Whispers In Autumn

Sixteen year old Althea has always known she was different. She

Sixteen year old Althea has always known she was different. She keeps to herself and trusts no one, focusing on blending in and not being noticed as she travels between seasons and time in this dystopian world. Aliens now rule, and they do it by mind control, only Althea has never been influenced by it. She doesn't understand why she's different. She doesn't know how long she will be alone. She only has a note carried in a treasured locket with a promise and instructions to hold onto. Things are different this autumn. She meets Lucas, and he's not like the other people. He sees her, really sees her. As they become friends, although she is very guarded, they face finding out what they are together, and come to really care for each other in the process. The revelation of who and what they are is not only unique to them, however. Unfortunately, the Others are hunting them also. Can they survive, and if they do will they lose each other in the process?

This was an interesting book that combined dystopia, science fiction, and fantasy, with some romance added in. Trisha Leigh has created a world in which its inhabitants live very controlled lives. Everything is dictated to them, how to dress, where to go, their entire lives mapped out according to the plans of the Others who control them. They live in fenced in cities, supposedly for their protection, but the veil over their minds keeps them from seeing the truth, everyone that is except Althea and Lucas. I liked Althea's character. She was very timid in the beginning, but proved herself to be quite a strong character as the book progressed. She wasn't afraid to stand up for those she cared about. I really loved Lucas. He has a great personality, is fun, loyal, and pretty hot. The relationship and ensuing romance between Lucas and Althea was sweet. I enjoyed the way Trisha Leigh used the elements in her story and tied them to the seasons, then meshed it so well together with the alien theme. I found the story line to be creative and thought provoking. If you are a dystopian, science fiction, and/or fantasy fan, then this is a book you should check out.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Gripping story, beautifully written

Whispers in Autumn is a young adult dsytopian science fiction, but don’t let that moniker scare you. While that might be it’s label, Whispers in Autumn is really the story of a teenage girl who has always known that she is different. Only her difference doesn’t just make her lonely, it’s dangerous. The locket she wears around her neck with a note tucked inside proves it. It tells her that she’s Something Else, there are more like her, but to trust no one. In Althea’s world, people are dutiful and calm and Althea has spent her entire life hiding that she is neither. She’s accepted that this is her life until things begin to change. The Wardens have suddenly announced that they will begin to question students in Althea’s grade.

And while her head is swimming with worry that she will be found out, she meets Lucas. She notices right away that Lucas isn’t quite “normal” either, but she’s been told not to trust anyone. Could he be like her? And what about the new boy Deshi? As the autumn progresses, Althea searches for answers because trying to blend in with the rest of society is no longer an option. The Others are trying to search her out and she has to find out why.

Whispers in Autumn is not only a gripping story but beautifully well written. Trisha effortlessly blends gorgeous prose with sci fi, dystopian, romance, and a mystery so that you no longer see the monikers but just the story: A girl who not only wants to survive but wants to belong somewhere.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Different, out of the ordinary tale, love the odd-ness.  The wri

Different, out of the ordinary tale, love the odd-ness.  The writer's writing beautifully evolves as the story progresses. Engaging!!

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This book earned every single star and then some, and I'm not on

This book earned every single star and then some, and I'm not one to give out five stars lightly. From the very first page it grabs you with its originality and compelling writing then it simply refuses to let go. An intimate, original look at alien invasion told in a completely unexpected and captivating way. 

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(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a re

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis as part of the ‘Last Year’ blog tour. Thanks to Trisha Leigh.)
16-year-old Althea has secrets. Firstly, she’s not really Althea Morgan, in fact she doesn’t know who she really is at all. And secondly, she’s not like all the other humans either.

Althea lives in a society where humans are brainwashed by alien life forms known simply as ‘others’. The Others seal the humans in an area surrounded by electric fences, claiming to be protecting them from the animals outside who carry disease. Humans are paired up at 16, are allowed one child to each pair, and always have a smile on their faces. They never feel emotion, not fear, or love, joy, or pain. It’s all bottled up inside and purged once a year by the others.

