What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sand Chronicles #2
Across the Sand
The first original novel from author Hugh Howey in six years, Across the Sand takes us back to the world of Sand, to a far future many generations after a disaster has destroyed civilization as we know it, where four siblings struggle to build their futures amid the harsh wastes of endless desert.
The old world is buried. A new one has been forged atop the shifting dunes, a land of howling wind and infernal sand.
In this barren home, siblings Conner, Rob, Palmer and Violet daily carve out a future. They live in the shadow of their father and oldest sister, Vic, two of the greatest sand divers ever to comb the desert's depths. But these branches of their family tree are long gone, disappeared into the wastes beyond, leaving the younger siblings scratching in the dust, hopeful for a better life.
On the other side of No Man's Land, Anya was born beside the abundant mines knowing her prospects would be to marry, have a family, and work in ore, in service to the Empire of the East. But when an atomic bomb delivered by a stranger destroys most of her town--murdering all her friends and community--she follows her father to a strange land of dunes to bring vengeance to their enemies.
The old world is buried. A new one has been forged atop the shifting dunes, a land of howling wind and infernal sand.
In this barren home, siblings Conner, Rob, Palmer and Violet daily carve out a future. They live in the shadow of their father and oldest sister, Vic, two of the greatest sand divers ever to comb the desert's depths. But these branches of their family tree are long gone, disappeared into the wastes beyond, leaving the younger siblings scratching in the dust, hopeful for a better life.
On the other side of No Man's Land, Anya was born beside the abundant mines knowing her prospects would be to marry, have a family, and work in ore, in service to the Empire of the East. But when an atomic bomb delivered by a stranger destroys most of her town--murdering all her friends and community--she follows her father to a strange land of dunes to bring vengeance to their enemies.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
About the author
Hugh Howey
123 books55.3k followersI'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
August 29, 2022
Hugh Howey's Sand sequel, Across the Sand, was gifted to me in a Goodreads giveaway by the publisher, Harper Collins. I was very excited to receive it since I loved his Wool trilogy immensely. The Wool Omnibus and the Sand books are set in a post-apocalyptic United States. The timeline is fuzzy, but it is long past our era.
Howey is very skilled at world building and the Sand books are set in a dour and dismal dystopia in which a small town's people eke out a poor existence by digging underground for the spoils of the last, lost civilization. The first book focused on the parents and their terrible choices. This book is about the siblings who have been scattered like the sand that dominate their lives. The oldest sister was last seen on her way to destroy their rival city.
The boys are in serious trouble as well. Palmer is being targeted by a gang and a hit squad because he knows the location of Danvar. Conner and Rob are always at odds about what their future should be and Conner loses his faith in Rob. And their newly found younger sister Violet is just happy to no longer be a slave in Aygl.They are all smart and tenacious and keep coming back against incredible odds.
Howey is very skilled at world building and the Sand books are set in a dour and dismal dystopia in which a small town's people eke out a poor existence by digging underground for the spoils of the last, lost civilization. The first book focused on the parents and their terrible choices. This book is about the siblings who have been scattered like the sand that dominate their lives. The oldest sister was last seen on her way to destroy their rival city.
The boys are in serious trouble as well. Palmer is being targeted by a gang and a hit squad because he knows the location of Danvar. Conner and Rob are always at odds about what their future should be and Conner loses his faith in Rob. And their newly found younger sister Violet is just happy to no longer be a slave in Aygl.They are all smart and tenacious and keep coming back against incredible odds.
November 25, 2022
"People see only the thing they desire, never that they hold what others want."
I read Hugh Howey's Silo series (The Wool Trilogy) several years ago and still think about those people. Still feel myself going round and round and up and down all those silo stairs. I want to know what happened to everyone. I miss them.
I really enjoyed his first Sand book too, and since I can't have another Silo (other than fanfic of which there are some great ones), I was excited to dive into the Mr. Howey's Sand world again.
Unfortunately, I'm really struggling to read at the moment. My ADHD is in full swing and I can't get my brain to concentrate for more than a couple sentences at a time. When I'm like this, I need nonfiction but gotta read whichever library holds become available... and it's been one novel after another.
So anyway, that gripe out of the way....
I still liked revisiting the Sand world and some of the characters from the first book. I also enjoyed getting to meet some new ones. The story is fast-paced with more action than I like. I prefer quieter novels that focus on the inner lives of the characters.
It's not a bad story though and if you read and enjoyed the first, I think you'll like this one too. There's not much in the way of salvaging, which is one of the things I most enjoyed about the first book, reading about their finds from the "old" world (our present one).
This book is more about the animosity and fighting between the inhabitants of the cities on either side of the dunes and thus didn't interest me as much.
However, to tie in the above quote, I'll remind myself that while this book wasn't exactly what I wanted in a return to Sand, it's very much what some other readers will enjoy.
