Remaining Human is the first book in the Anamorphosis Zero series by K. B. Blank and a well-crafted tale for fans of dystopia. Sixteen-year-old Sheila is one of the few to notice and determine that something is actually wrong with the Sera and she knows that they are not entirely human. She also knows that their use of religion is a subterfuge to peddle lies and manipulate people, and the only way to expose them is to be part of them. Little does she know that she is about to put herself in jeopardy because the path to the Lost City is fraught with danger, crooks, and enemies she hasn’t thought about. Will she be able to accomplish her mission of unraveling the truth about the Sera and can she keep her humanity intact while doing so?

Remaining Human is a great story with a young female protagonist that readers will stick with. The moment she encounters the Sera, the reader feels her apprehension, which is well-developed throughout the narrative. Her innate disposition to question everything sets her on the dangerous path to finding the truth and as she is tested with all forms of trials, she gets stronger, and she develops into a confident and determined character on a mission. K. B. Blank’s prose is beautiful and the narrative voice is strong. The dialogues are brilliantly written and the author excels in writing interesting details into the story — from capturing the faintest emotions in characters to interesting details about the setting. This is a beautiful story with a dystopian setting, a world where the Sera take control by using religion to manipulate humanity. I loved Sheila and wanted to see her succeed.

Remaining Human is the first book in the Anamorphosis Zero series by K. B. Blank. Set in the future where the earth as we know it is no more, the new world is ruled by the Sera. They are not human, but they are special. Leading the world back to technology after everything was lost, the Sera are powerful figures in society. Sheila knows they aren’t as nice as they are believed to be, and her suspicions are confirmed when they take her away. Her father stole a book from the Sera library, and she is the payment for that. Luckily for her (or unluckily), Sheila is chosen to become one of the Sera. The only issue is that Sheila does not want to lose her humanity, not for all the power in the world. She has no choice. Instead of crying, Sheila decides to figure out who the Sera are while hoping to keep her humanity intact. Can she?

The suspense is heavy in this story, and I loved it. More often than not, dystopian novels are either depressing or are too farfetched to be enjoyable. Conversely, K. B. Blank writes a compelling story that is surprisingly entertaining without being depressing or too dark. The world-building is fantastic, and the descriptions are extraordinary. You will feel like you are right there next to Sheila as she travels to the Lost City, meets challenges that she never anticipated, and emerges victorious even when she comes close to losing it all. I loved Sheila’s feisty character and humble outlook. She knows she is not strong enough to bring the Sera down, but she understands that she needs to gather information to at least understand what they are. I was buzzing with excitement the whole time reading Remaining Human, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I cannot wait to see what happens next in the series.