May 1, 2021
Taking place in a grim, climate catastrophe-filled future that feels all too real, The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales follows Jesse Vanderchuck as they navigate the disasters that spell the end of the world, from the retreat by most of surviving humanity to the Underground, where survival is eked out among the scraps of the world above, to Jesse's quest to find connection and family in a harsh, often unfamiliar world. Brewes' debut work may have been born of a past National Novel Writing Month idea, but Jesse's persistent mystery illness and the fear with which disease is treated in general bring an extra "ripped from the headlines" urgency to the work. The world presented is bleak, which highlights the occasional kindness offered by a friend or stranger and the stories Jesse tells while traveling. These half-remembered tales underline the recurring struggles of loss, isolation, atonement, and hope. Recommended for those who enjoy dying underground cities like those found in Fallout vaults or Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember (2003) but also want a more personal, meditative story.
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