I read Hugh Howey's Silo series (The Wool Trilogy) several years ago and still think about those people. Still feel myself going round and round and up and down all those silo stairs. I want to know what happened to everyone. I miss them.
I really enjoyed his first Sand book too, and since I can't have another Silo (other than fanfic of which there are some great ones), I was excited to dive into the Mr. Howey's Sand world again.
Unfortunately, I'm really struggling to read at the moment. My ADHD is in full swing and I can't get my brain to concentrate for more than a couple sentences at a time. When I'm like this, I need nonfiction but gotta read whichever library holds become available... and it's been one novel after another.
So anyway, that gripe out of the way....
I still liked revisiting the Sand world and some of the characters from the first book. I also enjoyed getting to meet some new ones. The story is fast-paced with more action than I like. I prefer quieter novels that focus on the inner lives of the characters.
It's not a bad story though and if you read and enjoyed the first, I think you'll like this one too. There's not much in the way of salvaging, which is one of the things I most enjoyed about the first book, reading about their finds from the "old" world (our present one).
This book is more about the animosity and fighting between the inhabitants of the cities on either side of the dunes and thus didn't interest me as much.
However, to tie in the above quote, I'll remind myself that while this book wasn't exactly what I wanted in a return to Sand, it's very much what some other readers will enjoy.
September 24, 2022
If you decide to read Across the Sand, then reading Howey's first book in this series, Sand, is more than a must. My feeling is that Howey hadn't meant for 8 years to pass between books, but no big deal for fans in the moment because both can be read back-to-back come early October.
Why so much time between books? I can't say, but I do know when it comes to his writing he tends to write and release in serial format, small chunks each like mini-novellas. The Wool series came out this way, and so did Sand. What does it matter? It doesn't, except to say that book 1 ended abruptly, and even I (who knew book 2 was coming) had a “wtf” moment. Do not fear though. There is no feeling of a gap in time when reading these two books. Book two picks up where one left off, carrying forward the saga of these siblings without hesitating, while also adding a few characters to bring more depth.
I do feel that Across the Sand is the better book that will satisfy fans who have already read Sand. Maybe that's because many plot points make more sense now, or because the new additions have broadened the scope. Howey brings more intensity with less of that YA feel I had found when reading Sand, yet I'm stuck on three stars. In a unique post-apocalyptic world such as this, why confine by not elucidating on more of the whys? If the secret is in the waiting, then something remains lost. I do like the tech science, diving under hundreds of feet of sand, though further descriptive details would go a long way towards helping me believe.
Look for this book to be released on October 4, 2022, and thank you to Harper Voyager for the GR giveaway.
Why so much time between books? I can't say, but I do know when it comes to his writing he tends to write and release in serial format, small chunks each like mini-novellas. The Wool series came out this way, and so did Sand. What does it matter? It doesn't, except to say that book 1 ended abruptly, and even I (who knew book 2 was coming) had a “wtf” moment. Do not fear though. There is no feeling of a gap in time when reading these two books. Book two picks up where one left off, carrying forward the saga of these siblings without hesitating, while also adding a few characters to bring more depth.
I do feel that Across the Sand is the better book that will satisfy fans who have already read Sand. Maybe that's because many plot points make more sense now, or because the new additions have broadened the scope. Howey brings more intensity with less of that YA feel I had found when reading Sand, yet I'm stuck on three stars. In a unique post-apocalyptic world such as this, why confine by not elucidating on more of the whys? If the secret is in the waiting, then something remains lost. I do like the tech science, diving under hundreds of feet of sand, though further descriptive details would go a long way towards helping me believe.
Look for this book to be released on October 4, 2022, and thank you to Harper Voyager for the GR giveaway.
September 20, 2022
My thanks to the author, Hugh Howey, and the publisher, Harper Voyager, William Morrow Publishing, for my Advance Reader's Edition of this novel. My thanks to Goodreads Giveaways also. I was so excited to learn that I was to receive this book. I have been a fan if the author for awhile and was thrilled to read this new offering and it did not disappoint. This is the story of a group of sand divers in a hard to imagine future. Mr. Howdy creates a world that is fully fleshed and waiting for you to move in. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
October 31, 2022
4 Stars for Across the Sand: The Sand Chronicles, Book 2 (audiobook) by Hugh Howey read by Jeremy Arthur.
I’m sure glad I read Sand first. I would have been lost in this book if I hadn’t. This is a revenge story for blowing up the town in the last book. This is a really interesting world. I expect that there’ll be a third book. Hopefully we won’t have to wait 6 years for it.
I’m sure glad I read Sand first. I would have been lost in this book if I hadn’t. This is a revenge story for blowing up the town in the last book. This is a really interesting world. I expect that there’ll be a third book. Hopefully we won’t have to wait 6 years for it.
