I like to consider myself well read in the apocalypse genre - it's a passion of mine. But let me tell you, this was one of the best I have read. The world is changing. Changing in ways we are all familiar with - storms are getting worse, summers are getting hotter, coral is bleaching and ice is melting. Clade follows one family and their friends through this new and emerging world. As it jumps through time, we see children born, grow and have children of their own, each facing new challenges. This kind of storytelling can often leave the reader wanting more, but Bradley uses it to give us a fuller picture of the world in flux, and we never lose the personal connection to the characters. The blurb does not do this book justice - it is not as chaotic as the description makes it seem! A very emotional and powerful book. Timely in its warning on the environment, and beautifully written, this book is not just for apocalypse junkies, but readers of all genres looking for a good book. A word of warning though - the storm scenes are very tense, don't read them when it's raining! I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

At first, I felt there was a cold detachment between me as the reader and the main character Adam, almost like the scenes were being played out and viewed from above. It was a little unsettling to begin with but I realised this only helped to enhance the character’s relationship with his wife; a poignant and starkly realistic portrayal of a marriage breakdown. The story has great pacing which builds slowly and takes you with it to a much darker, bleak place. I felt like the action scenes were well spaced and not just left to the climax. The book is pretty epic, set over a long time span. I loved how I came to know the characters and their changing family tree. Bradley is clearly knowledgeable about climate research and the latest statistics which definitely help to inform the story. Yet the references to climate change are not in your face or judgemental, just matter of fact. Bradley’s subtle references to future technologies are effective and not overtly sci-fi or off-putting to non sci-fi fans. Although the ending is hopeful – humanity will endure in some form (fingers crossed), you also have that niggling feeling of inevitable dread. Which is what I always look for in a book of this genre! The story left a few unanswered questions but overall it’s incredibly captivating and evokes some memorable imagery – the final ethereal, dreamlike scenes in particular left a real impression on me.