What do you think?
Rate this book
The Quiet: In A Silenced World, What Would You Do To Keep Your Child Safe?
‘You have no idea what I’ve had to do to keep him safe…’.
Isaac is Hannah’s entire world. She knows that her son is gifted, and that those gifts make him vulnerable. To keep him safe, she spends every waking moment by his side. If she lets her guard down, lets him out of her sight, lets him show what he’s capable of, he will be taken from her.
When the Soundfield arrived twenty years ago, the world changed with it. Now, people are forced to live at night due to the deadly heat of the day, food and water are scarce, and everyday life is punctuated by the constant and disconcerting hum from the Field. A brilliant scientist, Hannah spent her early career working on the enigma of the Soundfield, looking for answers; now, resigned, she has focussed all her energies on keeping Isaac living, not just alive.
To do so, she will have to lie to the people she knows and hope she can trust the ones she doesn't. Because the only thing more dangerous than her lies, is the truth of what she's done.
‘Riveting. Martin weaves an inspired premise into an engrossing and wholly original adventure.’ Ernest Cline, No.1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Ready Player One
Isaac is Hannah’s entire world. She knows that her son is gifted, and that those gifts make him vulnerable. To keep him safe, she spends every waking moment by his side. If she lets her guard down, lets him out of her sight, lets him show what he’s capable of, he will be taken from her.
When the Soundfield arrived twenty years ago, the world changed with it. Now, people are forced to live at night due to the deadly heat of the day, food and water are scarce, and everyday life is punctuated by the constant and disconcerting hum from the Field. A brilliant scientist, Hannah spent her early career working on the enigma of the Soundfield, looking for answers; now, resigned, she has focussed all her energies on keeping Isaac living, not just alive.
To do so, she will have to lie to the people she knows and hope she can trust the ones she doesn't. Because the only thing more dangerous than her lies, is the truth of what she's done.
‘Riveting. Martin weaves an inspired premise into an engrossing and wholly original adventure.’ Ernest Cline, No.1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Ready Player One
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2025
13 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
About the author
Barnaby Martin
1 book10 followersBarnaby Martin is a multi-talented storyteller and creator. Besides his writing, he is an award-winning and self-taught composer, video essayist and teacher. His music has been performed widely in the UK and internationally by groups including the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of Opera North and Westminster Cathedral Choir. His YouTube channel, Listening In, which he began in 2019 and for which he makes videos that explore the cross-section between pop culture and classical music, has garnered over 200,000 subscribers and 10 million views. He studied natural sciences at Cambridge and now teaches in London, where he lives with his husband.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 3, 2024
I loved this but need a sequal immediately
This looks like just my sort of book. I really love speculative fiction. so I reached straight for it when I saw it in NetGalley UK.
The book is such a dap world where climate changes caused people to live during the night rather than the day and the Earth is covered by a sinister singing entity known as Sound field which makes a tonal noises which nobody understands. The main characters are scientist investigating the sound field and discovering that certain genetic abnormalities predispose people to hearing the sound differently.
One child is unable to talk speaks in sign language but he’s able to mimic the sound fields noises accurately
The science behind the dystopia takes a long time to be revealed and you’re well over halfway through the book before you finally understand what the Soundfield is and it’s implications likewise the genetic engineering part of the story only starts to be tied up towards the end
I enjoyed the plot twist and hadn’t predicted it which I love.
The genetics elements of the story seems to make some scientific sense which is always important when it comes to sci-fi the mixture between sci-fi fantasy and reality is just right.
This book was so good I’m thoroughly disappointed that it’s
clearly not finished I was watching the count down to the end of the novel in the bottom right hand corner of my Kindle getting more and more frustrated that the story wasn’t meant to be fully explained.I live in hope that there will be a sequel
The authors writing style is instantly engaging making the book of thoroughly enjoyable read
The characters in the novel Notably the central characters are described well and seem like real people. I see in the novel is set in the UK at some time in the future or that doesn’t actually say which country it’s set in which is quite clever. I like the climate change elements of the story and the immigration related to climate emergency make this a very topical read.
This novel would make the perfect first chapter in a television series or a film and I hope and suspect that the rights for this will be taken up quite quickly.
I read an copy of the novel on NetGalley UK if it was published in May 2025 by Pam McMillan /McMillan UK
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicSarahSbookswordpress.com. It will also appear on Amazon UK.
This looks like just my sort of book. I really love speculative fiction. so I reached straight for it when I saw it in NetGalley UK.