June 29, 2022
I read "Across the Sand" not knowing that it was a sequel until the afterword. While the book worked very well as a standalone novel, I think I would have had a deeper experience if I'd read the first novel, Sand. I plan to read Sand next.
I picked this novel up because I love apocalypse stories, and Hugh Howey told one of the best I've ever read in his Silo Saga. The Wool omnibus, in particular is a masterwork of apocalyptic fiction. Across the Sand seems to be set in the same universe, but the connection is loose, and it very much has its own unique feel and tone.
This novel is science fiction, but it has a fantastical element that I enjoyed. The cast of characters experience realistic, appreciated growth throughout the story, and the different points of view weave together in a wonderful way.
I highly recommend this book, and while I wish I hadn't read out of order, I'm glad I have another in the series to enjoy.
Edit: I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley.
I picked this novel up because I love apocalypse stories, and Hugh Howey told one of the best I've ever read in his Silo Saga. The Wool omnibus, in particular is a masterwork of apocalyptic fiction. Across the Sand seems to be set in the same universe, but the connection is loose, and it very much has its own unique feel and tone.
This novel is science fiction, but it has a fantastical element that I enjoyed. The cast of characters experience realistic, appreciated growth throughout the story, and the different points of view weave together in a wonderful way.
I highly recommend this book, and while I wish I hadn't read out of order, I'm glad I have another in the series to enjoy.
Edit: I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley.
November 20, 2022
QUICK TAKE: I haven't read SAND in a few years, so I struggled to pick up the hanging story threads here, though was still able to enjoy the sequel as a standalone. Fans of the first book or Howey in general will find a lot to like here. Very solid.
Read
June 30, 2022Hugh Howey has a remarkable writing style that is so abrupt, so focused, you never have a chance not to become immersed in his worlds. This one though, is tricky because the original book "Sand" was put out 8 years ago so, *yes* this book can just be picked up and read *but*, it would be better if you re-read Sand first because this is, in fact, a direct sequel. Which I did not because I just wanted to get into the world.
This entry is a little more sentimental but well worth your time.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to access this title in exchange for an honest review.
This entry is a little more sentimental but well worth your time.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to access this title in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2024
4 Stars.
Across the Sand provides more answers about the different societies in the Sand Chronicles. It also leaves many more questions. I'm hoping Hugh Howey continues this series.
Across the Sand provides more answers about the different societies in the Sand Chronicles. It also leaves many more questions. I'm hoping Hugh Howey continues this series.
August 11, 2022
Received an Advance Reader's Copy via the giveaway.
I am very much liking this book. I do recommend reading Book #1 SAND of the sand chronicles in order to have a better understanding of this book. Definitely can be read as a stand alone but obviously not meant to be.
****Update: Halfway through and still loving it!!!
****Update: Just finished reading this and OMG I cannot wait to buy a copy of SAND (Book #1) and I can't wait for #3! So Mr. Howey, with all due respect, get to work (laughing)! ♡♡♡
As soon as I purchase my copy of SAND, I plan to reread this book and give a better review of the series beginning on both book pages.
I am very much liking this book. I do recommend reading Book #1 SAND of the sand chronicles in order to have a better understanding of this book. Definitely can be read as a stand alone but obviously not meant to be.
****Update: Halfway through and still loving it!!!
****Update: Just finished reading this and OMG I cannot wait to buy a copy of SAND (Book #1) and I can't wait for #3! So Mr. Howey, with all due respect, get to work (laughing)! ♡♡♡
As soon as I purchase my copy of SAND, I plan to reread this book and give a better review of the series beginning on both book pages.
July 28, 2022
“Life feeds life, and death feeds death. Nothing can rise from what has never been”
Such a great story! I requested this one because I have read Hugh Howeys books and have enjoyed every one. I do like that this is much longer than his other books.
Multiple story lines which took me a bit to realize what is going one, but once they merge is makes so much more sense.
Sand diving is more dangerous than we think it is going to be, on top of being dangerous in itself it seems we have someone who is trying to kill them as well.
Very well written and I cannot wait to see what Hugh writes next.
Such a great story! I requested this one because I have read Hugh Howeys books and have enjoyed every one. I do like that this is much longer than his other books.
Multiple story lines which took me a bit to realize what is going one, but once they merge is makes so much more sense.
Sand diving is more dangerous than we think it is going to be, on top of being dangerous in itself it seems we have someone who is trying to kill them as well.
Very well written and I cannot wait to see what Hugh writes next.
July 25, 2022
TW/CW: Violence
RATING: 3/5
REVIEW:
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Across the Sand is the sequel to Sand, which I read a couple of years ago. I would suggest that if you haven’t read it, you might read that first and then read that one. Even if you read it a few years ago like me, it might be worth it to have a refresher.
