I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray Published by Blackstone Publishing on January 23 2024
Genres: Adult, Dystopian
Pages: 350
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
The nitty-gritty: A man gets more than he bargained for when he decides to go after his fiancé in this strange, compelling but uneven sci-fi tale.
This was an odd one, folks. The tagline on the cover promises a sci-fi thriller, but “thriller” is not a word I would use to describe The Sanctuary. That’s not to say that I didn’t like it, because I did. This is a very slow burn story about a man who goes looking for his fiancé, which leads him to a secluded island where a cult leader figure is building a utopia for a select group of people. This is one of those books that grew on me the more I read, and despite some of the issues I had, I’m glad I stuck it out.
Ben Parr is a portrait artist and is engaged to a woman named Cara, but Cara took a short term assistant job on an island and has been gone for a few weeks. At first her letters home to Ben were chatty and enthusiastic. She loved her work and the man she was working for, and she believed his claims that the island would eventually be the perfect place to live. But her most recent letter was short and terse, declaring to Ben that she wasn’t coming home, but staying on the island permanently.
Ben refuses to accept that, and so he sets out to find the hidden island and bring Cara back home. But the journey is treacherous and long. When Ben eventually arrives, he’s distraught to find out that Cara is no longer there. Instead, he’s treated as an interloper who doesn’t belong, but eventually Ben convinces John Pemberley, the island’s leader, to let him stay and wait for Cara to return. At first Ben is content to tour the island and marvel at John’s remarkable innovations and ideas, but little by little he begins to see the cracks. What exactly is John’s long term plan? What does the number 41 mean? And what’s going on with the rats? And even more importantly, where is Cara? Maybe Ben is better off not knowing…
This was a strange mash-up of Logan’s Run and The Island of Doctor Moreau, but it wasn’t really either of those stories. I loved the idea of a charismatic man who draws innocent people into his orbit with promises of a better life, and The Sanctuary does that pretty well, with its sinister undertones and creepy cult leader. My main issue with the plot was that when John’s “plan” is finally revealed—literally at the end—I was disappointed that we didn’t get more hints of it earlier in the story. It sort of came out of nowhere, and while I loved the idea, it was too little too late.
The entire story is told from Ben’s first person point of view, and he’s got a distinctly antiquated manner of speaking that made the entire story feel “old fashioned,” if that makes sense. I could see this as an old black-and-white movie from the thirties or forties, to be honest. The setting is an odd, futuristic UK where some kind of apocalyptic event has triggered the decline of humanity, and people use outdated technology like landline phones and write letters as a way to communicate. The other thing that felt very old fashioned was Ben’s attitude about Cara. The fact that he plans to “bring her back” from the island suggests a very sexist outlook that definitely didn’t sit well with me.
John Pemberley’s island isn’t on any map, and Ben’s journey to find it takes days. When he gets to the island, we learn that John has designed it in such a way as to make life easier and better. Buildings called “hexes” are built like beehives for efficiency. John has established seed vaults and has collected many varieties of plants and animals to protect them from going extinct. But everyone on the island seems to be under thirty. Where are the elderly? I loved some of these details, but I didn’t care for the way John was portrayed, to be honest. I sensed something ominous about him, but the mystery of what he was up to unfolded way too slowly and I started to lose interest at some point. Also, for a cult leader he just wasn’t evil enough for my taste. I was hoping for a darker, fast-paced story, but the sections where John and Ben have long, philosophical conversations about life stalled the pacing.
I also had some issues with Ben. Aside from his caveman attitude of dragging poor Cara home from her little adventure, he just wasn’t very bright. It’s clear from the beginning that there’s something unpleasant going on with John and his island, but Ben convinces himself that John really is trying to improve people’s lives. And when he assures Ben that Cara “will be back any day now,” he continues to believe him, even when the reader is pretty sure something terrible has happened to Cara.
The answers come fast and furious in the last chapter, maybe too fast. I actually loved the ending and final reveal about what happened to Cara, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to bump this to a higher rating. Still, there was something compelling about The Sanctuary, and while it wasn’t perfect, I enjoyed the time I spent with it.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The overall feeling that I got from your review is that I might not have the patience to see this book through to the end: as intriguing as the mystery is, the uneven pace and the quaint expressive mode of the main character would probably annoy me… Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…YOU LET ME IN, by Camilla Bruce
You do need some patience for sure!
When I read that this book is set in a sort of futuristic UK where people use landline phones and write letters to communicate I had a thought that I sometimes wish we could go back to those ways nowadays lol
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Review: My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
Ha ha me too! I loved those simple times, you really miss them when they’re gone. Maybe the author was trying to channel that feeling, although he looks too young to have used a landline, lol.
This does sound interesting! I’d feel cautious about reading based on your remarks, but on the other hand, I’m now very curious to find out what it’s all about!
It was such an odd mix of “liked it” “didn’t like it”, lol. But still I’m glad I read it.
I am not certain I’d love it but I am glad you did Tammy!
Thanks Sophie!
Sounds interesting but the cover is giving me Looking Glass Sound vibes and I didn’t care much for that one. Great review and glad you enjoyed it for the most part.
Barb @ Booker T’s Farm recently posted…Claustrophobia Anyone?
Ha ha it does look a lot like Looking Glass Sound!
I wonder if this is potential movie material?
I can definitely see it as a movie, it might even work better:-)
I hate it when they give wrong labels to novels. I don’t have the same expectation from a scifi and ascifi thriller
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…Sunday Post #101 Devouring mood – 1/28/2024
It was misleading, but still, such an interesting story.
That’s a great review, Tammy. Not sure I’d try this one and thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
Laura Thomas recently posted…Dead Letters by P. J. Murphy ~ Interview And Giveaway
Thanks Laura:-)
This sounds interesting but I don’t think I’d have the patience to stick it out. Glad you still found it compelling even though there were definitely some issues.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Reviews: EVER AFTER ALWAYS & WITH YOU FOREVER
w2stra
You definitely make a good point about his views toward her with the “bringing her home” bit. Seems quite damsel-y, which I also am not a huge fan of. Interestingly, the book I read by the author, he told from a female’s POV, also in the apocalypse. I liked it for the most part, but the pacing felt off to me in that one, so I have to wonder if maybe that is just… how he writes at this point. I still kind of want to try this one since I do love me some apocalypses, but I will keep my expectations in line. Great review!
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…Monthly Minutes at Midnight: January 2024
I am glad that you still enjoyed it, even with its faults. The old fashioned atmosphere sounds interesting, even if this seems like a book that need some… Patience to appreciate.
Thanks for sharing!!
A shame that it wasn’t quite what it was described as – but it won you over eventually which is the main thing.
Lynn 😀
Lynn Williams recently posted…Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Drowning House by Cherie Priest
This is one I’ve seen around, not sure based on the reviews, like yours, that I’d end up picking it up. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…E-galley Review: Cappuccino Mugs and Firefighter Hugs (The Coffee Loft Series) by Katie O’Connor