The book is such a dap world where climate changes caused people to live during the night rather than the day and the Earth is covered by a sinister singing entity known as Sound field which makes a tonal noises which nobody understands. The main characters are scientist investigating the sound field and discovering that certain genetic abnormalities predispose people to hearing the sound differently.
One child is unable to talk speaks in sign language but he’s able to mimic the sound fields noises accurately
The science behind the dystopia takes a long time to be revealed and you’re well over halfway through the book before you finally understand what the Soundfield is and it’s implications likewise the genetic engineering part of the story only starts to be tied up towards the end
I enjoyed the plot twist and hadn’t predicted it which I love.
The genetics elements of the story seems to make some scientific sense which is always important when it comes to sci-fi the mixture between sci-fi fantasy and reality is just right.
This book was so good I’m thoroughly disappointed that it’s
clearly not finished I was watching the count down to the end of the novel in the bottom right hand corner of my Kindle getting more and more frustrated that the story wasn’t meant to be fully explained.I live in hope that there will be a sequel
The authors writing style is instantly engaging making the book of thoroughly enjoyable read
The characters in the novel Notably the central characters are described well and seem like real people. I see in the novel is set in the UK at some time in the future or that doesn’t actually say which country it’s set in which is quite clever. I like the climate change elements of the story and the immigration related to climate emergency make this a very topical read.
This novel would make the perfect first chapter in a television series or a film and I hope and suspect that the rights for this will be taken up quite quickly.
I read an copy of the novel on NetGalley UK if it was published in May 2025 by Pam McMillan /McMillan UK
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicSarahSbookswordpress.com. It will also appear on Amazon UK.
June 19, 2025
I was hooked from the first pages on. Hannah, first of all a great mother to her six year old son Isaac, is also a scientist who worked on a project to try and understand what the Soundfield is. Since it arrived twenty years ago the world has changed a lot, and not for the best. People have to live during the night, because during the day, the UV radiation is much too strong; it can kill in an instant. And that’s not all; many people were forced to leave their home country and are trying to find shadow – literally.
We slowly learn how Hannah and Isaac spend their nights – we learn about the food shortages, Hannah’s worries about her son to be forced to be a sort of guinea pig in a government project. And Hannah knows what that means – her own scientific findings were at the base of it. We read how she lost her brother and how she met the love of her life.
And then suddenly they have to be on the run and Hannah is forced to rethink a lot of things from her past.
I just love dystopian books where it never becomes clear what happened, but where we read how people cope with the new situation in any which way they can. A few examples are We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson and The New Wilderness by Diane Cook. In The Quiet we read how humans slowly come to understand what the Soundfield may be – but will it be a blessing or a curse?
I was very impressed with the story, the setting and the characters and recommend this book highly.
Thanks to PanMacmillan and Netgalley for this review copy.
We slowly learn how Hannah and Isaac spend their nights – we learn about the food shortages, Hannah’s worries about her son to be forced to be a sort of guinea pig in a government project. And Hannah knows what that means – her own scientific findings were at the base of it. We read how she lost her brother and how she met the love of her life.
And then suddenly they have to be on the run and Hannah is forced to rethink a lot of things from her past.
I just love dystopian books where it never becomes clear what happened, but where we read how people cope with the new situation in any which way they can. A few examples are We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson and The New Wilderness by Diane Cook. In The Quiet we read how humans slowly come to understand what the Soundfield may be – but will it be a blessing or a curse?
I was very impressed with the story, the setting and the characters and recommend this book highly.
Thanks to PanMacmillan and Netgalley for this review copy.
May 16, 2025
rtc 26th may
May 27, 2025
What would you do to keep your child safe? That is the question at the heart of this original debut. Isaac is Hannah’s whole world. He can’t speak but he loves music and singing; a dangerous talent in this dystopian world. If his talent is discovered then Isaac will be taken from her. And Hannah will do anything to ensure that doesn’t happen…
From its heart-stopping prologue I was hooked to the pages of this riveting debut. Thought-provoking, emotional, intelligent and terrifying, The Quiet is humanity and science blended in perfect harmony. Set in a future where a soundfield appeared 20 years earlier, exposure to the sun is life-threatening and where people live by the night and sleep during the day. An ever-threatening presence lingers over every page, making my heart race and keeping me on the edge of my seat as I read.