So, the good first.
Howey is excellent at building worlds. He really brings the world to life, a whole culture with what feels like more under the surface. New tech, new cultural mores, new ways for people to interact. It’s all in there, making what I feel is the most interesting part of this book – the world itself.
Howey is also a good writer. If he wasn’t, there was no way I would have made it through this book.
And the bad…
I’m sorry to all the people who seem to like it, but this book was so boring! At 50% I was still trying to figure out what the plot was, and really nothing happened except in the last 10-20% of the book? And even the final resolution was a bit anticlimactic. He may be great at creating worlds but plots? not so much.
Unless you’ve JUST read Sand, the characters are hard to keep apart. He pretty much just assumes you’ll know them without giving you much of their background, and there were places I was very much confused as to who was who.
Over all, this book is okay. It is well written, which kept me limping along, waiting for things to get interesting, which they only slightly did in the last 20% of the book. If you like sci-fi books with good worldbuilding but snail-slow plots, this is the book for you.
RATING: 3/5
REVIEW:
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Across the Sand is the sequel to Sand, which I read a couple of years ago. I would suggest that if you haven’t read it, you might read that first and then read that one. Even if you read it a few years ago like me, it might be worth it to have a refresher.
So, the good first.
Howey is excellent at building worlds. He really brings the world to life, a whole culture with what feels like more under the surface. New tech, new cultural mores, new ways for people to interact. It’s all in there, making what I feel is the most interesting part of this book – the world itself.
Howey is also a good writer. If he wasn’t, there was no way I would have made it through this book.
And the bad…
I’m sorry to all the people who seem to like it, but this book was so boring! At 50% I was still trying to figure out what the plot was, and really nothing happened except in the last 10-20% of the book? And even the final resolution was a bit anticlimactic. He may be great at creating worlds but plots? not so much.
Unless you’ve JUST read Sand, the characters are hard to keep apart. He pretty much just assumes you’ll know them without giving you much of their background, and there were places I was very much confused as to who was who.
Over all, this book is okay. It is well written, which kept me limping along, waiting for things to get interesting, which they only slightly did in the last 20% of the book. If you like sci-fi books with good worldbuilding but snail-slow plots, this is the book for you.
May 2, 2023
So much sailing. So much jargon. 🫤
So. I reread the Sand Omnibus before diving into this and I did appreciate it more and feel more invested in it than I did on the first read. However. As exciting as it was to have a new Hugh book (like really, whaaat), this next installment didn’t really do it for me. In a way it further de-mystified some of what happened in the end of Sand 1, and I felt like its mysterious nature was one of the best things about it. The plot in ATS also dragged major. Like I mentioned above, so much time was spent on the sarfers (sand sailboats) which was a downer for me twofold: the time it took to physically move people around beyond multiple times took forever, and the amount of sailing/boating jargon made me legit cross-eyed.
Anya’s realizations of the core truths of their society was a great moment, but it took so long to get there I’m not sure I enjoyed it as much as it merited after the long slog it took to get there, alas.
Thanks so much to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!
So. I reread the Sand Omnibus before diving into this and I did appreciate it more and feel more invested in it than I did on the first read. However. As exciting as it was to have a new Hugh book (like really, whaaat), this next installment didn’t really do it for me. In a way it further de-mystified some of what happened in the end of Sand 1, and I felt like its mysterious nature was one of the best things about it. The plot in ATS also dragged major. Like I mentioned above, so much time was spent on the sarfers (sand sailboats) which was a downer for me twofold: the time it took to physically move people around beyond multiple times took forever, and the amount of sailing/boating jargon made me legit cross-eyed.
Anya’s realizations of the core truths of their society was a great moment, but it took so long to get there I’m not sure I enjoyed it as much as it merited after the long slog it took to get there, alas.
Thanks so much to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!
December 9, 2022
I enjoyed Across the Sand a bit more than its predecessor Sand but didn't love it for the same reasons as I didn't love Sand: I couldn't grasp the concepts of why Colorado was covered in hundreds of feet of sand, and didn't understand how the characters were able to come up with advanced sand-diving, sand-sailing, and sand-constructing technologies in this dystopian, ruined world where the past scientific advancements and inventions of humans are pretty much all buried deep under the sand, many of them unreachable. I know this is science fiction but just couldn't get past this.
The book takes place a short time after Sand ends, and follows the further adventures of the Axelrod siblings after their sister Vic sets off to settle the score with the antagonists from the prior novel. The plot of Across the Sand revolves mostly around the conflict between the Axelrods' group who live in a small settlement near completely buried Denver, and a group to the west who love in an industrial mining area. The Axlerod kids are known to be expert divers and with their advanced dive suits are able make a living diving hundreds of feet through the sand to find scrap such as suitcases from the Denver airport, stuff from cars and skyscrapers, and other interesting things from the previous civilization.
