Friendship, secrets, and survival in the aftermath of everything falling apart.

PRE-READING THOUGHTS

Expecting YA tension, emotional stakes, and a city rocked by disaster. Hoping for a story about trust, grief, and figuring out who you can really rely on when the world collapses around you.

POST-READING

As I thought…

The emotional stakes hit hard. Celeste’s grief, anger, and determination are believable and compelling. The earthquake and aftermath provide both literal and metaphorical upheaval that drives the story forward.

It surprised me by…

How well the story balances intensity with hope. Even amid fear and uncertainty, there’s humor, connection, and glimpses of the future — particularly through Celeste and Meo’s evolving bond and the looming Mars mission.

MUSIC PAIRING

🎵 Featured Song: “Atlas: Hands” — Sleeping At Last (reflective and urgent)

🎶 Vibe Album: Birdy – Fire Within (emotional depth, young resilience)

🎧 Artist Recommendation: Daughter (for introspection and navigating loss)

VIBE CHECK

🎨 Colour Palette: Charcoal, muted teal, sunrise orange, scattered gold

🎧 Soundtrack: Sirens, distant earthquakes, whispered conversations, city streets at dusk

🍁 Season: Late summer, with heat and tension building

😶‍🌫️ Mood: Uneasy, determined, hopeful under pressure

🌿 Scent: Dust, rain on concrete, a hint of ozone

TAROT PULL — Death (Sugar Skull Tarot)

The Death card shows a figure lying in a coffin, surrounded by flowers and sugar masks. It reflects endings and transformation, perfectly mirroring Celeste’s emotional journey as Nicky is presumed dead. The sugar masks nod to deception and hidden truths - lies that must be uncovered and secrets that drive her quest. And as with all Death cards, there’s renewal here: the possibility of discovery, connection, and hope, just like the path Celeste must navigate toward Meo, the truth, and the Mars mission.

FOR FANS OF…

📚 I Survived series