Althea is different though. The other teenagers at school look through her as if she’s not really there, they never really see her. Althea feels all the emotions that the other humans don’t, but more than anything she feels alone. Althea has a message inside her necklace that tells her that she is different and that she needs to hide this. Althea doesn’t really know what the message is about, but she knows to take its advice.
Another strange thing about Althea is that she ‘travels’. She spends springtime with the Hammonds, Autumn with the Morgans, and winter with the Clarks in Iowa. Each time she travels and wakes up in a different place Althea feels more alone than ever – who or what is she? Why does she travel between the seasons this way? Why has she never seen summer? And why does she heat up enough to melt things when she feels strong emotion?

Change is in store for Althea though with the appearance of a boy at school who smells strangely of pine, and she wonders if he is maybe like her. He seems to feel emotions too, and he isn’t like the other humans, he doesn’t always have a smile on his face.

But what is Althea really? Is Lucas really the same as her? Who are the ‘others’, and what are they doing here? And what will happen to Althea if the others realise how different she is?


I loved this book. The writing was just beautiful and flowed so well. The story was well paced, and had plenty of mystery, and even a touch of romance. The world building in this dystopian society was complex and well-thought out. There were several differences between this society and ours, and even different words for things, eg: school was called ‘cell’ (a much better description if you ask me!)
The storyline in this book was complex too, there were so many things that made Althea different, and made her life different that it is difficult to explain them concisely!
I loved Althea and Lucas, they were both just great characters, and both had their own problems, their own quirks, and their own way of dealing with things. The subtle romance between them was beautifully done, and totally left me wanting more! I loved all the little quirks each had, and how they learned to use their differences to help themselves, and I loved the constant ‘threat’ from the ‘others’. It was also great how Althea and Lucas had finally found each other, and weren’t quite so alone any more.

Overall; I loved this book, it’s one of the best that I have read this year! If you like books like ‘the hunger games’ you’ll love this!
9 out of 10.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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'Whispers in Autumn' is the first book in the Last Year series,

'Whispers in Autumn' is the first book in the Last Year series, a young adult dystopian that follows Althea and Lucas as they discover the truth about who and what they are, and as they try to bring down the Others before humanity is destroyed.

I found this to be a really engaging and interesting novel. The writing was very well done and the plot line was amazing. I was hooked from the first page and I couldn't stop reading until the last sentence. The story takes place in a dystopian future - one that is super creepy - but the author did such a great job at world building that it didn't seem impossible that it could happen in our future. The characters are unique and I immediately felt connected to Althea and her struggle with loneliness and feeling like she was somehow wrong in the world. I really liked the character of Lucas - he was the yin to Althea's yang and they make a great team in the novel. The other characters - especially the Others and those that work for them - were written in a very edgy and chilling way.

The setting was intricate and was easy to visualize, which worked well with it being set in a dystopian future. I thought the plot was refreshing and brought something really intriguing to the genre. The vocabulary that is used just added to the mystery and other-worldliness of the book, which I thought was a good fit. This book definitely leaves you at the edge of your seat, trying to figure out what's really going on and what will happen next. It was a great start to a series I'm sure will be just as amazing as the first book proved to be.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Whispers in Autumn is a unique and wonderfully written dystopia

Whispers in Autumn is a unique and wonderfully written dystopia novel about aliens who have taken over Earth. The plot is very well thought out and the characters are very compelling.

Althea is different than from everyone else. For some reason every season she jumps to a new home and to parents that are not hers. Every season except the summer and currently it is autumn. She has only one clue about herself. A necklace that has a secret message in it from someone named Ko.

She knows not to trust anyone and then she meets Lucas. Soon she realizes he is just like her and they both could be in danger…

Whispers in Autumn is the first in The Last Year series. I can honestly say that I cannot wait Winter Omens to be release in late September. This is a great YA dystopian adventure and one I would recommend to anyone.