There are a couple of storylines which jump around in time and finally converge at the end. I'm thinking there will be a third novel as there is plenty more story tell and some unanswered questions. At times, I found it difficult keeping the many characters straight (and remembering them from the first book) and there were a number of new people introduced in this book. The audiobook narrator Jeremy Arthur did a remarkable job making them all sound different which helped me follow along.
Howey is great at worldbuilding and the Sand novels take place in an interesting setting - a sand covered wasteland. I just didn't (or remember) get how it all came about. Maybe I should've reread the first book? The plot whipped right along and the novel never dragged, I think Howey is an excellent story teller. I guess I just had a hard time buying in to some of the sandy goings-on, especially the climatic scene, considering what the society had to work with technologically. That being said, I still give this book a positive rating and I'll definitely read the third installment if/when it comes out.
The book takes place a short time after Sand ends, and follows the further adventures of the Axelrod siblings after their sister Vic sets off to settle the score with the antagonists from the prior novel. The plot of Across the Sand revolves mostly around the conflict between the Axelrods' group who live in a small settlement near completely buried Denver, and a group to the west who love in an industrial mining area. The Axlerod kids are known to be expert divers and with their advanced dive suits are able make a living diving hundreds of feet through the sand to find scrap such as suitcases from the Denver airport, stuff from cars and skyscrapers, and other interesting things from the previous civilization.
There are a couple of storylines which jump around in time and finally converge at the end. I'm thinking there will be a third novel as there is plenty more story tell and some unanswered questions. At times, I found it difficult keeping the many characters straight (and remembering them from the first book) and there were a number of new people introduced in this book. The audiobook narrator Jeremy Arthur did a remarkable job making them all sound different which helped me follow along.
Howey is great at worldbuilding and the Sand novels take place in an interesting setting - a sand covered wasteland. I just didn't (or remember) get how it all came about. Maybe I should've reread the first book? The plot whipped right along and the novel never dragged, I think Howey is an excellent story teller. I guess I just had a hard time buying in to some of the sandy goings-on, especially the climatic scene, considering what the society had to work with technologically. That being said, I still give this book a positive rating and I'll definitely read the third installment if/when it comes out.
January 17, 2023
Seems a bit...lazy.
I was the biggest fan of Wool and the Silo series when I read them years ago. I also enjoyed the other books that followed Howey's success, so I'm familiar with his work.
The one thing I didn't like was that they tended to be released in small bites - "novelettes" that would be sold separately and often just ended abruptly. I found this annoying, as it was hard to build up momentum in the reading and keep connections with the characters fresh, and also because it meant that a normal length book cost $35 for all the "chapters" rather than the $10-14 a single book would cost.
I said as much at one point in a review, and Howey himself was gracious enough to enter into a dialogue about it. We went back and forth for a bit, and he shared how he really enjoyed the "crowd sourcing" of the development of the book, receiving feedback and suggestions from readers as he published these chapters over the course of time.
While I appreciated why he would like this approach, I said that for me, who was NOT a part of his blog or website and who didn't have input, his method just meant that reading one of his books was slow and expensive, and didn't add to my enjoyment.
Howey's first book in the Sand Chronicles was written in this serialized, crowd sourced way, while this second book was written and released fully, in the more traditional publishing methods.
I now have to say, I think I'm beginning to see whay Howey liked the crowd collaboration.
"Across the Sand" feels underdeveloped, somewhat lazy and predictable in plot, and I struggled to connect with the characters as I have in previous books or series. Most of my emotional investment was holdover from the first book, and this began to feel like phoned in narrative just to move the plot along. Its a standard "book two" trap - it can feel like filler to get to the final big ending - but this and the distracted writing simply made the book feel flat for me.
Maybe now that Howey has left the country and is sailing around the world on his yacht, he's unable to easily do the crowd sourcing and interaction he's done in previous books as he writes. At this point, I may have to revise my earlier critique of that method, at least when it comes to Howey. It may be that he actually needs the creative, helpful guidance of the "crowd" to turn out a great book.
I was the biggest fan of Wool and the Silo series when I read them years ago. I also enjoyed the other books that followed Howey's success, so I'm familiar with his work.
The one thing I didn't like was that they tended to be released in small bites - "novelettes" that would be sold separately and often just ended abruptly. I found this annoying, as it was hard to build up momentum in the reading and keep connections with the characters fresh, and also because it meant that a normal length book cost $35 for all the "chapters" rather than the $10-14 a single book would cost.
