Year One marks a bold departure for Nora Roberts, best known for her romantic suspense novels. The first in a dystopian trilogy, this story plunges us into a grim and chaotic future where a mysterious disease called the Doom decimates most of the global population. But from this darkness emerges something else entirely—magic, mystery, and the struggle to build something new from the ashes of civilization.
What makes Year One stand out is its emotional resonance. It’s not just a fantasy tale with magical beings and supernatural powers; it’s a deeply human story about resilience, loss, and rebirth. We meet Lana Bingham, a powerful witch, and Max, her partner, who together become part of a larger group of survivors seeking safety and purpose. Their relationship is one of the emotional anchors of the novel, and their journey reflects both the tragedy of loss and the hope of new beginnings.
Fragments of Hope: Rebuilding Humanity After the Fal
Roberts brings together a rich ensemble cast, including a former journalist, a doctor, a hacker, and even a baby born into this post-apocalyptic world. Each character is uniquely shaped by the trauma of the collapse, but each also carries within them a glimmer of what was and a vision for what could be.
I not long read Year One. I throughly enjoyed this book. The story took me to places that had me wanting more and I soaked up every characters and their stories of who they were and how the stories changed their beliefs and what they have become. After reading the first book it is hard to follow on from an on the edge and wanting more… Now I am almost finished the second book of Nora Roberts, Of Blood and Bone. I have so far enjoyed this book. I love the girls name Fallon. I love the characters in the book and the Gaelic,Irish language. Which I had to do some research myself about their meanings. So love this book.
Avrill Burrows
As someone adjusting to a new life abroad, I found parallels in the book’s themes of displacement and adaptation. The characters are forced to leave behind everything they knew and survive in a world that no longer feels familiar. Their struggle reminded me of my own journey—far less dramatic, of course—but equally rooted in the need to find purpose, redefine identity, and connect with others despite uncertainty.
Hope and Hardship: Rebuilding a World in Year One
The world-building in Year One is immersive. Roberts creates not just a setting, but an emotional landscape filled with shifting alliances, emerging powers, and a sense of impending danger. While some may find the pacing uneven, I appreciated the way the novel allowed space for grief, discovery, and growth.
It’s also worth noting that Roberts doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of rebuilding a broken world. There are factions of cruelty, opportunism, and extremism that mirror the chaos seen in real-world disasters. Yet she balances this with glimpses of kindness, generosity, and the fierce determination to create something better.
By the end of Year One, I found myself deeply invested in the characters’ futures. The novel closes with hope, though not without pain. It is the kind of story that lingers, not just because of its supernatural elements, but because of its emotional truths.
Recommended for those who enjoy: dystopian fiction, ensemble casts, magical realism, and deeply human stories about starting over.
