As part of Lit Society’s Book Review Program, members are reading and reviewing books by independent writers we think deserve more attention. This review reflects one reader’s honest experience and aims to spotlight exciting new voices.
Big Take? Jurassic Park meets The Truman Show in this futuristic novel that explores how we treat people who are different from us.
- Would You Recommend It? Maybe!
- Book Club Worthy? Yes! I think this one includes plenty of conversation starters.
- Would You Read This Author Again? Yes! I loved the premise of this book and would be interested to see what the author comes up with next.
- Did It Change How You See Something? Somewhat! I did learn quite a bit about the Neanderthal species throughout the novel.
- Is It More Plot or Ideas? Fast, then slow, then fast again
- Pace: Steady
- Emotional Impact: Lingering
- Best For: A beach read if you want something slightly deeper but still a page turner
- Skimmable or Demands Attention? Skimmable
- Would You Reread It? No — but to be fair, I hardly ever reread books!
In a near-future world, scientists have brought Neanderthals back from extinction and placed them in a secluded nature reserve, where they have unknowingly become the subjects of a wildly popular reality TV show. Written by the French author and literary translator Noelle Michel, The Shadows Tomorrow unfolds through multiple points of view. At the heart of the story is Blood Moon, the resilient (and female; we love a girl boss) leader of a Neanderthal clan living in what she believes is an untouched forest. But she and her people are completely unaware that they are being observed as the stars of the show. Meanwhile, scientists Eva and Noah, who helped create the project, begin to question the ethics of the experiment at the same time they start to feel connected to some of the infant Neanderthals. We also follow Adam, an actor sent into the reserve to influence the show’s narrative who finds himself emotionally entangled with the people he was meant to manipulate. As their stories all come together, the novel explores questions of identity, free will, exploitation, and what truly separates humans from one another.
The book dives into many themes that are extremely relevant to today’s world: how we treat people who are different from us, capitalism, our obsession with technology, and (slight spoiler) anti-aging culture. While I enjoyed these topics and the premise of the novel itself — I’m a sucker for any novel that involves reality TV — I’m not sure it fully lived up to what I was expecting. The short, snappy chapters with the multiple character POVs made it a quick read, but also made it hard to follow or feel fully connected to any of the storylines. While I enjoyed learning how the show started and how the scientists brought the Neanderthals back to life, part of me wishes those sections had been cut so we could spend more time with Blood Moon and Adam.
Overall, this is an entertaining read. If you’re looking for a book with an intriguing premise that’s fast-paced and touches on some very timely topics, I’d pick it up. But I personally think there are others on the market that accomplish these same goals just as well, if not better.
Favorite Line?
“Only when there is no air to breathe, no water to drink, will mankind realize you cannot eat money.”
Recommended Media?
📖 The Compound by Aisling Rawle
🎬 The Truman Show
🎬 Jurassic Park
📖 The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
Interested in reviewing books for Lit Society? Join our growing team of member reviewers and help champion independent authors and unforgettable reads.
