour his grief, and hopefully get some closure. He also starts to peel back the layers of deception in another community’s attempts to dominate those left surviving. We meet some great new characters, and see some old favourites as they find new challenges in their life on Lewis. Ouroboros might be my favourite of the 3 books I’ve read in this series so far. Lots of drama and action, keep it coming Ms. Simons!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erica Shoebridgehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErica Shoebridge2021-05-28 16:42:002021-05-29 14:25:37Ouroboros (Antipodes Book 3) by T.S. Simons – Review by Erica Shoebridge
Ouroboros is the 3rd book in the Antipodes series written by T.S. Simons. You will definitely want to read the books in the order they were released to have the best experience. The book is about a dystopian world interspersed with love, finding a family away from your own family, adventure, and so much more. It also makes you think about your own life and what is important. The search for answers may not always lead you to a happy ending but may make you find things about yourself that you don’t like. I hope you enjoy reading what Cam finds as this journey of discovery and challenges continues.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Betsy Melanohttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBetsy Melano2021-05-27 21:25:282021-05-28 07:41:39Ouroboros (Antipodes III) by T.S. Simons – Review by Betsy Melano
The Liminal Space, the second in the Antipodes series, was a fantastic adventure of a novel. Cam has found love, family, and happiness on Lewis. Returning to his Scottish roots, he finds an amazing community of like-minded souls who embrace him into their world. When Freyja returns, he finds out the truth about what happened to his wife, and learns about the forces that were at play to trick him. When he discovers that there is a chance a loved one is still alive in another domed community, he is compelled to set out on a journey again in the hopes of finding them.
I thought this was a good follow-up to Antipodes, though I found the character of Laetitia a bit boring. She didn’t come to life for me as much as Freyja did in the first book. I did enjoy reading a bit of her backstory, and seeing how she grew up. All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to the 3rd installment.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erica Shoebridgehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErica Shoebridge2021-05-27 19:40:082021-05-28 07:32:49The Liminal Space (Antipodes Book 2) by T.S. Simons – Review by Erica Shoebridge
This is a YA dystopian story that reimagines how the world might look like if we gave young people the chance to start over. The plot is creative and the characters are well-developed. I enjoyed the setting in Australia and Scotland, two places I love very much, and the details of the world-building make this book come alive. This was also a really interesting book to read in the middle of a pandemic and it had a lot of interesting commentary on inclusivity, sustainability, and equality. I don’t really read a lot of dystopian fiction but these themes and the focus on character rather than plot made this an enjoyable read for me.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Netania Limhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngNetania Lim2021-05-27 09:32:412021-05-28 06:39:58Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Netania Lim
This is the third book in this series which I enjoyed from beginning to end. If you haven’t read the previous two books, I highly suggest doing so to help you enjoy the most from this series. This is a well written story about friendship and the value of that friendship. The characters took me on a journey of looking for answers and realizing that you may not like what you find. As the story comes to full circle they are faced with things that are threatening and having to defend those they love. This was a really great story and my favorite yet in this series. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next for Cam.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Bobbi Wagnerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBobbi Wagner2021-05-26 07:32:332021-05-27 08:47:43Ouroboros (Antipodes III) by T.S. Simons – Review by Bobbi Wagner
Ouroboros is the third book in the Antipodes series by T.S Simons. It is a post-apocalyptic, dystopian story with some science fiction elements, romance, drama, discovery, friendship, trials, twists, tension, mystery, and adventure. I thought this third addition to the series felt more “grown up” than the previous two, which makes it my favourite of the series so far. I have really enjoyed the series, but this book takes things up a few notches for me. Quite a lot has happened since we started back in book one. But things aren’t about to get easier in this book. This will see friendships tested, discoveries made, and danger threatens. I really think the Antipodes series would make a great television series too. I can see it coming to life on the small screen. Another intriguing and thought-provoking read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2021-05-25 07:50:492021-05-25 12:41:59Ouroboros (Antipodes III) by T.S. Simons – Review by Angela Hayes
Antipodes is a YA dystopian novel that has an interesting plot about building a sustainable and a civilized society post an epidemic. It is around an apocalyptic event around a disease that threatens all life on Earth. We can relate to this story in the context of the current pandemic situation we have in this world. Cam Mackintosh is in his last year studying at Melbourne University , he is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help construct a brand new society on an island off the coast of Australia after a devastating epidemic hits Australia. The community is given a fresh start, a brand-new eco-friendly village, isolated from the rest of the world yet up-to-date with today’s technology. August Island’s community is built on inclusiveness, sustenance, acceptance and protecting the environment.
