No Child of Mine by Olga Gibbs - #BookReview

 

The Broadcasting Unit burst to life, the sharp jingle of the State news intro filling the kitchen.

"Federation Britannia news at six", a deep robotic voice announced into the cement coffin of the state approved kitchen.

"Good morning, free citizen. Good morning, free citizen. Good morning and a glorious Liberation Day to us all", a voice of a young woman rang after the daily mechanical greeting.

"We are starting the celebratory news segment with great news, free citizens. Today, on this historical day, when our free country celebrates the fifty seventh anniversary of its independence, we are excited to report on another great achievement of our young and heroic country which wouldn't be possible without the wisdom and leadership of our beloved Ordained Liberating Party. Today, when many of us will be marching in the parades, celebrating the Liberation Day and thanking our fearless leaders for fifty seven happy and peaceful years, on that remarkable day our scientists report the first positive tests in non-biological food production", the smiling woman read from the large screen, tears of pride and joy shining bright in her eyes.

57th Year of the true leadership of The Ordained Liberating Party; or Year 2273 by the old calendar.

"The Collapse" took millions of lives and most of the country's farming lands, bringing the surviving population of the island to the brink of starvation.

Out of the aftermath of the chaos and anarchy, a new state had emerged, known as The Federation Britannia, run by the single and unopposed Ordained Liberating Party.

The division of the country's orphanages for children of "the true citizens" and children of "the enemies of the state" began the clearance of the questionable element, and bloody years of the Age of Cleansing had finished the purge, leaving behind a perfectly obedient electorate that marched every year in the Liberation Day parades, praising the Party's leadership and following the Party's every directive.

The rule of the Party is absolute. Its tool of compliance, the State Security Unit, is feared.

Tom isn't a frightened follower, he is a true believer. He loves the Party with all his heart. He trusts in the Party's wisdom. The Party had raised him, rewarding his devotion and love with a lucrative engineering job, and after the approval for the Procreation licence, it also granted him a family.

But the unexpected midnight visit by the State Security to his flat, questions asked and blood samples collected, unsettles Tom more than he likes to admit, and the following day, whilst investigating the "black uniforms" interest, Tom witnesses the State Security troops, led by the familiar officer, marshalling the children from his daughter's nursery, packing them into trucks and taking them into the unknown.

At that moment Tom is forced to make a decision: either to follow the Party directive and to surrender his child into its plenary care or to protect what he loves and run.

But there's nowhere to run. There's no escape from the island or from the complete control of the Ordained Liberating Party.

***

This book was a departure from my usual reading fare. Every now and again I think it is good to read something outside of my reading comfort zone as it either confirms to me that I am best sticking to my usual genres or I get a pleasant surprise which opens me up to a whole new genre to me. I am delighted to say that with, No Child of Mine, the latter was definitely the case.

It would be untrue for me to claim that this is the very first dystopian style novel I have read. Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood are two of my all time favourite books. 

The main character in this book, Tom, was easy to engage with. I sympathised with his disappointment and disillusionment of 'The Party' in whom he had such belief. The author did an excellent job of allowing the reader to experience this alongside him.

There is a sense of urgency throughout the novel, and this is matched with a fast paced narrative. Suspicion and doubt abound and with an element of suspense running throughout make this an entertaining and worthwhile book to read.

Olga Gibbs is a new to me author who has several books in her back catalogue. I am confident that I will be trying one of her others.

ISBN: 978 1916471078

Publisher: Raging Bear Publishing

About the Author: 

Olga Gibbs is a British novelist and a mental health expert who has experience of working with disturbance in adolescents and young people. Using her Masters in Creative Writing, she explores taboo topics such as borderline personality and social effective disorder, effects of abuse and insecure attachment in young people and the inner world which is so rarely spoken about. Olga Gibbs is also a creative writing coach and mentor.