I said as much at one point in a review, and Howey himself was gracious enough to enter into a dialogue about it. We went back and forth for a bit, and he shared how he really enjoyed the "crowd sourcing" of the development of the book, receiving feedback and suggestions from readers as he published these chapters over the course of time.
While I appreciated why he would like this approach, I said that for me, who was NOT a part of his blog or website and who didn't have input, his method just meant that reading one of his books was slow and expensive, and didn't add to my enjoyment.
Howey's first book in the Sand Chronicles was written in this serialized, crowd sourced way, while this second book was written and released fully, in the more traditional publishing methods.
I now have to say, I think I'm beginning to see whay Howey liked the crowd collaboration.
"Across the Sand" feels underdeveloped, somewhat lazy and predictable in plot, and I struggled to connect with the characters as I have in previous books or series. Most of my emotional investment was holdover from the first book, and this began to feel like phoned in narrative just to move the plot along. Its a standard "book two" trap - it can feel like filler to get to the final big ending - but this and the distracted writing simply made the book feel flat for me.
Maybe now that Howey has left the country and is sailing around the world on his yacht, he's unable to easily do the crowd sourcing and interaction he's done in previous books as he writes. At this point, I may have to revise my earlier critique of that method, at least when it comes to Howey. It may be that he actually needs the creative, helpful guidance of the "crowd" to turn out a great book.
September 18, 2022
I received an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. I was excited to read this one because I loved Howey’s Silo series.
Dystopian fiction is one of my favorite genres. This book was richly detailed with strong character development and engrossing plot elements. I especially enjoyed the way Howey describes post apocalyptic Colorado and expertly used it as a setting for the story.
Dystopian fiction is one of my favorite genres. This book was richly detailed with strong character development and engrossing plot elements. I especially enjoyed the way Howey describes post apocalyptic Colorado and expertly used it as a setting for the story.
August 9, 2022
So, I read this book and did not know it was a sequel until I read someone else’s review! I loved the concept behind this book but just kept wishing I had more context or backstory on the characters and the setting. Now that I know there is a first book, I will be reading ‘Sand’ and will hopefully get the clarity I was looking for.
February 23, 2024
Interesting novel about a post disaster earth. For some reason sand had buried the pre-disaster cities and the locals use a technology to be able to dive into the sand and communicate telepathically when wearing special suits. There are two major groups, an empire, and a number of people who live outside it. For some reason, the powers of the empire want to destroy the other group.
The Author uses a somewhat disjointed method of telling the tale, starting a chapter with a statement like, three weeks earlier or 5 days later. So the pieces of the tale are told, but it is up to the reader to figure out how them mesh together. I don't mind a little use of past history, or foreshadowing, but using it consistently is annoying.
Still the story eventually comes together. I finished wondering what really was going on.
It was an okay tale, imaginative, but not one of my favorite ones.
The Author uses a somewhat disjointed method of telling the tale, starting a chapter with a statement like, three weeks earlier or 5 days later. So the pieces of the tale are told, but it is up to the reader to figure out how them mesh together. I don't mind a little use of past history, or foreshadowing, but using it consistently is annoying.
Still the story eventually comes together. I finished wondering what really was going on.
It was an okay tale, imaginative, but not one of my favorite ones.
September 11, 2023
I loved Sand, and I was so excited when I saw a sequel. I was not disappointed. This was so well executed, really just seamless. I regret not re-reading Sand before jumping into this one, but I was just so excited. I hope and wish Howey writes more post-apocalyptic novels as he is so darn good at creating these amazing worlds and heartfelt characters' stories.
July 12, 2023
Another enjoyable dystopian chapter in the Sand series ! Easy reading, good flow of story, and characters with the chance of another instalment to come ! My only wish would be a map to have been included 😅 I can't keep up with all the different places !
June 15, 2023
Not Hugh Howey's best, too many characters, none of which were fully developed. The book had it's moments, just not enough of them. Would have liked a backstory on why the whole world appeared to be covered by sand and how the people left survived.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
July 30, 2022I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Harper Collins. Unfortunately, it was not provided in a format easy for me to access on my eReader. I have a Kindle Fire that I bought mostly for NetGalley books.
If the publisher ever decides to offer in a Kindle friendly format, I’ll definitely be there. I did read about 20% on my iPhone but I just couldn’t maintain focus for more than a few pages at a time. IPhone reading is uncomfortable for me to use to read books on.
If the publisher ever decides to offer in a Kindle friendly format, I’ll definitely be there. I did read about 20% on my iPhone but I just couldn’t maintain focus for more than a few pages at a time. IPhone reading is uncomfortable for me to use to read books on.
November 5, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It has been six long years since Hugh Howey released a new novel and the wait has been a long one for me who considered him among my favorite authors in the early-mid 2010s. The first novel in this series, Sand, was released way back in 2014 so this has been a long-time coming to say the least. Across the Sand picks up right where Sand left off with its agonizing cliffhanger. Across the Sand follows the same family as Sand but introduces some new characters and whole new perspective with the addition of Anya - a child from the other side of No Man's Land.