I really liked this story, it is about hope and new beginnings. Sometimes, I wonder how this world is going to be post this pandemic which is around us now. Would we be more kinder, compassionate to one another? Will we have more acceptance in our world after everything we went through? This book does make you think.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Anantha Rusumhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAnantha Rusum2021-05-23 21:31:292021-05-24 00:58:51Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Anantha Rusum
Wow, I was very surprised of how much I really loved this book. It made me think to present day as we are dealing with the COVID19 pandemic and this story is a long the lines of a epidemic that had a deadly outbreak in the water. The main character, Cam, really pulled at my heart strings, making the ultimate decision to leave this family to continue to live off of an island that had to be self sustaining. The emotions on his grief leaving his family, I could not imagine having to make that decision. Living among a selection of other people and building this new “world” that is self sustaining is intriguing. There is so much to this story and I am looking forward to continuing the series to see what happens next.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lorralei Hoernerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLorralei Hoerner2021-05-22 21:54:482021-05-24 00:32:04Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Lorralei Hoerner
I read the second book in this series first and really enjoyed it so I thought that I would go back and read the first one, and I am so glad that I did. Funnily enough, reading books in order gives you a lot of context for things and gave the characters more depth. Also, more of Simon’s work is never a bad thing. In Antipodes, the world is going a little bit to crap following an outbreak and Cam Mackintosh is offered the chance to help build a sustainable community out of the way of the nasty that is doing its rounds on the earth. Jumping at the chance, the neat little community thrives, managing to effectively create their own little corner of paradise. Though struggling with his own weighty crap, Cam eventually finds love and gives himself over to the new way of life, finding a new meaning to his life. That is until his lady love goes missing and he is forced to go look for her. I’ve got to say that I really enjoyed this book and it really gave me a new appreciation for the next book in the series. Simons as always writes fantastically, penning something that is truly unique and intriguing.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Danielle Dandohttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDanielle Dando2021-05-22 21:27:152021-05-24 00:30:39Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Dani Dando
This was a fascinating read from a new author.. I found it very interesting considering today’s world. She makes the plotline realistic I love the comparisons as to why geodome is better than the round domes The many secrets to the colonies. Campbell has a lot to deal with – leaving his family, which girl does he want to be with; and life’s ultimate question, where does he belong? T.S. takes on a pretty cool journey through Australia and Scotland (buckle up, it’s a doozy). This is the first of a series and I can’t wait to read more. So many questions left to be answered.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shelly Kittellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShelly Kittell2021-05-21 14:18:352021-05-21 14:33:57Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Shelly Kittell
I love a good book that not only entertains you, but teaches you something, as well. Antipodes by T.S. Simons does just that. This is a Young Adult Dystopian novel, but it is set in the present day, not some far-off date in the future. Considering what is currently happening in the world, this is a rather timely, appropriate read, especially for young people. (And, the author wrote it BEFORE the pandemic began!) Antipodes touches on many social issues that are prevalent in today’s society and that we all deal with on a daily basis: environmentalism, gender, equality, disease, etc. The characters are interesting to follow, as well, and this is definitely an escape read. Luckily, it is the first book in a series (the following two are titled The Liminal Space and Ouroboros, as well as a prequel titled The Crossroads). It’s safe to say I will be checking those out next! 4 stars.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Christine J. Spulakhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChristine J. Spulak2021-05-20 20:00:092021-05-21 09:55:18Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Chrissy Spulak
Antipodes is a unique young adult dystopian story set in and around Australia. Cam is a man in his 20s who lives in Australia with his mom, dad, and older sister. He attends college and is pretty content with his life until he hears about a deadly outbreak in Europe that will soon affect the entire world. Cam is chosen to go to an island with a few hundred other individuals and start a new community, safe from the outbreak. Cam is a very relatable character who struggles with survivors guilt. He finds friendship and companionship and does his best to contribute to the new society. One day, his girlfriend Freja disappears and Cam is left wondering where she could’ve gone. He eventually stumbles upon an antipode, which is a portal between two locations, and he finds himself in Scotland. He makes new friends and learns more about himself. But the memory of Freja still haunts him so he continues his search. This book is well written and I had a hard time putting it down. I’d definitely recommend it!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Elizabeth Rosenberghttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngElizabeth Rosenberg2021-05-19 20:12:042021-05-20 12:58:15Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Elizabeth Rosenberg
Original. Engrossing. Page-turner. These are just a few words that I’d use to describe T.S Simons’ Antipodes. The storyline for this novel was organic, unique, creative and unpredictable. With reading any novel the reader has an inkling of the outcome. T.S captivates the reader’s attention with artistic curveballs and a storyline that makes you sit up and take notice. There were multiple elements encompassed in this story that made the storyline more thought-provoking.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Opal Nelsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngOpal Nelson2021-05-19 19:54:162021-05-20 12:56:26Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Opal Nelson
First off needles to say I FREAKING loves this book is a undestatment. As I was reading there was an instant connection to the characters as well as where the book was taking place…
with the world how it is in current times, i felt so much relation with times of covid..mistakes of others make us pay for how we live in the world we do now. it made me truly think if we changed things we did would we be in in the situations or reality we currently are?
