Today I’m pleased to be taking part in the Blog Tour for Maressa Mortimer‘s new YA novel: Downstream, the third in her Elabi Chronicles. These books are set in a dystopian world exercising control over the hearts and minds of their citizens. Downstream may be found here on Amazon.
Here are the blurbs for Books 1 and 2 in The Chronicles of Elabi.
Book 1: Walled City
Gax is a young adult who enters the city-state of Elabi undercover as a missionary. His mission is to infiltrate a society that does not allow for beliefs or emotions. Elabi has a culture based on logic and factual thinking, and a view of relationships Gax comes up against when he tries to share the Gospel. His own worldview is challenged when the city’s control hinders his evangelism, limiting his opportunities to reach out to share his faith with the people in this first book of the Elabi Chronicles. Will Gax survive long enough to spread the Gospel, or will he be sent beyond the Hills?
Book 2: Beyond the Hills
Macia Durus, daughter of the well known Brutus Durus AMP, works hard to achieve a life of honour and prestige in her beloved Elabi. When a so-called “friend” challenges her priorities, Macia’s confusion threatens her carefully constructed plans. And her decision to investigate a forbidden book could have serious consequences for Macia as well as her family, turning their lives upside down.
About the Author, Maressa Mortimer
Maressa is a lovely fellow author I’ve met several times – we’ve met up at writers’ conferences and festivals and writers and shared our writing journeys and supported each other on those journeys, on and offline. Maressa has also helped me in my research for my forthcoming book on Gloucestershire, since that is where she lives!
Here’s a picture of us during a meet-up at a Stroud cafe.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Maressa grew up in the Netherlands and moved to England soon after finishing teaching training college. Married to Pastor Richard Mortimer, she and Richard live in a Cotswold village with their four children. She is a home-school mum, enjoying the time spent with family, travelling, reading, and turning life into stories. She wants to use her stories to show practical Christian living in a fallen world.
BLURB
Radio signals have been picked up that might reveal the location of Downstream. Macia longs to find her mother there and tries to persuade her friends Gax and Cecilia to join her in the search. But is it a dangerous mistake or a mission from God? Many difficulties await them and they will need to trust God as they encounter darkness and danger, reaching out with the Light.
My Review
Young Adult Dystopian novels are among my favourite genres and I’ve read several trilogies: The Hunger Games, The Declaration Trilogy, The Maze Runner, The Newland Trilogy being just some of them. So I expect a sinister, chilling scenario in which the main character battles injustice, crimes against humanity in some kind of ‘brave new world’ run by an autocratic Party which controls individuals through tight repression, secrecy, and ruthless punishments for failure to comply.
In Book 3 of Maressa’s trilogy, the three main protagonists, Macia, Caecilia and Gax, are teenagers with the courage to rebel and defy the prevailing order, and they source their strength from the loyalty and love of their allies. Maressa’s trilogy is outstanding for the fact that it is underpinned by a strong spiritual theme.
Macia is setting off on a quest to locate Downstream and find her mother; her journey will take her through the jungle, the river, and the village of Colchuyni which can only be reached via the town of Aniquist. It is dangerous, risky and challenging, and she will need jungle survival skills. Her friends Gax and Caecilia agree to go with her, and they all spend a long time preparing. They are taking books with them in huge rucksacks and will need to walk across mud flats which can only be crossed again one year later.
Once in Aniquist, they find a friend, Riu, who helps them. Riu eventually becomes my favourite character, along with the pair of ferrets whom the group adopts! We learn Aniquist is ruled by a macabre religious sect, compulsory for all. Because they resist this, Gax is abducted and beaten up by the Chief Elder of the Cult. His friends rescue Gax and escape into the jungle, pursued by fanatic Elders from the Cult.
From here on, there is a very strong sense of the geographical terrain as they struggle through the jungle dogged by murderous Elders, crocodiles, and numerous physical survival challenges – all very vividly and convincingly depicted.
How they come through peril and adversity makes up the fast-paced plot of the book, together with the horrifying discoveries they make when they do meet up with Macia’s mother and little brother, learn the terrible consequences of breaking away from Elabi, and come ever closer to the sinister truth of the true nature of the mysterious and much-feared Downstream.
The intense narrative drives the story forward through shocking revelations and further suffering. To avoid plot spoilers I cannot reveal the ultimate outcome but I will admit I loved the ending!
LINKS TO BUY
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Website
https://www.instagram.com/vicarioush.ome
Linktr.ee
https://linktr.ee/Vicarioushome
Look out on the socials for the hashtag #DOWNSTREAM
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About Me
Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary fantasy novel in progress, called Director’s Cut.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!
scskillman.com 
Lovely post Sheila! Blessings.
Enjoyed reading your review of Maressa Mortimer’s #Downstream. Interesting!
Great review, Sheila and lovely pic of you and Maressa at a Stroud cafe.