Terra Blanca: Insurrection by Zoë Routh is a dystopian sci-fi thriller and a prequel novel from the Gaia Enterprises series. In the not-too-distant future, climate change has caused irrevocable damage to the planet's environment, leading to massive poverty, hunger, and refugee crises. On the orders of Maja Garcia of Gaia Enterprises, Rylie Addison has taken over the role of governor on the closed-off island of Terra Blanca. But things have not been easy as Rylie struggles to navigate food shortages, infighting council members, and a rebellious teenage daughter with plans of her own. To make things worse, her head of security, Regan Delarge, has taken it upon himself to launch an insurrection with disastrous consequences. Meanwhile, a sleeper agent has been insidiously sowing discord, which may lead to absolute chaos. Is there any hope for Terra Blanca?

Zoë Routh's gripping dystopian thriller offers readers a glimpse into a potentially horrifying future that is unfortunately very much conceivable due to climate change. Filled to the brim with political intrigue, mystery, and a plethora of thrills, this cyberpunk tale is as absorbing as it's disconcerting with its parallels to real-world issues and politics. Despite being a prequel in a series, Terra Blanca: Insurrection works perfectly as a standalone. The narrative showcases the complexities of leadership and how easy it is to lose control. Through this story, Routh emphasizes that no matter how well-built a system may be, it is, ultimately, the people who chart the course of a nation's future. The characters are grounded in reality and very much believable to the reader. This is a thought-provoking book that even non-sci-fi readers should enjoy. I liked it very much and can't recommend it highly enough.

Terra Blanca - Insurrection is a dystopian science fiction work by Zoë Routh. The story follows Rylie Addison and the challenges governing the man-made climate refuge island, Terra Blanca. A secret agent infiltrates their society, challenging Riley's position and the fate of humanity. This book explores courage, ambition, politics, and the quest for a better future.

Along with its exciting premise, one of my favorite things about this book is how the storyline, world-building, and characters are all grounded in reality, so the book mirrors our world. The idea that someday humanity can be in a position like the characters we meet, relying on hope and the fragility of social structures to be their saviors, evokes a sense of terror that perfectly fits the book's dystopian undertone. The narrative has plenty of humor to balance the otherwise darker themes, making it an easy read. Routh's unique world drew me in from the first chapter. The writing style is both descriptive and straightforward. She painted a vivid picture of a world on the brink of collapse impressively while exploring the intricacies of society, desire, and ambition.

The novel maintains a fast pace, creating momentum and rising tensions while balancing it with moments of reflection and emotional impact. The story is exciting but not overwhelming. Routh's character development is appreciable. Every character is well-executed with distinct personality traits. They also complement each other, which makes their interactions engaging. Jerome's playfulness balances Regan's calculating nature, adding a layer of amusement. Terra Blanca - Insurrection by Zoë Routh is an engaging novel and a cautionary tale exploring hope, desire, ambition, and humanity.

Terra Blanca—Insurrection by Zoë Routh is the thrilling dystopian science fiction prequel to the Gaia Enterprises series. Rylie Addison is the inexperienced governor of the newly built, self-supplying island of Terra Blanca. This high-tech floating island, just off the coast of a world too hot to live on, has been designed by Gaia Enterprises as a refuge from a dying world. It is an experiment to see if it can become a self-governing community. As a source of income, a section of the island is set aside for Gaia Enterprises robot manufacturing. On paper, it seems ideal, but when an ‘experiment’ goes wrong, the fallout is disastrous. Rylie and her team must deal with failing crops, insubordination, and a storm that brings them an extra three hundred people to take care of.

Terra Blanca by Zoë Routh is a fast-paced and gripping science fiction story. Routh’s writing is smooth and easy to read and I was fully invested in the characters and what was happening to them. I was shocked by the dramatic ending and feel that I really should pick up book one in the series now. This is a dystopian thriller full of intrigue and tension. It is not too far off from reality and as such I think readers of all genres (and not just science fiction) would really enjoy this story. The plot focuses on human failings, the consequences of words and bad choices, and how hunger and despair can drive people to dire deeds. I found the main Dopplebot (humanoid robot) added a good measure of humor to lighten the story. Exciting and riveting from start to finish. Highly recommended.

This was not supposed to happen. Terra Blanca was meant to be the future of the human race. A fully functional and completely independent habitat run by some of the best minds that the luck of the draw could place together but now all of that is a distant memory. Fires are burning and chaos is now the order of the day on the facility. Rylie knows she must share some portion of the blame for this disaster but right now all she wants to do is get the situation under control. To get to the bottom of this problem she must be willing to risk it all, even if that means losing those she holds closest to her heart in Zoe Routh's Terra Blanca: Insurrection.

A social experiment goes wrong in Zoe Routh’s science fiction offering, Terra Blanca. The storyline is easy enough to follow and enjoy. I am impressed with her storytelling approach which at certain points makes it look like this is all one massive flashback from the point of view of the principal characters. The conversations between the characters flow smoothly and in several instances carry hidden clues on what is about to unfold down the line in a manner that pulls a reader deeper into the plot as if they are one of the residents of the habitat. The attention to detail is impressive. Routh’s descriptions of the circumstances that led to the creation of the Terra Blanca habitat are so clear that it is relatively simple to understand the motives of the major players in the story. Laced with certain elements that remind one of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Terra Blanca: Insurrection is one novel that science fiction enthusiasts will enjoy reading.