The characters, they were not just characters you loved or hated you undestood them. and that doesnt alwasys happen in novels. you got to feel their feelings and thoughts and undestand why they are the way they are and how they choose to be based on their own experiences.
And to add this book was a true eye opener for survival. Not just physically in a world that can greatly change but mentall survive in the changing world for what it is.
The book was very captivaiting. It wasa book that greatly provided a great distraction for me. It really gave me a great read as well as great enterainment.
This is a novel worth picking up and reading. If your anything like me you will yearn for more and want to see what happens to the characters next!
Again it was an amazing read and I loved it truly!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lorrene Huismanhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLorrene Huisman2021-05-19 11:31:192021-05-19 12:24:28Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Lorrene Huisman
What a well thought out dystopian tale! I found this read to be fascinating; especially, at a time like this! It really made you think about how would we, as a society, cope with something more devastating than Covid. I felt like I was learning how to survive as I read and that kept me reading. I had to know how the characters dealt with everything!
Definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Desiree Ottingerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDesiree Ottinger2021-05-19 05:32:582021-05-19 09:08:08Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Desiree Ottinger
What a well thought out dystopian tale! I found this read to be fascinating; especially, at a time like this! It really made you think about how would we, as a society, cope with something more devastating than Covid. I felt like I was learning how to survive as I read and that kept me reading. I had to know how the characters dealt with everything!
Definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Desiree Ottingerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDesiree Ottinger2021-05-18 20:57:292021-05-19 09:02:41Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Desiree Ottinger
It was almost ironic to read a book about a world during a deadly virus outbreak whilst we are currently in the grip of a global pandemic due to a deadly virus outbreak. When a water borne virus begins to kill people in the thousands all across the world, Cam is one of 300 hundred people chosen to live in a dome covered colony on an island in the hope to preserve human life on the planet. I saw many similarities in this book such as sustainability, community living. etc that are buzzwords at the moment of how we can have a more secure future on earth. I found this book interesting and the premise is good. The characters were well thought out. However, I did find the lengthy descriptions hard to keep up with at times and almost got a bit lost with the actual plot.
Heartbroken, Cam embarks on a voyage to seek answers. Will the journey answer his burning questions? Or will he learn more than he bargained for? His journey presents both challenges and opportunities as he builds new friendships along the way, as well as reuniting with old acquaintances. Just as Cam and Freyja’s life comes full circle, their friends and community are threatened, forcing them to defend those they love.
In this third instalment of the Antipodes series, friendships are tested when the survivors learn the horrifying truth about why they were chosen. Which friendships will survive?
T.S. Simons is an Australian author of Scottish heritage. Living in the alpine region of Australia, she believes in the values of sustainability and community in a world where we place greater value on possessions than people. The Antipodes series addresses the question—if we gave young people the opportunity to start over, would we replicate the mistakes of the past?
Her desire to assist others saw her working in international development before realising that her passion lay in education. She holds a Bachelor and Masters degree and enjoys drinking coffee, travelling, mythology, snow skiing, while attempting to live as sustainably as possible. She is owned by two rather bossy standard schnauzers and two rescue cats who co-manage her household.