Hannah is a mysterious character. We only know she is Isaac’s mother, she’s fiercely protective of him and that she lives in fear of him being taken. It’s her and Isaac against a frightening and dangerous world and she lives in a constant state of anxiety, her fear radiating from the pages. Slowly, we learn she has a past she feels the need to atone for, revealing itself in flashbacks to her time at university, and we follow on her journey of reckoning self-discovery and redemption. Our other main character, Isaac, never says a word, yet his presence is strong and memorable. But, like his mother, Isaac is a mystery. We don’t know why he is unable to speak yet he can sing. He clearly has a love of music and the joy he feels when he hears it - including the hum from the soundfield - is infectious. His relationship with music is beautiful and pure, and a stark contrast to the dangerous world around him that his mother experiences.
And we have to talk about the soundfield, which is like a character in its own right. It has an eerie, curious and ominous quality but it is also strangely beautiful and I loved listening to the sound the author imagined it creating on the audiobook. I could see why Hannah found it terrifying and why Issac was drawn to it.
Powerful, heartbreaking and immersive, don’t miss this unforgettable debut.
From its heart-stopping prologue I was hooked to the pages of this riveting debut. Thought-provoking, emotional, intelligent and terrifying, The Quiet is humanity and science blended in perfect harmony. Set in a future where a soundfield appeared 20 years earlier, exposure to the sun is life-threatening and where people live by the night and sleep during the day. An ever-threatening presence lingers over every page, making my heart race and keeping me on the edge of my seat as I read.
Hannah is a mysterious character. We only know she is Isaac’s mother, she’s fiercely protective of him and that she lives in fear of him being taken. It’s her and Isaac against a frightening and dangerous world and she lives in a constant state of anxiety, her fear radiating from the pages. Slowly, we learn she has a past she feels the need to atone for, revealing itself in flashbacks to her time at university, and we follow on her journey of reckoning self-discovery and redemption. Our other main character, Isaac, never says a word, yet his presence is strong and memorable. But, like his mother, Isaac is a mystery. We don’t know why he is unable to speak yet he can sing. He clearly has a love of music and the joy he feels when he hears it - including the hum from the soundfield - is infectious. His relationship with music is beautiful and pure, and a stark contrast to the dangerous world around him that his mother experiences.
And we have to talk about the soundfield, which is like a character in its own right. It has an eerie, curious and ominous quality but it is also strangely beautiful and I loved listening to the sound the author imagined it creating on the audiobook. I could see why Hannah found it terrifying and why Issac was drawn to it.
Powerful, heartbreaking and immersive, don’t miss this unforgettable debut.
January 4, 2025
Barnaby Martin’s The Quiet presents a vivid and unsettling vision of a near-future world transformed by the enigmatic “Soundfield” and the catastrophic effects of climate change. The novel explores a society forced into nocturnal living, where the sun’s UV radiation is lethal and an omnipresent hum permeates the air, defying explanation. This atmospheric setting, rich in detail and foreboding, provides the perfect backdrop for a story that blends speculative fiction with deeply human themes.
At the heart of the narrative is Hannah, a scientist whose work intertwines with her determination to protect her son Isaac. Isaac, a boy with unique abilities linked to the Soundfield, becomes a focal point of the story’s tension. The maternal love that drives Hannah’s decisions is both her strength and her Achilles’ heel, propelling her into morally complex situations. Isaac, while not the central voice, offers an intriguing and poignant perspective as a child grappling with both his extraordinary gifts and the dangers they attract.
Martin’s prose is evocative and immersive, with the Soundfield’s hum acting as a metaphor for the persistent tension that shapes the characters’ lives. The science underpinning the story is detailed and plausible, offering enough explanation to ground the narrative while leaving room for mystery. The interplay between the dystopian backdrop and the personal stakes ensures that the story remains compelling, even as it occasionally delves into familiar tropes.
While The Quiet excels in world-building and character development, its pacing can be uneven. The first half establishes the setting and stakes with deliberate care, but the story's central revelations and twists come late, leaving little room for resolution. The conclusion feels abrupt, making it clear that this is the opening act of a larger tale. Readers may find themselves both frustrated by the lack of closure and eager for the sequel.