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Review: The Good The Plot- I really liked the concept of this

Review: The Good The Plot- I really liked the concept of this book, it
wasn't your traditional Dystopian story nor was it quite traditional in
the Science Fiction aspects either. From the beginning this story had a
solid foundation and fantastic world building without boring the reader
while doing so. Althea- I really enjoyed Althea she was a great female
protagonist. Althea was a confident character who knew she was different
but smart enough to keep that fact hidden. While I pitied the situation
Althea found herself in I couldn't help but keep rooting for her as the
book went along. The Others- OK so they came to Earth and basically
enslaved the human race and we can all agree that's bad but c'mon that
is what makes them such great villains. I can't wait to learn more about
them in the next book. The Cover- Hands down one of the prettiest self
published covers I have ever seen. I love everything about it. The Bad
Nothing, Zero, Nada I can confidently say that I really enjoyed
everything about this book from beginning to end. I wouldn't change a
thing. Final Thoughts Pick this book up, simple as that. If your
looking for the next great Dystopian series Whispers In Autumn is it. I
finished this book in one day, it was unputdownable if that says
anything. I will be giving Whispers In Autumn by Trisha Leigh ¿¿¿¿5
stars!!

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Overall Thoughts: The uniqueness of the summary instantly captur

Overall Thoughts: The uniqueness of the summary instantly captured my
intrigued, and the actual book definitely didn't disappoint either!
Whispers in Autumn is about a sixteen-year-old girl named Althea, who
lives in a world completely controlled by aliens. Humans have become
enslaved by mind control and they don't even know it. Animals of all
kinds are forbidden, for fear that they will attack and/or bring disease
into the world. Everyone looks normal on the outside, but possess a
perfection and exactitude that normal humans aren't capable of having.
They're always smiling and content, even if something isn't exactly
right; everyone except Althea, that is. Althea is more lucid and
sensitive than everyone else, which is not a good thing. She feels
fright, unease, and nervousness when everyone else is oblivious. When
her uniqueness starts becoming more apparent, she fearfully wonders why
she seems to be the only exception. Then she meets a boy named Lucas.
Like herself, Lucas seems to be the only other person in the world who
is different; who feels emotions when the situation rightfully wills it.
But unlike herself, Lucas embraces his individuality. And when the
Others (a.k.a. the alien government) start searching for Althea, the
pair team up to discover why they're so different from the rest off
their population. What I liked about this book: Althea is the kind of
character that you automatically have empathy for because she is the
outcast and because she is the black sheep. Whenever she's in a
pressuring situation she automatically starts to freak out internally;
which then entails me to freak out with her! Lucas, on the other hand,
is the complete opposite. He stayed cool and calm under pressure, and
balanced out Althea's fiery and panicky nature really well, I thought.
What I disliked about this book: The beginning was slightly confusing
because of all the new vocabulary like: Dissident, The Others, Wardens,
the Cell (or school). I'm happy to say that the further I got into the
story, the more sense it made to me. Verdict: Trisha Leigh definitely
has a gift for story-telling because I really enjoyed diving into this
adventure-filled book!

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We are proud to announce that Whispers In Autumn by Trisha Leigh

We are proud to announce that Whispers In Autumn by Trisha Leigh is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. This tells a read that this book is well worth their time and money!

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Great

I love this book and im soooooooo excited to get the second book. I cant wait to find out what happens to lucas and althea. I recommond this book if your looking for a good read that will take you a few hours to finish.

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I'm pretty sure it was Denise Grover Swank who got me reading Tr

I'm pretty sure it was Denise Grover Swank who got me reading Trisha Leigh. The two of them are BFF's after all. I read the first chapter of this book and it was different than other books that I have read. It is considered a young adult book, but titles don't phase me. If the story sounds interesting then I will read it. I don't care what the genre is listed as. That's exactly how I like my music and my movies, too.

Althea is a 16 year old girl living in a world where aliens have taken over the human race. Everyone is happy following their directions and plugging along in life, thanks to the alien mind control. But Althea feels different than the others. She has a secret: she can go to sleep and wake up in another time, in another home in another state and it's like she never left. She doesn't know how it happens, when it's going to happen or why it happens. She doesn't know how long she will stay each time she travels. She can't tell anyone about it and it's driving her crazy.

She meets Lucas and realizes that she is not alone. He is a lot like her and there may be more like them. They can't let on that they are different because they will be taken and become "broken." No one has ever come back from being broken. Any one who does not obey or submit becomes broken and disappears. Althea cannot risk that happening. She has been told and believes that she is different for a reason; that she can stop the mind control and release the humans from their prisons. But, at what cost?

