I usually write my reviews for books individually but this series deserves to be my 1st series review! I consumed this series like water in a desert, page after page, book after book, non-stop it was just so good. This book series has already been adapted by Apple TV into a short series, Silo, there is thus far only 1 season of that available, in my humblest opinion the books are better. When are the books not better than their tv/movie adaptations though? I think all avid readers know how rare it is for a tv adaptation to be better than the books they’re based on, but it is a very intriguing show none-the-less.
Hugh Howey’s Wool series is set in a ‘post-apocalyptic’ USA, several generations after “the fall” of the United States, where the remaining population only knows life within giant silo structures fully underground. The outside air is deadly to not only the people but to the land as well, the small view of the outside world from inside the silo shows a desolate dead landscape. Silo life is one of a strict structure of rules & regulations dictating what people are allowed to do day to day, year to year. From things as personal as romantic relationships to what job people hold, everything has to be sanctioned & approved by the silo heads.
Wool, the 1st book in the series gives us Juliet’s point of view. Juliet’s character was a little obnoxious to me, I definitely rolled my eyes at her a few times. Juliet grew up in the “down deep”, distrusting of the silo heads, hearing the many rumors of an evil conspiracy that trapped their ancestors & continues to keep them trapped inside. A series of unexpected paths cross putting Juliet in a position of some power in the upper levels where she’s able to learn some of the silo’s secrets. The biggest of all being that the outside they see on the viewing monitors isn’t exactly real. Yes, the outside air is deadly but it’s so much more complicated than that. Juliet is a threat to the silo’s harmonious operation so it’s decided she’ll be sent outside “to clean”. Cleaning is what they call the ceremony of sending people out to their deaths. People are sent outside in special suits with a cleaning cloth to wipe down the viewing sensors so the people still inside can see the dead world. I don’t want to give the whole story away so I’ll just say that while Juliet does end up going outside & finding out that the air outside the silo is indeed poisoned she also doesn’t die & ends up finds out much more!
Book 2, Shift is a prequel, we get to find out how this happened. Why all of these people ended up there. How they ALL ended up there & by who’s doing. It is a wild ride, revelation after revelation I was stunned. While these books are fiction, enough of the plot is plausibly believable enough to make it all feel very real. In this book we meet the original players, some at least. We get some tidbits & insider information about the whole operation. (For people who’ve read the book &/or watched season 1 of the Apple TV adaptation, yes I’m saying “whole operation” rather than ***** ***** because I don’t want to spoil it, that’s such a bombshell revelation!)
The prequel is definitely action packed, so many important things happen. So many dots are connected, Shift really brings the full story together!
Book 3, Dust goes back to Juliets time, we’re back with her outside (not for long) & alive. After coming to the realization that the special suits being made for people going outside for “cleanings” were made to fail, Juliet is able to plot alterations to her suit & thus survives her trek outside. While outside of the only thing she’s ever known, the silo, Juliet is understandably overwhelmed however is able to regain her composure quickly & think critically for survival. Ultimately coming across other survivors & along with them is able to piece together even more of the silo’s secrets. Juliet ends up making her way back to her silo & is able to help a large number of people escape it.
Book 3 ends with Juliet & the group of survivors, who believed the things she returned to tell them & followed her back outside into the poisoned air, finding lands of green grass & clear blue skies with birds flying by, rivers with fresh water & fish, bushes of berries & roots available to nourish them. The group overwhelmed by all they’ve learned, happy to have escaped, hurting for all the people they lost in the process & hopeful for their new future.
This series ends with so many questions unanswered, while all the strings of deceit are pieced together, for the most part, there is still so much that could’ve been explored. So much that can still be explored. I would love at least one more book because there is so much more story to be told. Hugh please, Mr. Howey I beg!
I have watched season 1 of Apple TV’s adaptation & can’t wait to see how the remaining books are interpreted for the screen.
Thank you for joining me for another review, I’d love to read your thoughts on my review & of course on this book series too.
- Have you read this series?
- Which was your favorite book? (Book 2 – Shift)
- What was your least favorite part? (The fact that there aren’t 4th, 5th, 6th books)
- How many stars do you rate this book?
Hasta la próxima – V
Chatting with V 