This novel offers a thoughtful examination of resilience, sacrifice, and the ethical dilemmas that arise in a world on the brink of collapse. Fans of speculative fiction will appreciate its originality, and those drawn to character-driven stories will find Hannah’s journey both relatable and heart-wrenching. While The Quiet leaves many questions unanswered, it succeeds in creating a world and narrative that linger long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
At the heart of the narrative is Hannah, a scientist whose work intertwines with her determination to protect her son Isaac. Isaac, a boy with unique abilities linked to the Soundfield, becomes a focal point of the story’s tension. The maternal love that drives Hannah’s decisions is both her strength and her Achilles’ heel, propelling her into morally complex situations. Isaac, while not the central voice, offers an intriguing and poignant perspective as a child grappling with both his extraordinary gifts and the dangers they attract.
Martin’s prose is evocative and immersive, with the Soundfield’s hum acting as a metaphor for the persistent tension that shapes the characters’ lives. The science underpinning the story is detailed and plausible, offering enough explanation to ground the narrative while leaving room for mystery. The interplay between the dystopian backdrop and the personal stakes ensures that the story remains compelling, even as it occasionally delves into familiar tropes.
While The Quiet excels in world-building and character development, its pacing can be uneven. The first half establishes the setting and stakes with deliberate care, but the story's central revelations and twists come late, leaving little room for resolution. The conclusion feels abrupt, making it clear that this is the opening act of a larger tale. Readers may find themselves both frustrated by the lack of closure and eager for the sequel.
This novel offers a thoughtful examination of resilience, sacrifice, and the ethical dilemmas that arise in a world on the brink of collapse. Fans of speculative fiction will appreciate its originality, and those drawn to character-driven stories will find Hannah’s journey both relatable and heart-wrenching. While The Quiet leaves many questions unanswered, it succeeds in creating a world and narrative that linger long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2025
In a future where humans must live at night to avoid the unbearable heat of the day and deadly UV rays, a barrier of unknown origin has appeared in the sky rendering all satellites useless and preventing the human race from leaving earth. Named the Soundfield, this barrier constantly emits audible frequencies that scientists are desperate to find a meaning to, by any means possible. When scientific research finds a link between the Soundfield and children gifted with specific abilities, Hannah must do everything in her power to protect and hide her gifted son Isaac. But Isaac’s abilities are becoming stronger and more noticeable, the government is coming and Hannah knows better than anybody, the children are not safe in their care.
The Quiet is a dystopian, science fiction thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. It combines a gripping story of a mothers love for her child with unique, complex and fascinating scientific explanations and a dystopian story which I believe rivals that of popular dystopian fiction such as The Hunger Games and Divergent. I have nothing but praise for this novel and I absolutely cannot wait for the second book. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Barnaby Martin’s work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings: Blood, Cancer, Child Death, Chronic Illness, Death, Death of Parent, Grief, Gun Violence, Injury/Injury Detail, Murder, Terminal Illness, Violence.
The Quiet is a dystopian, science fiction thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. It combines a gripping story of a mothers love for her child with unique, complex and fascinating scientific explanations and a dystopian story which I believe rivals that of popular dystopian fiction such as The Hunger Games and Divergent. I have nothing but praise for this novel and I absolutely cannot wait for the second book. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Barnaby Martin’s work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings: Blood, Cancer, Child Death, Chronic Illness, Death, Death of Parent, Grief, Gun Violence, Injury/Injury Detail, Murder, Terminal Illness, Violence.
April 19, 2025
This speculative dystopian novel explores motherly love, the study of language and mankind’s relentless pursuit of answers.
The characters work at night and sleep during the day because the planet is so hot the UV levels kill. There’s a constant hum from a ‘Soundfield’ that has appeared in the Earth’s atmosphere, made up of vibrating dust. Every now and again, the hum stops and a new tune plays. It’s as if the Soundfield speaks a musical language. None can understand it except a few gifted children with a gene mutation. Scientist Hannah once devoted her life to the study of this phenomena, but now spends all her time and attention keeping her own gifted child - who might be the key - safe from harm.
Like any good fictional dystopia, the world this book presents is scarily believable. Fear of the unknown has resulted in enforced curfews, outlying rebel groups, rationing and theft. I like how the main character, Hannah, views this all logically but still feels the emotions - often weeping for the state of things while working out how to keep her family alive.
Fans of scientific, academic fiction like The Three Body Problem will enjoy how credibly the author presents the Soundfield and the solution to the issue of communication with it. I was really intrigued by the neuroscience of language and how we developed to communicate with each other.
I’m not a big fan of open endings, so I do wish there was more closure to the tale, but other than that I was riveted and devoured this book in just over a day.
