Saltcrop

Despite the postapocalyptic climate change setting, this is a hopeful book. Though indeed its future Earth setting is daunting - government by corrupt corporation, an ecosystem in which all the animals and plants we depend on are suffering and dying off, and new hazardous ones that can survive the polluted environment muscle their way in. Into this vividly drawn world the protagonists are three sisters scraping out a marginal living and trying to support their family and do some good for the world as far as their differing capacities and personalities allow. Sounds dark? Yes, but rays of light illuminate it...from the ornery mutant animals of the future showing us that life goes on despite humanity's worst efforts, to the ornery three sisters clashing and yet coming through for each other to survive and do something to help the world. Life goes on.

This is a fantastic eco-thriller that really spoke to (what I assume is shared by many) a growing sense of unease (or dread) over confronting a future shaped by seemingly reckless technological advances coupled with a natural world turning on us after we've inflicted so much harm. Saltcrop explores what could be a terrifying (but not graphic or gratuitous) new realty, but by centering the story around the emotional journeys of three very different sisters, you never feel hopeless.I've loved all of her work, but Yume really shines here in exploring dynamics between the three main characters. She captures that balance of unease and familiarity that only comes with family. How you can simultaneous know truths about them that you feel in your core, but still find yourself shocked by the parts of their lives hidden away from relatives. And how despite shared upbringings, we can take such different views of events that shaped us.Highly recommend to anyone interested in mysteries, the hopefully not distant future, dystopian fiction, or family-centric novels.

"At first, it seems like the world hasn’t changed. People’s views may be shifting on an individual level, but people tend to resist until something comes along to trigger a sea change."Saltcrop is a dystopian climate fiction novel, but it's just as much a story about three sisters and their complicated family relationship. When the eldest sister goes missing, the younger two set off on a journey to find her. As they try to follow their sister's path, they uncover secrets about her, about each other, and about some shady corporate dealings that will impact the world in which they live.This slower-paced and contemplative book tackles several climate-related topics, like agricultural methodologies, access to scientific research, corporate greed, and differing ideas on what it will take to survive when blights and droughts and animal extinction impact the crops on which humans rely. The book also dives into family dynamics, exploring how each of the sisters views each other in relation to the rest of the family.There is depth, there is adventure, there is danger and hope and growth. I enjoyed it quite a bit and look forward to reading other books by the author.

We often talk about books as genre mashups, and 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗣 by Yume Kitasei is a perfect example of such a book. It’s dystopian in that it takes place in our world, but at a future time when much has changed. It’s climate fiction, as the world has been radically altered by changes in weather, rising seas, blights on crops and more. Those two things alone make it fantasy, as does the newly imagined Earth and ways of life on it. But there’s more. This is also a tight family story of three sisters surviving in this harsh new world. And finally, it’s a thriller!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Sisters Nora, Carmen and Skipper were raised by their mercurial grandmother in a very small seaside town, but don’t imagine that as it sounds. Instead, picture a near wasteland. Skipper spends her days on an old sailboat scavenging trash for pennies on the pound. Carmen works for a huge chemical company that has its fingers in everything. Nora, the eldest, went to college in another city, worked there, but now seems to have vanished.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣With no one being able to give them any leads on Nora’s whereabouts, her younger sisters set out on a journey to find her. This is where the book starts to lean into some thriller elements and I loved that addition. There’s a lot going on, but I was there for all of it. I think Kitasei did an especially good job keeping many different balls in the air and I particularly loved the sisters and their evolving relationships. I read most of this book on a very long flight and even with two crying babies only two rows in front of me, I was always able to stay fully engaged. When you’re in the mood for something different, consider 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣“For all she chides Skipper for being complacent, Carmen could have gone on living her life if Nora hadn’t gone missing….but she would have been fine. Fine is what she aspired to. Fine is what makes people complicit.”⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Thanks to #FlatironBooks for an e-ARC of #saltcrop.

A story about sisters, their relationship, bonds, and connections. How far they are willing to go for each other, regardless of their current understanding or misunderstanding of each other. Throw in a bit of sailing adventure, body horror, a post apocalyptic world, and some corporate greed and this was a wonderful read!