I am currently reading book 4 Summer Ruins and because this series revolves around the seasons, I am inclined to believe that this will be the last book. I enjoy this series because Trisha is a fantastic writer. She has given Althea enough fire (hee-hee) and enough vulnerability to be believable. The task at hand is a dauntingly epic one, hence why it needs 4 books to tell it. However, the challenges that she faces and the struggles that she has to overcome don't seem over the top or tend to drag on and on for no reason. There is purpose to the actions and the problems that Althea encounters. This girl is trying to change the world and that doesn't happen in 1 book or without major repercussions or collateral damage. I would REALLY love to see this series become a movie. It has a chance to become something like the Lord of the Rings movies where the epic journey is started on in the first movie and it takes several more to complete it. There are some amazing elements in this series that would transfer well to the big screen. So go read this book and jump on the bandwagon BEFORE it becomes cool to be on it. You can look back with pride knowing that you were here from the beginning and saw this baby all the way from birth to graduation.

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Read my review!!!!!!!

I havent read the book but my name is autumn... so it MUST be cool. Buy it!!!!!!!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I must admit, I am somewhat tired of dystopian novels. Something

I must admit, I am somewhat tired of dystopian novels. Something about
this book drew me in. I was hooked from the beginning! It is a unique
combination of dystopian, and science fiction (yes,there are aliens...)
The main character is a young teenage girl named Althea. It would not
do justice to the character to merely describe her as multidimensional.
She is different, she doesn't quite belong. You, as the reader, can
actually feel what she is feeling. You can see what she is seeing.
This, in my opinion, is the sign of a truly fantastic writer. When I
was finished, I reread the story. Also a sign of a fantastic writer.
I look forward to more books by Trisha Leigh.

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If you want a good out of the box read, try this one! I for sure

If you want a good out of the box read, try this one! I for sure, did
not know what I was getting into when I started reading this but found
myself enjoying it quite a bit. I love a story that has a good plot.
There are many twist and turns in this book. Like that parts where you
are the only one not complying with what you are supposed to do. Being
one of few who are exempt from this control, A gazillion things go
through my mind. What if they get caught? They have to be careful with
every emotion or question they ask! I loved that this plot kept me on my
toes till the very end. I want to get to the love interest cause this
one I particularly enjoyed. Torn between finding out your not the only
one to OMG my emotions are going out of control really left me excited.
Always on the run adrenaline mixed with the roller coaster of emotions
it's easy to watch these two fall for each other. Yet, then again, it
gets difficult. They both have a lot of decisions to makes. Whisper In
Autumn is a great start of a series. Fascinating and intriguing, this
story pulls the reader in with amazing clarity. If you love a good
sci-fy book of aliens taking over, read it. I can assure you it will
mess with your mind. Whispers In Autumn is great!

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There are some books that aren't worth one's time but we don't k

There are some books that aren't worth one's time but we don't know it
until we read it. Then there are books that make you make time for.
Whispers in Autumn was the latter for me. It hooked me from page one.
There is no way I can know the true feeling of thinking I'm completely
alone in this world as Althea does, I can only imagine. That is one of
the things I truly enjoyed about this book. Also that there were aliens
connected with the seasons plus brainwashed humans. There is no worst
torture then knowing that everyone in the world has been brainwashed
into being a compliant robot who smiles all the time. It's just plain
creepy. Being afraid every single second of your life thinking that
you're going to be found out and "disposed of" in the exact
same way as your parents. Well that is what Althea has to deal with.
People who smile for no reason and don't seem to care when someone is
hurt or is going to be killed. There are times when one fakes a smile
to make others happy but not for as long as Althea has done it for.
That I can empathize with. Even though she was afraid and even though
her survival instincts are yelling at her to stay away from every
single person out there she can't help but connect with the one person
who knows exactly what she's feeling and/or not feeling. There are
some books that are so vague and confusing and they just make me want to
have a good talking to with the author. I had no problem whatsoever
with this one. It had a little bit of mystery but not enough that I was
floundering about completely confused, puzzled, and frustrated. Enough
mystery to keep me on my toes but not so much that if maybe me wasn't to
drop it and run for the hills. It was an incredible beginning to the
series if you ask me. Favorite part without spoilers? Threatened
skunks. Is it vague enough to make your curious? I hope so. It made me
laugh so hard I almost fell out of bed! overall, would I recommend this
book? Yes I do. Definitely want to know how Althea and Lucas.