Thank you to @bookbreakuk for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
The characters work at night and sleep during the day because the planet is so hot the UV levels kill. There’s a constant hum from a ‘Soundfield’ that has appeared in the Earth’s atmosphere, made up of vibrating dust. Every now and again, the hum stops and a new tune plays. It’s as if the Soundfield speaks a musical language. None can understand it except a few gifted children with a gene mutation. Scientist Hannah once devoted her life to the study of this phenomena, but now spends all her time and attention keeping her own gifted child - who might be the key - safe from harm.
Like any good fictional dystopia, the world this book presents is scarily believable. Fear of the unknown has resulted in enforced curfews, outlying rebel groups, rationing and theft. I like how the main character, Hannah, views this all logically but still feels the emotions - often weeping for the state of things while working out how to keep her family alive.
Fans of scientific, academic fiction like The Three Body Problem will enjoy how credibly the author presents the Soundfield and the solution to the issue of communication with it. I was really intrigued by the neuroscience of language and how we developed to communicate with each other.
I’m not a big fan of open endings, so I do wish there was more closure to the tale, but other than that I was riveted and devoured this book in just over a day.
Thank you to @bookbreakuk for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2025
Many thanks to PanMacmillan and NetGalley for a free eARC of this book.
Slow paced yet gripping. A disappointing ending yet an engrossing read.
The book begins and continues with a steady, slow pace yet the situation and characters pulled me in, and I lived this book through the main character’s eyes. I loved Isaac and feel a second book, where he and his special abilities are explored further, would be beneficial and interesting.
As it is, the ending withholds answers, lots of threads are left hanging, and Isaac’s abilities could have been more central. However, mostly, the story focuses on how far you’d go to protect a loved one. A vulnerable child who needs to stay away from anyone in authority. From anyone who may see and report his musical ability. For, since the Soundfield arrived, music and musical ability has turned into a guaranteed arrest and assessment—if you pass the authoritarian-government’s scientists keep you. It isn’t clear what happens to those who fail. The taken children are never seen or heard from again.
A few great one-liners stayed with me, and here are some:
‘That’s what you do when you think the world is ending: you become everything you haven’t been before. In reality, though, the world doesn’t end in a point, but a curve.’
And …
‘I try to order things in my mind, but every move I make dislodges something else. A knot in my head that I can only make tighter.’
And …
‘Mum and I would spend a few hours together, looking at things that were too expensive to buy and buying things that were too cheap to survive.’
A slow but gripping book with more than one theme, and it goes deep. Though I would have preferred a stronger, more definite ending, I enjoyed the read immensely, and had I been able, I would have read this in one or two sessions, easily. If you enjoy futuristic dystopian novels with a dictatorial, authoritarian government, this will make a good read for you!
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
Slow paced yet gripping. A disappointing ending yet an engrossing read.
The book begins and continues with a steady, slow pace yet the situation and characters pulled me in, and I lived this book through the main character’s eyes. I loved Isaac and feel a second book, where he and his special abilities are explored further, would be beneficial and interesting.
As it is, the ending withholds answers, lots of threads are left hanging, and Isaac’s abilities could have been more central. However, mostly, the story focuses on how far you’d go to protect a loved one. A vulnerable child who needs to stay away from anyone in authority. From anyone who may see and report his musical ability. For, since the Soundfield arrived, music and musical ability has turned into a guaranteed arrest and assessment—if you pass the authoritarian-government’s scientists keep you. It isn’t clear what happens to those who fail. The taken children are never seen or heard from again.
A few great one-liners stayed with me, and here are some:
‘That’s what you do when you think the world is ending: you become everything you haven’t been before. In reality, though, the world doesn’t end in a point, but a curve.’
And …
‘I try to order things in my mind, but every move I make dislodges something else. A knot in my head that I can only make tighter.’
And …
‘Mum and I would spend a few hours together, looking at things that were too expensive to buy and buying things that were too cheap to survive.’
A slow but gripping book with more than one theme, and it goes deep. Though I would have preferred a stronger, more definite ending, I enjoyed the read immensely, and had I been able, I would have read this in one or two sessions, easily. If you enjoy futuristic dystopian novels with a dictatorial, authoritarian government, this will make a good read for you!
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
May 11, 2025
A slow paced character driven dystopian book set in a world where you can't go out in the daytime and food is rationed.
From the blurb, I was expecting something faster paced and more of a thriller, but unfortunately, for me, that wasn't the case.
I think maybe if I had listened to this I may have enjoyed it more, or maybe if it was turned into a TV show.
