What if living forever was a death sentence?
The Undying Tower is set in Avalonia, a place where some people live normal life spans while others have cells that renew at a faster rate. These ‘Undying’ can be killed but only in ways that cause instant irreparable damage. They are also a minority – and they are feared. People are tested regularly for evidence of undying cells. Young people who are caught are impressed while adults are sentenced to death.
Sadie has always lived with the privileges of a person whose cells renew at a normal rate and whose father is respected by those with power. She has never questioned the status quo – but she has also never been tested. Then a bomb goes off at the hanging of an Undying man and Sadie is harmed. She comes around to find herself locked in a cell – her blood has tested positive for undying cells and she is prime suspect for the bomb.
She’s offered a deal that might save her from execution. An inspector explains to Sadie that the mother she has never known is Undying. She’s also a wanted for her associations with The Alchemists, a terrorist group who would see Avalonia’s rulers overthrown. The Alchemists have security information from the systems of a high security prison – The Tower – and the authorities need to know who within the walls of the Tower is passing the information to the Alchemists. Sadie gets one shot and if she fails, she will be sentenced to death at eighteen and her father, who needs a transplant, will be pushed to the bottom of the list.
When Sadie gets to the tower she makes friends with the other Undying teenagers – and she suddenly has to think about lives other than her own.
Mellissa Welliver demonstrates that dystopian fiction is far from dead. She also brings it up to date by looking at the issues and ethical questions facing the current generation of teens. The story’s focus on privilege and the protections it offers couldn’t be more relevant in a time of massive social divide. Sadie’s journey is all about learning to stand up, not only for herself and her own, but for those who are marginalised and threatened by society.
This is perfect for readers who have missed the thrills of dystopia. What so many people loved about The Hunger Games, Divergent etc was that call to action – dystopia takes everything to an extreme but it doing so it shows the reader that the same issues the characters face are relevant to our world. Dystopia isn’t just about injustice – it’s about rebellion. That can be empowering.
Fast-paced, thought-provoking and filled with action. The Undying Tower is everything Hunger Games fans have been missing. Melissa Welliver is one talented writer.
