Born in Salt by T. C. Weber is a dystopian novel where freedom comes at a price. Set in an alternate universe, the United States of America has allied with the Nazis, and this alliance has consequences for everyday Americans. Life for Ben is simple enough on the farm, but things change when his brother dies overseas while serving his country and leaves his fiancée Rachel behind. Devastated and skeptical about the cause of Jake’s death, Ben and Rachel join a group of rebels with questionable tactics and the right goal. However, before they know it, both of them are caught by Internal Security Service. Desperate, Ben is given the option to turn on the rebels and protect Rachel from a terrible fate, or he can let Rachel die as the rebels work hard to bring the government down. It is up to Ben as he decides whether to fight or run away from all his troubles.

Richly detailed and developed to perfection, Born in Salt is the kind of novel you recommend to your friends. From the opening scene until the end, the author does his best to give you an adrenaline rush with back-to-back action. The story follows the rise and fall of suspense and action. The pace is perfect (not too fast or too slow), allowing the story and characters to develop. Ben’s character is very realistic. He is simply overwhelmed in the beginning and understandably so. However, becoming a part of the revolution gives Ben a break from his cookie-cutter life. Granted, Ben has no idea who he can trust apart from Rachel, and keeping her safe becomes his priority very soon. T. C. Weber’s story is a little dark but so entertaining! A perfect, 5-star novel!

Born In Salt is a work of fiction in the dystopian sub-genre, penned by author T.C. Weber. It is best suited to the mature adult reading audience due to the presence of sex and violence throughout and the use of explicit language. Our story takes us to an alternative timeline of history in which U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was faced with a coup (historically known as The Business Plot), but in this version, Roosevelt is overthrown, and a dictatorship rules America. Fifty years on, farm boy Ben suffers the tragic loss of his brother, but the suspicious circumstances around his death lead this young man into a life-changing journey of conspiracy, domination, and rebellion.

Author T.C. Weber has crafted a compelling and exciting dystopian novel that takes alternative history and makes it feel eerily real. There is a keen sense of both the social and political in every chapter of this well-penned novel, making it a layered and complex read that gives great action on the page and delivers meaningful moments to ruminate on long into the night. I also felt that the dialogue was stellar, never misused or uneventful, and always helping to affirm the worldbuilding and plot. Ben and Rachel were three-dimensional lead characters with a lot of damage – no doubt a product of the dark dictatorship in which they were raised – but they also felt resonant and relatable in their struggles. Overall, I would highly recommend Born In Salt to fans of alternative American history, dystopia, and novels with sociopolitical themes.