While Sand felt like a family drama set within a post-apocalyptic treasure hunt, Across the Sand finds Howey exploring the limits of the sand shifting technology and really leaning into the sci-fi aspects more. I actually feel this serves the book very well because it breathes new life into the excellent world building of Sand and avoids the sequel feeling like a retread of the original. The drama, action, and social commentary from the first are still found here but the stakes are raised and the new perspective added by Anya provides additional depth and understanding of how things came to be.
If you were a fan of Sand I strongly encourage you to strap on your suit and visor and dive back in to this world. One final word of advice though is to brush up on the events from Sand because there is not much in the way of a recap woven into Across the Sand.
It has been six long years since Hugh Howey released a new novel and the wait has been a long one for me who considered him among my favorite authors in the early-mid 2010s. The first novel in this series, Sand, was released way back in 2014 so this has been a long-time coming to say the least. Across the Sand picks up right where Sand left off with its agonizing cliffhanger. Across the Sand follows the same family as Sand but introduces some new characters and whole new perspective with the addition of Anya - a child from the other side of No Man's Land.
While Sand felt like a family drama set within a post-apocalyptic treasure hunt, Across the Sand finds Howey exploring the limits of the sand shifting technology and really leaning into the sci-fi aspects more. I actually feel this serves the book very well because it breathes new life into the excellent world building of Sand and avoids the sequel feeling like a retread of the original. The drama, action, and social commentary from the first are still found here but the stakes are raised and the new perspective added by Anya provides additional depth and understanding of how things came to be.
If you were a fan of Sand I strongly encourage you to strap on your suit and visor and dive back in to this world. One final word of advice though is to brush up on the events from Sand because there is not much in the way of a recap woven into Across the Sand.
Currently reading
October 7, 2022After stumbling across a paperback copy of Wool in the store in my rural, small town Iowa hometown, I have been hooked on Hugh Howey’s writing. While Wool will always have a special place in my heart, Sand has always stuck with me. I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel
January 12, 2023
A real page-turner -- five stars for that. But I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and not super satisfactory.
July 24, 2022
4 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
Two sets of young people try to make their way in a post-apocalyptic, desert landscape while their home communities are at odds.
Review
Hugh Howey’s one word titles (Wool, Silo, Shift, Dust, Sand) were originally eye-catching. Now, however, I seem to have trouble telling them apart, though I’ve only read two. Also, perhaps because the stories were originally released in installments, I have difficulty remembering how they fit together. Wool, for example, is the first installment in the Silo series, but later packaged with further installments into a single volume, also titled Wool, and followed by the book Shift, which also comprised several installments, and Dust, which was a more monolithic volume in the series.
Because of all this, I (mis-)understood that Across the Sand, was the start of a follow-on series to Sand, which I have not read. Now that I’ve finished Across the Sand, though, and done some more checking, it looks like Sand was a compendium of installments, to which Across the Sand is a monolothic sequel. Rather than picking up the start of a second series, then, I picked up a current series right in the middle, which I’m loth to do.
The sequencing showed. While Howey takes some steps to let this book work as a standalone, he doesn’t really succeed. It’s always clear that there’s substantial backstory, and that the book would work better for readers who knew it. Even – and perhaps especially – at the end, I was substantially confused by two or more sets of inter-related children, all of whom seemed to have partially absent fathers with secrets. I had only the faintest grasp of who was whom and how they all fit together. To make matters worse, the book starts and ends with references to a specific result of the prior book (or installments).
Despite all that, the book is well written, with Howey’s usual firm hand and interesting, engaging characters facing difficult decisions. I wavered between 3.5 and 4 stars, but settled on the high side because the book generally moves well. It’s got interesting concepts in it as well, but they’re never really explained; presumably the first book does so in detail.
All in all, a good read, but only recommended for those who have read the first book.
Summary
Two sets of young people try to make their way in a post-apocalyptic, desert landscape while their home communities are at odds.
Review
Hugh Howey’s one word titles (Wool, Silo, Shift, Dust, Sand) were originally eye-catching. Now, however, I seem to have trouble telling them apart, though I’ve only read two. Also, perhaps because the stories were originally released in installments, I have difficulty remembering how they fit together. Wool, for example, is the first installment in the Silo series, but later packaged with further installments into a single volume, also titled Wool, and followed by the book Shift, which also comprised several installments, and Dust, which was a more monolithic volume in the series.
Because of all this, I (mis-)understood that Across the Sand, was the start of a follow-on series to Sand, which I have not read. Now that I’ve finished Across the Sand, though, and done some more checking, it looks like Sand was a compendium of installments, to which Across the Sand is a monolothic sequel. Rather than picking up the start of a second series, then, I picked up a current series right in the middle, which I’m loth to do.
