The Virtue Season by L M Nathan BLOG TOUR #TheVirtueSeason @lmnathanwriter @scholasticuk @TinaMories #BookReview @RandomTTours

 

Manon Pawlak has just turned eighteen, a debutant at the start of the Virtue Season: a process that will result in a match with a suitable genetic mate. Her best friend, Agatha, has been decommissioned, forbidden to partake in the season and unite with the boy who has had her heart since they were children.

When Manon's mother wades out into the waters of Penn Vale with stones sewn into the lining of her coat, Manon's genetic purity is called into question and she's forced to rely on the fisherman's son, Wick, to keep her secret. But as they dance, the truth about their world starts to unravel, and Manon finds herself at the centre of it all. And the council is watching.

The Virtue Season by L M Nathan is a Young Adult novel published by Scholastic on 4 July 2024. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour

Something a little different for me. It has been quite a while since I read a young adult novel. However, the blurb for this one was just so appealing that I could not resist. Set in a dystopian future, with hints of The Handmaid's Tale, I knew this one was going to be a hit. 

I have really enjoyed the experience and have much admiration for an author who can create a setting that appear so realistic and so lifelike. Add the carefully created characters and the fast moving plot and this one really is a winner. 

The story opens with a prologue that finds lead characters Agatha and Manon peeping through a window, looking in on the glittering ball that is the climax to the Virtue Season. These two girls will be taking part in the ball themselves in a the future and whilst Agatha is excited about the thought, it is clear that Manon has her doubts. 

This is not the world as we know it.  It is a land that has been ravaged by nature, with flooding that destroyed the land, followed by blistering heat and raging winds. Everything failed and the population suffered greatly, and then the final flood arrived. 

The remaining lands became divided, with wars and death. It was decided that only the healthy can survive and the decommissionings began. 

Agatha and Manon find themselves on opposite sides. Agatha's health issues means that she and Manon will not spend their adult lives as friends. They are now different. Manon will be paired with a partner to suit, whilst Agatha will be left to fend for herself. 

This is a story told from both points of view, and I have to admit that I did prefer Agatha. I guess I always shout for the underdog, but her journey felt much more of a struggle, more real and more interesting. 

Whilst nowhere near as brutal as The Handmaid's Tale, which should be expected for a novel aimed at young adults, this is a extremely well written story of speculative fiction. There are themes and issues that are explored well and most certainly relate to our current world. With a touch of romance to brighten the darkness, The Virtue Season is a story to savour. A quick read for me, but very satisfying. 

L.M. Nathan grew up in the East Midlands, moving from there to Bristol where she
studied English and Drama and then to Malta where she completed an MA in Literature. She also has an MA in Journalism which she studied for in Manchester.

She now lives in rural Lancashire, in the shadow of Pendle Hill, and teaches English.

Her first novel, The Virtue Season, was inspired by the wild landscape of home and completed when she was selected to be part of the Curtis Brown Creative novel course.

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