Antipodes is the first novel in the Antipodes series, followed by The Liminal Space and Ouroboros. A novella prequel, Crossroads, is now available. She is working on a fifth novel in this series, Caim.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Ouroboros-cover-crop.jpg992635itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2021-05-17 00:05:032021-10-30 05:01:45Ouroboros (Antipodes III) by T.S. Simons
Antipodes by T.S. Simons is a young adult dystopian novel. This is definitely not your average dystopian story, but the synopsis left me intrigued!
Cam has found himself as one of the chosen ones to be a part of a population living away from the current virus that is essentially going to kill absolutely everything. People, creatures, wildlife, plants, it’s all going to parish when the virus reaches it. They are thriving in their area when his lover, Freyja, goes missing. On Cam’s search to find her, he comes across another village similar to his, but still no Freyja. Helpless, Cam leaves the safety of the civilization in hopes Freyja did the same.
What will they find in the outside world? Will he find Freya?
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Carly Voglerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCarly Vogler2021-05-16 21:39:572021-05-16 22:12:09Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Carly Vogler
Antipodes by T.S. Simons is an amazing book with romance. It has a thriller and even a form of dystopian. Many different kind of people can enjoy this book
Antipodes is a one-of-a-kind piece of fiction set in post-apocalyptic Australia today. Antipodes focuses on the qualities contemporary society lacks sustainability, inclusivity, community, and friendship and is aimed at young adults who are disillusioned with our world and worried for our planet’s ecological destiny. Cam Mackintosh is in his last year of a science degree at Melbourne University when he is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help construct a fully sustainable society on an island off the coast of Australia after a devastating epidemic. The community is given a blank slate, a brand-new eco-village, shielded from the outer world yet equipped with much of today’s knowledge and technology. August Island’s community thrives and is built on current principles such as gender equality and cultural acceptance.
I loved every page of it. Every chapter was thrilling. I can’t wait to read more books from this author. Readers who appreciate Margaret Atwood’s environmental fiction, such as Oryx and Crake, or work by Piers Torday, Frank Cottrell Boyce, and Sarah Crossan’s Breathe, will love this book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shadel Ayerbehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShadel Ayerbe2021-05-16 16:05:222021-05-16 22:03:41Antipodes by T.S. Simons- Review by Shadel Ayerbe
Cam, a young college student, is chosen out of thousands of others to help establish a new community on an island outside of Australia. The result of a deadly viral outbreak worldwide, August Island quickly develops a community. Working hard, making friends, and finding love, Cam is content. Until Freyja, his partner, goes missing. Cam sets out on a journey to find her, in the process finding himself and discovering other communities. This story is wonderfully told, and was hard to put down. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Antipodes is realistic, funny at times, and heartbreaking at others. A must read for anyone who enjoys adventure novels, Antipodes is a fantastic story of rebuilding life from the ground up. Definitely a 5 star read!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kayla Bullockhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKayla Bullock2021-05-14 09:15:172021-05-14 10:11:32Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Kayla Bullock
Cam, a young college student, is chosen out of thousands of others to help establish a new community on an island outside of Australia. The result of a deadly viral outbreak worldwide, August Island quickly develops a community. Working hard, making friends, and finding love, Cam is content. Until Freyja, his partner, goes missing. Cam sets out on a journey to find her, in the process finding himself and discovering other communities. This story is wonderfully told, and was hard to put down. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Antipodes is realistic, funny at times, and heartbreaking at others. A must read for anyone who enjoys adventure novels, Antipodes is a fantastic story of rebuilding life from the ground up. Definitely a 5 star read!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kayla Bullockhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKayla Bullock2021-05-14 08:55:252021-05-14 10:10:35Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Kayla Bullock
The end of the world is coming as a plague has descended upon the communities of the world. Due to the nature of this plague, no one will survive. But the world governments have prepared the locations, the role of each person in each of the communities, and now the people must be chosen.
Campbell McIntosh absentmindedly attended one of the selection processes after his sister, Sorcha, suggested that he try it. After three days of tests, he was chosen to be one of the survivors. Having a terrible dislike of change, Campbell almost refuses, but with the support of his family, he knows that he must go.