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Trisha Leigh pens a unique dsytopian science fiction, that is bo

Trisha Leigh pens a unique dsytopian science fiction, that is both
beautifully and well written. I found the characters to be well
developed/strong, believable and unpredictable, which made the story
much more interesting. This book hooks you from page one and doesn't
let go! This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided
for an honest review.

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More than amazing...

If you can read a book and get through it without questioning it's structure and grammar then it's a good book. When there are no forseeable holes in the storyline and it flows smooth so much you don't want to put it down, then it's a great book. If you can smell the smells, taste the tastes, hear the sounds, and feel the pain, then it's an amazing piece of art ... downright utterly amazing.

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Intriguing and captivating, Whispers in Autumn is one of those

Intriguing and captivating, Whispers in Autumn is one of those books that blends together several known elements in a way that just totally grabs you. Though a little slow feeling at first, there is a strong undercurrent to this one that holds interest.With some great twists, and quite a few thought-provoking moments, Whispers in Autumn is both fun and intense.


Althea is a great character, the kind with a different sort of journey ahead of her. Truly feeling like an outsider because she doesn't exist in a mindless daze, there is a constant layer of fear around her. Being found out in regards to having control of her own head definitely has consequences, and Leigh navigates this area seamlessly. Althea goes through tremendous strides, while still being very much the perceptive and caring girl we meet at the start.

Then there's Lucas, a boy who will completely capture readers from his first appearance. Testing Althea in some pretty big ways, the pair have a few strides to overcome. Once they do, though, things heat up... in some rather awesome ways. There is definitely chemistry between these two, and so many of the pages sizzle with what's going on between them. I fell hard for Lucas, and rooted right there with him and Althea, even in their not as stellar moments.

While this one is a bit confusion to start, being thrown right into things, and the pacing takes some time to really get up to speed, Leigh has enough mystery mixed with well timed reveals to keep reader interest. I had so many questions, where it seemed like each new piece of info only made me want to know more, in that way that lets the book get so into my head. While I admit, I predicted a few of the twists, Leigh still keeps some up her sleeve until the right moment. There are some fantastic elements pulled into this one, woven in a way that I thoroughly loved, and that put a fresh sort of spin on them.


The writing is fabulous, building the atmosphere Althea lives in while also giving a strong voice to who she is. With some amazing descriptions, and an alluring flow, the writing stands out as much as the story and characters do. There is a huge amount of emotions worked into this one, pulling you in right away, and letting you feel everything Althea does, from fear to happiness. Blending some great aspects into something with a new feel, and adding in the right amount of romance and heat, Whispers in Autumn is a great book that shouldn't be missed.

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3.5 Stars! There are many dystopian books out there but Whispe

3.5 Stars!

There are many dystopian books out there but Whispers in Autumn has captured my interest. The blurb about aliens controlling the humans did it for me. I want something new and this book delivered something fresh.

The story is about a world run by aliens. Humans were enslaved by their mind control. Every move and emotions were controlled by them. Althea is an exemption. She’s lucid about everything. Though her uniqueness baffles her, why is she immune to their mind control? Who is this new boy named Deshi? Why are the Others searching for her? You have read this book to find out.
The world building is good. Like I said, it was new and fresh. The author took her time in describing Althea’s world. I admit that it took me a while to grasp the story. A lot of situations and mysterious characters were introduced that will build up your curiosity, which I like. Then the terms such as: Dissident, The Others, Something Else, Wardens and Cell (which is actually the word for school) confused me for a short while. The author dives into the story right away, expecting the readers to grasp it instantly. And I’ am a kind of reader who wants to be spoon feed. I eventually got the hang of it after a few chapters.

The characters were well made. They were realistic! I adore Althea. I connected to her easily. I like her uniqueness and strength to find out who she is and why she’s different from the others. Lucas is my favorite character here. I like his personality and the way he see things. His soft spot towards his fish made me smile several times. Then Deshi, the mysterious boy gave spice to the story.

As for the love angle, it was slightly okay. Lucas and Althea’s relationship didn’t give me any tingling sensation. Though I find their relationship innocently cute.

Overall, this book is a nice read. Whispers in Autumn will charm dystopian, suspense and mystery lovers. I can’t wait to read another book from this author.

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