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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Rebecca Miles Henson’s debut dystopian novel The Cracks We See Through blends literary brilliance with sustainability, offering a gripping tale of resilience and hope in a fractured world.
The Cracks We See Through
In a literary landscape often dominated by tales of despair and destruction, Rebecca Miles Henson’s debut novel, The Cracks We See Through, emerges as a beacon of resilience, connection, and hope. Published by Compassiviste Publishing, this dystopian fiction explores the boundaries humanity builds to survive—and the cracks that inevitably form within them. Released in digital-only format, the novel not only showcases literary brilliance but also underscores a commitment to sustainability, proving that art and ecological responsibility can thrive together.
Set in a near-future world ravaged by violence and societal collapse, The Cracks We See Through weaves the stories of two women navigating vastly different yet equally precarious realities. Anya, a mother and wife, has fled the chaos of London to seek refuge on a remote Welsh island with her husband, daughters, and dog. There, life appears idyllic—vibrant with color, play, and love—but only as long as Anya avoids confronting the profound losses that haunt her. As Henson writes, “For as long as I can avoid thinking about her, I can see the beauty,” a line that encapsulates the fragile balance Anya maintains between peace and pain.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in the Middle East, Niamh is a woman adrift, yearning to return to the UK in a world where transportation and communication have all but disintegrated. Her journey leads her to a walled city governed by women—a seeming sanctuary that hides a sinister underbelly. As Henson notes, “The city was becoming darker… existentially for some, less abstract for women,” a poignant reflection of the gendered threats that shape Niamh’s existence.
The novel’s dual narratives converge on a shared theme: the fragility of safety in a fractured world. For Anya, the reopening of borders threatens the isolation that has kept her family alive, forcing her to make a harrowing decision that could unravel everything she holds dear. For Niamh, the cracks in her safehouse reveal truths that challenge her survival. Through these parallel struggles, Henson crafts a gripping tale of home, hardship, and the enduring search for light amid darkness.
What sets The Cracks We See Through apart is not just its storytelling but its ethos. Compassiviste Publishing, true to its mission of ecological responsibility, has released the novel exclusively in digital formats, forgoing traditional print runs. This choice reflects a broader vision: that literary excellence need not come at the expense of the planet. In a world brought to its knees—both in Henson’s fiction and in our own reality—this commitment offers a glimmer of hope, a reminder that creativity and sustainability can coexist.
Henson’s prose is as evocative as it is unflinching, painting a dystopia that feels all too plausible while celebrating the wild, colorful resilience of the human spirit. “Life is colourful, and full, and wild. In a world brought to its knees, we are thriving,” she writes, capturing the paradox of joy persisting amid ruin. Yet the novel never shies away from the cost of survival, as riots, mass murder, and destruction loom large in the characters’ pasts and futures.
With The Cracks We See Through, Rebecca Miles Henson announces herself as a bold new voice in dystopian fiction, one unafraid to probe the depths of loss and the heights of love. Compassiviste Publishing, in turn, sets a standard for a future where stories can move us without leaving a footprint. Together, they remind us that even in the darkest moments, there are cracks through which light—and hope—can shine.
Rebecca Miles Henson
Rebecca Miles Henson, a British author renowned for her evocative, place-based literary fiction, honed her craft at London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and draws rich inspiration from her experiences in France, Brisbane, and London; now settled in a historic South Wales cottage with her partner, child, and dog, she debuts with the compelling dystopian novel The Cracks We See Through.
Compassiviste Publishing
Compassiviste Publishing pioneers sustainable storytelling by merging ecological responsibility with captivating narratives, adopting a digital-first model that slashes its environmental impact while showcasing how innovation and conscience can seamlessly align.
Find more from Rebecca Miles Henson now:
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3DS7wdu
Apple Audiobooks: https://apple.co/3XKgd04
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4iPyEc4
Audible: https://amzn.to/4cgNMgl
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cracks-we-see-through-rebecca-miles-henson/1146500051?ean=2940180461094
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/the-cracks-we-see-through
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