Arriving on the island (somewhere off the coast of Australia or New Zealand) as one of 300 people, Campbell looks forward to the challenge of being a part of a self-sustaining community. His expertise is in agriculture which the community will rely on immensely. Campbell becomes friends with his co-workers and a few others in the community. Then one of his acquaintances becomes more than just a friend. Their special place is in a cave which contains a mineral spring pool.
One night this special someone disappears and Campbell becomes the number one suspect in her disappearance. Being a part of the small community, Campbell soon becomes an outcast. One night he goes into the cave and ends up on the other side of the world. How does this happen?
This book has an entertaining storyline as people try to build utopian societies. With challenges meeting them at every turn, how will these chosen people survive? And where does Campbell end up? Get to know the characters and make this spectacular journey into this post-apocalyptic world.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Ashley Doverhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAshley Dover2021-05-12 19:57:002021-05-13 10:58:10Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Ashley Dover
This book was awesome. It is well written and an attention grabber. I took a chance on this book, being outside my comfort zone of reading. I am glad I did. I was taken on an amazing adventure. I could picture everything that was happening in my mind. I can’t wait to read more from T.S. Simons and this series.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jerricka Brownhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJerricka Brown2021-05-10 18:24:172021-05-11 07:10:23Antipodes by T.S. Simons—Reviewed by Jerricka Brown
Intriguing, thought-provoking and brilliant. This book had me questioning so much about how long the current world can keep existing. I really connected with the main character and was quickly emotionally vested. The setting (my backyard) was so easily visualised and the messages of survival, sustainable living and inclusion were so craftily interwoven in this dystopian sci-fi based in our own world. This book had me questioning so much, even when I wasn’t reading. There is a lot presented in the pages but being the first book in a series this is expected and by the end it will have you wanting to know even more.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Rayne Easthttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRayne East2021-05-09 04:52:502021-05-09 22:10:00Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Rayne East
What a GREAT book! I loved this work, and can’t wait to start on the others. Is there a better feeling when you finish an amazing adventure story only to discover there’s more to the journey?
This dystopian post-apocalyptic novel features a group of young people tasked with potentially rebuilding the human race after a deadly virus threatens to bring the world to extinction. There are so many great characters and interesting relationships, I was totally hooked and invested in the world on their island. When magic is discovered, the story is brought to another level, and so many possibilities emerge for these characters and this storyline. I wondered if I would want to read this while in the middle of a global pandemic, but I quickly forgot that an outside world existed. Great writing, a must read!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erica Shoebridgehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErica Shoebridge2021-05-07 14:07:332021-05-08 07:59:11Antipodes by T.S. Simons – Review by Erica Shoebridge
Cam Mackintosh is in his last year of a science degree at Melbourne University when he is offered the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to help establish an entirely sustainable community on an island off the coast of Australia following a deadly outbreak. The community is presented with a clean slate; a completely new eco-village, protected from the outside world, but with much of the knowledge and technology of today. The community on August Island thrives and is established on modern values of gender equality and cultural inclusion.
T.S. Simons is an Australian author of Scottish heritage. Living in the alpine region of Australia, she believes in the values of sustainability and community in a world where we place greater value on possessions than people. The Antipodes series addresses the question—if we gave young people the opportunity to start over, would we replicate the mistakes of the past?
Her desire to assist others saw her working in international development before realising that her passion lay in education. She holds a Bachelor and Masters degree and enjoys drinking coffee, travelling, mythology, snow skiing, while attempting to live as sustainably as possible. She is owned by two rather bossy standard schnauzers and two rescue cats who co-manage her household.