The sequencing showed. While Howey takes some steps to let this book work as a standalone, he doesn’t really succeed. It’s always clear that there’s substantial backstory, and that the book would work better for readers who knew it. Even – and perhaps especially – at the end, I was substantially confused by two or more sets of inter-related children, all of whom seemed to have partially absent fathers with secrets. I had only the faintest grasp of who was whom and how they all fit together. To make matters worse, the book starts and ends with references to a specific result of the prior book (or installments).
Despite all that, the book is well written, with Howey’s usual firm hand and interesting, engaging characters facing difficult decisions. I wavered between 3.5 and 4 stars, but settled on the high side because the book generally moves well. It’s got interesting concepts in it as well, but they’re never really explained; presumably the first book does so in detail.
All in all, a good read, but only recommended for those who have read the first book.
February 17, 2024
Pokračovanie prvého dielu Písek. Ťažko sa mi píše recenzia, lebo toľko príbehu, koľko obsahovala táto 330 stranová knižka nemá ani seriál Majora Zemana vo všetkých dieloch. Dej plný napätia, žiadnych zvratkov ani iných pochybností.
Zo začiatku som si síce nevedel vybrať kto je vlastne dobrý a kto zlý, kedže sa jednalo o pomstu a nastala vo mne morálna dilema. Dejová línia bola písaná z pohľadu dvoch rodín ale v inom časovom pásme. Na záver sa dej pekne príbehom aj časom upratal a vznikol z toho príjemný happy end ako po dobrej thajskej masáži.
Knižku by som zaradil do žánru dobrodružný román (viac dobrodružný) zasadený do post apokalyptického sveta.
Veľa vecí nebolo v knižke vysvetlených ale možno si len autor necháva otvorené zadné vrátka na pokračovanie z tohto zaujímavo popísaného sveta.
Knižke nemôžem nič vytknúť ani ju vysmiať. Pobavila.
Zo začiatku som si síce nevedel vybrať kto je vlastne dobrý a kto zlý, kedže sa jednalo o pomstu a nastala vo mne morálna dilema. Dejová línia bola písaná z pohľadu dvoch rodín ale v inom časovom pásme. Na záver sa dej pekne príbehom aj časom upratal a vznikol z toho príjemný happy end ako po dobrej thajskej masáži.
Knižku by som zaradil do žánru dobrodružný román (viac dobrodružný) zasadený do post apokalyptického sveta.
Veľa vecí nebolo v knižke vysvetlených ale možno si len autor necháva otvorené zadné vrátka na pokračovanie z tohto zaujímavo popísaného sveta.
Knižke nemôžem nič vytknúť ani ju vysmiať. Pobavila.
February 16, 2023
ACROSS THE SAND
I was excited that I was given an ebook from one of my favorite authors in exchange for an honest review. ACROSS THE SAND by Hugh Howey, it’s the second book in his SAND series.
Split between two viewpoints of people on differing sides of society. One is just trying to eek out a living on the miles deep sand that covers the old world, and one that is determined to ruin those people in any way they deem necessary. It’s a harsh existence on both sides but one side finds ways to enjoy it as much as possible and one side seems to only find pleasure in watching the world burn.
This is a great dystopian novel and its really intriguing to see the world in this way and how it’s being inhabited. I can’t wait to read more in this series. 5 stars!!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for letting me review this book, I truly appreciate it.
I was excited that I was given an ebook from one of my favorite authors in exchange for an honest review. ACROSS THE SAND by Hugh Howey, it’s the second book in his SAND series.
Split between two viewpoints of people on differing sides of society. One is just trying to eek out a living on the miles deep sand that covers the old world, and one that is determined to ruin those people in any way they deem necessary. It’s a harsh existence on both sides but one side finds ways to enjoy it as much as possible and one side seems to only find pleasure in watching the world burn.
This is a great dystopian novel and its really intriguing to see the world in this way and how it’s being inhabited. I can’t wait to read more in this series. 5 stars!!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for letting me review this book, I truly appreciate it.
November 6, 2022
As in all HH’s books, it was great in ways I never expected. The beginning was magnificent, the first third kind of bumpy as many of the characters were new and the jumping from one to the other was a bit frustrating. But the about halfway, like a sarfer picking up speed and hitting its rhythm with the wind, the rest of the book sailed!
There’s a feel to HH’s books that draws you back and reminds you, if it’s been awhile, of the worlds he creates and that you’ve experienced through his books.
Another great read!
There’s a feel to HH’s books that draws you back and reminds you, if it’s been awhile, of the worlds he creates and that you’ve experienced through his books.
Another great read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews