Do I Like Science Fiction Now?: A Review of Hive by D.L. Orton

Hello, Book Nerds! Welcome back to Reading Has Ruined My Life or welcome if you are new. As always, my name is Hannah and I am your captain on this journey into my bookcases.

Months ago I said I read a science fiction book that basically killed any interest I had in the genre. Harsh, I know, but very true. Well, not long after I published that review, I received an offer to review another science fiction book. So I accepted, and here we are.

Thank you very much to Rocky Mountain Press for reaching out and offering me a copy of today’s book. They aren’t paying me for today’s review, they just sent me the book for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you again for offering me a copy of this read. It means a lot to me that someone out there wants to send me books. Thank you, thank you!

And what book was I so kindly sent? Please give a warm welcome to Hive by D.L. Orton! Hive releases on May 6, 2025.

Before I even get to the synopsis, we need to talk about the AI elephant in the room. Hive has an AI book cover. It’s a bad look. I don’t know what system Rocky Mountain Press is using. I do not know if they have their own AI system that they have trained themselves and have paid artists to use their art in the training of said AI system, but I’m assuming that is not the case as it rarely is. AI art is detrimental to artists as there are AI systems that flat out steal art posted online without the consent of the artist. These artists will never see a cent for their art being used to train AI. And since this review is on a science fiction book, please allow me to share some thoughts the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association has to say about AI art. To paraphrase their statement: creators must be compensated for their work and their work must be credited. AI doesn’t have a place in creative works.

So to Rocky Mountain Press and D.L. Orton, a message to you both: rethink your use of AI art. I know I am not the only reader who does this, but when I see a book with an AI cover in a store, I don’t even bother picking it up. Using an AI cover will not save money as it will affect the sale of the book. In the future, don’t use AI.

Now, let’s get to the synopsis. As always, a spoiler alert is in order. If you’ve read any other review on this site then you will know I love to spoil the entirety of the books I read. This is your one and only warning. I also have a content and trigger warning to issue before getting to the review. Hive sadly deals with late term miscarriage and infant death near the end of the book. This topic cannot be avoided as it is part of the set up for book two. If you are not in the headspace to deal with the topic then I suggest skipping this read. Synopsis time now.

A few decades in the not so distant future, humanity is dying and the last humans are living in biodomes which were once humanity’s promised savior. At the start of our story, the Earth is but one disaster away from being totally destroyed. The last humans are struggling to survive as the biodomes have failed. All that fancy tech failed and/or turned on humanity. The main characters, Diego Nadales and Isabel Sanborn, have one final Hail Mary: go back in time by 30 years and hop timelines to save humanity in at least one world.

Yes, we have time travel and alternate timelines going on here. It’s actually not as confusing as you may think it is; we’ll talk about it a little bit later.

There's always a lot going on in science fiction.

Back to the synopsis. Into the past/new timeline Diego goes! His mission is to connect this world’s version of him and Isabel together. Combined, they may just have the smarts to save Earth. They will need money and lots of support in this matter though.

Thankfully, the government is working on a few things. A few things that may align with Isabel and Diego’s plans. The American government is at least aware some shit is about to go down. No one knows exactly what is going to happen, but everyone can smell the end of humanity. So can they do it? Can Isabel and Diego save the world? Or is this the end? Find out in Hive.

For those wondering about the animals and are here specifically to learn if Lucky and Tolstoy survive, please release the breathe you are holding. Lucky and Tolstoy have a very rough start to this story, but they, along with all the other animals in the adoption event, make it. I had so much anxiety regarding the animals, I was on the verge of a panic attack with all the puppies and kittens in danger, but I am so happy to report that they all make it and thrive. Well…they thrive as much as they can in the end times.

If the animals hadn't made it, I would have stopped reading the book altogether.

Now I’ve already established I’m not a big science fiction reader. And not to be mean, I went into this read with some low expectations. Not because I thought this book specifically was going to be bad, but because I’ve had subpar experiences with the genre. I was pleasantly surprised with Hive! I found myself engrossed in the book from the very first page; it had a good hook.

And despite this book taking place in an already established literary universe, I didn’t have any issue with this read. Hive is the first book in a duology that is set in the same universe as D.L. Orton’s Between Two Evils trilogy. I’ve never read the original trilogy, and I honestly don’t need to because everything that’s relevant to the plot of Hive is explained. Sure, I don’t know the full backstory for these characters, but that doesn’t matter. What matters in Hive is going back in time to a different universe and saving the world. I don’t need to know entirety of Diego’s life or everything that happened to him in the original trilogy. What I do need to know is that he and Isabel are soulmates and should be together in every timeline; which I learned after just one chapter. 

I ship them.

I also had no issue with the science in this book. Honestly, there isn’t too much explanation for how things work exactly, I think if there was Hive would become a very Hard Science Fiction read and I would easily get lost. But what’s in Hive is described in layman’s terms which is definitely what I need. I assume there is some more explanation in the original trilogy, but I don’t feel like I’m missing anything by not reading those books.

And I believe that shows D.L. Orton’s talent as a writer. As a first time reader of Orton’s, and a noob science fiction reader, I had no issue following along. The only issue I could find with the book, aside from the AI book cover, was some of the dialogue. I just found it to be clunky at times, namely at the end. It sometimes came across as unnatural. But overall I greatly enjoyed this read.

Hive is a great piece of science fiction. It got rid of my grudge against the genre. I just wish the book cover was created by an actual artist and not a machine.

Thank you once again to Rocky Mountain Press for sending me a copy of Hive. It does truly mean a lot to me that someone out there wants to send me books. Thank you, thank you.

And with that, I must bid you all adieu. I shall see you all again next week with another new review. If you can’t wait till then, then you always check out my podcast Nothing to See Hear. It stars me and two of my dearest friends as we talk everything from Barbie to Scooby-Doo to Disney to bad 90s wrestling and everything in between. There’s bound to be something that strikes your fancy.

Until next time, stay safe, wash your hands, and read some good books for me.

See y'all then, bye!