Antipodes is the first novel in the Antipodes series, followed by The Liminal Space and Ouroboros. A novella prequel, Crossroads, is now available. She is working on a fifth novel in this series, Caim.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Cover-crop.jpg1200820itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2021-05-01 00:03:242021-10-30 05:01:59Antipodes by T.S. Simons
So, it took me quite a while to realise that this was the second book in the series, but I should have known really because all the things I found jarring and baffling about it were because of this. Right from the start, I was struck by how I already felt as though I were mid-way through a book, stuff felt like it had been going on for a long time and I had just missed it all. Obviously though, this in no way reflects on the writing, Simon’s does an awesome job and has created an interesting dystopian world that is both vibrant and intelligent. There is something very human to the way Simons writes, past all the airy-fairy crap and straight to the meatiness of what it means to be human. Cam is an interesting character, living in a sustainable community with his friend Fraser and though life seems idyllic, he is haunted by those that he loves, and a world left behind, the way it used to look and used to be. There is something beautifully melancholic about Simon’s writes Cam, and I found it addictive to read. Simons has a sophisticated tone to her writing, steaming ahead with the confidence of someone that knows their reader will be right there with them. I loved the world she created. It felt both ancient and modern all at the same time, something I didn’t think was even remotely possible, but Simon’s managed to do it effortlessly. I quite liked the idea of the world and the feel of it, even though I was lost, Simons writes wonderfully and makes even fumbling a bit in the dark a fun and enjoyable experience. I know that when I have finally gotten round to reading the first book in this series I will love this book in a whole new way and see it in a whole new light. I would definitely recommend reading this along with the other books in the series as I think Simon’s has done an epic job here and even though I didn’t know quite what was happening, I still loved the journey I was being taken on. Excuse me while I go and read the first in the series and fall in love with that one too.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Danielle Dandohttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDanielle Dando2021-03-14 18:38:352021-03-15 09:23:09The Liminal Space (Antipodes Book 2) by T.S. Simons – Review by Dani Dando
This is the second book in the Antipodes Series and it was just as intriguing as the first book. The characters are well developed and the book is easy to read. The story keeps you hooked all the way through as you follow the journey of the characters as they adapt to their new way of life.
Cam has matured in this book and after hearing that someone he loves could still be alive he sets out to find them. The journey is challenging and makes him question things he knows and thinks about love and loyalty. The main question is if given the opportunity to redo life would you take the same course with the same mistakes or would you change your plans maybe for the better or maybe for the worst.
It’s a really thought provoking theme and set in time when the world is destroyed by a disease and only few people surviving its an interesting concept.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Carrhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Carr2021-03-13 20:34:492021-03-13 20:48:01The Liminal Space (Antipodes Book 2) by T.S. Simons – Review by Kerry Carr
Cam Mackintosh is back in the second installment of the Antipodes series and he is happily living on Lewis with his family and adapting to the changes within it, he still hasn’t fully recovered from the experiences of going through the tunnels and how his body felt while he did, but he tries not to think about it if he can, but he is more scared by the upcoming change in his life, but as he is listening to his friends advice about the situation, he definitely still feels unprepared. He finds that he reminisces about his family before the virus more as he thinks about them all and what examples he can take from it, as well as thinking about how different his wife’s upbringing was and how that will be useful in the future as well. He is also remembering his last lot of travels to Ireland and the people he spoke to there, especially what he learned from one person in particular about the portals and how they work, as well as who may have created them, it was an in depth conversation, but he now he knows more information, he was able to share it with his community on Lewis when he returned. When he returned last time he also realised that this is where he was meant to be and where his home was, including the woman who was waiting for him there.
As life continued on in the community, Cam is the happiest he has been in a long time and although he has had a lot of work to catch up on in the greenhouses and the orchards, he has been the most settled he had been in a long time too, that is until he bumps into someone and a whole flux of memories come flooding back, he escapes to his spot in the hills to think about what he has just found out and ends up confronting old feelings and learning things that he has wanted to know for over a year, this will hopefully bring some closure to the past, but instead it opens up a whole new can of worms. As a community meeting is called, some more surprising information is announced by a group from another community who have returned from their travels and he learns that there were other communities established in Australia which has less strict requirements and as such that there is a possibility that other people may have survived in other domes, but when a list of people is produced and a certain name jumps out at him, he knows that he has to take another trip through the portal and take a chance to see if this person is still alive, but this means leaving his family and he is not sure if he can do that, however, he is encouraged to go.
As a small group prepares to set off on this new adventure, will they find what they are looking for and discover whether the rumours of other domed communities are true, or will the time Cam spends away from his family be its undoing? In this dystopian adventure, you go on an emotional journey across the world to uncover secrets which could change the groups world view and experience everything with them, prepare for a journey through a bleak world to see whether there are any lights at the end of the tunnel.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2021-03-13 14:26:422021-03-13 20:43:05The Liminal Space (Antipodes Book 2) by T.S. Simons – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
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