Review – The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed
Published by ECW Press on November 30, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Dystopian, Fiction / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
Length: 4 hours 49 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon | Audible | B&N | Kobo | Libro.fm

A novella set in post–climate disaster Alberta; a woman infected with a mysterious parasite must choose whether to pursue a rare opportunity far from home or stay and help rebuild her community.

The world is nothing like it once was: climate disasters have wracked the continent, causing food shortages, ending industry, and leaving little behind. Then came Cad, mysterious mind-altering fungi that invade the bodies of the now scattered citizenry. Reid, a young woman who carries this parasite, has been given a chance to get away — to move to one of the last remnants of pre-disaster society — but she can’t bring herself to abandon her mother and the community that relies on her. When she’s offered a coveted place on a dangerous and profitable mission, she jumps at the opportunity to set her family up for life, but how can Reid ask people to put their trust in her when she can’t even trust her own mind?

With keen insight and biting prose, Premee Mohamed delivers a deeply personal tale in this post-apocalyptic hopepunk novella that reflects on the meaning of community and asks what we owe to those who have lifted us up.

I thought that this book was slow, although slow-moving at times. If you have been following my reviews for very long, you probably already know that I just can’t seem to pass up a good end of the world story so I jumped at the chance to listen to this novella. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of this future world that has been forever impacted by climate change.

Reid lives in a community where everyone works to contribute to the group’s survival. She has just received a letter that she has been accepted to a university which she feels is a huge honor. Her mother is not convinced and thinks that Reid needs to stay and do her part for the community. Living is hard and resources are scarce. Electricity is a thing that only a few remember. Reid and her mother also deal with the challenge of an infection that can not only take but have an influence on their lives.

For the most part, this was a slower character-driven story. I enjoyed spending time in Reid’s head as she works to make the decision that will set the course of her life. She wants to take the chance but she also wants to make her mother happy. There was a little bit of action before the book drew to a close and those scenes really helped to illustrate just how difficult life can be.

I thought that the narrator did a great job with this story. I believe that this is the first time that I have listened to her work but I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up more of her work in the future. I liked her voice and thought that did a great job with the characters.

I would recommend this book to others. This was a wonderful shorter listen set in a very interesting dystopian world. I would not hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from ECW Press via Libro.fm.

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