There was a lot of science talk, which went totally over my head, so maybe I missed some of the nuance.
From the blurb, I was expecting something faster paced and more of a thriller, but unfortunately, for me, that wasn't the case.
I think maybe if I had listened to this I may have enjoyed it more, or maybe if it was turned into a TV show.
There was a lot of science talk, which went totally over my head, so maybe I missed some of the nuance.
November 13, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for my copy.
This was brilliant.
Things I liked:
✅Minor queer themes woven in without too much fuss made over the fact that Hannah isn't/ wasn't straight.
✅Loved the Hannah and Isaac humming together from the music score bit at the beginning.
Things, not so much (although did not affect star rating):
⭕I can't profess to understand the musical language or the scientific jargon fully which did alienate me a little but the rest of the story made up for it.
Looking forward to reading the next installment. Please tell me there's more!
This was brilliant.
Things I liked:
✅Minor queer themes woven in without too much fuss made over the fact that Hannah isn't/ wasn't straight.
✅Loved the Hannah and Isaac humming together from the music score bit at the beginning.
Things, not so much (although did not affect star rating):
⭕I can't profess to understand the musical language or the scientific jargon fully which did alienate me a little but the rest of the story made up for it.
Looking forward to reading the next installment. Please tell me there's more!
May 15, 2025
I liked the premise of this book - A dystopian land where the world has been covered by a soundfield and inhabitants must live at night to protect themselves from an over engorged sun. However, I think I was expecting more of a Stephen King's 'The institute' vibe with the mention of Isaac's gift that must never be discovered, and that is not what I got. That doesn't mean that the story isn't well written and that in some parts, the book holds real promise and heart, but for me, it wasn't the dystopia I imagined.
The scientific elements were well written. However, that is not particularly something that I enjoy nor understand, and I found myself skimming through those portions of the book as it just went over the top of my head.
The book gave off the slight middle of a trilogy book for me rven though it is a standalone. I wish that there had been more peril and more risks.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but for me, it started off strong and slowly dwindled the further I got into the story.
Rounded up for 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book via Netgalley.
The scientific elements were well written. However, that is not particularly something that I enjoy nor understand, and I found myself skimming through those portions of the book as it just went over the top of my head.
The book gave off the slight middle of a trilogy book for me rven though it is a standalone. I wish that there had been more peril and more risks.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but for me, it started off strong and slowly dwindled the further I got into the story.
Rounded up for 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book via Netgalley.
May 16, 2025
The Quiet is the sort of story that makes one think about choices, life, love, protection of the planet and humanity's role in its destruction. It also relies the future on the hands of a few that are being guided with not the best interests in mind. They had to live in the dark and with no sound except for the humming of the Soundfield, food was scarce and children with the special genetic condition were taken from their families. Hannah will do anything to keep Isaac with her, or better, to keep him safe and thriving, and she'll go under any sacrifice to keep it happening. The Quiet is not an easy read, but it's beautifully written and provides lots of food for thought. Highly recommended!
I thank Mr. Martin, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
I thank Mr. Martin, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.
June 16, 2025
Lots to like in this tautly written post apocalyptic (ish) sci-fi (ish) thriller (ish). The futuristic setting is in the sweet spot where things are unfamiliar enough to be scary but not so unfamiliar as to be unrelatable. The pacing kept me interested; some might flag at the chunks of science but I thought those were fascinating and added weight to the premise. The characters are pretty well fleshed out. There are a few moments of melodrama (ish) towards the end but I felt they had been well earned by the downbeat tone up until then. The ending is satisfying without answering too many questions (wisely). Throughout, the atmosphere is eerie and unsettling rather than terrifying. Eerie is my absolute fave so I absolutely lapped this book up and look forward to this author's next one.
June 3, 2025
A book that doesn’t leave you! No better way to experience this one than as an audiobook- so immersive and haunting. With compelling characters and a story and concept that really make you think. It changed the way I see language and communication. If you don’t like open ended books this one is not for you! There is closure to a degree but on the whole the questions go unanswered (the only reason it didn’t make five stars for me as I’d have liked to see a little more here). Captivating and beautifully narrated, the soundtrack takes you into the world the author has created. Highly recommend!
October 26, 2024
"The Quiet" by Barnaby Martin is a moving exploration of silence and isolation, capturing the emotional struggles of its characters in a thought-provoking way. I need a sequel!!
May 18, 2025
3.5
A post-apocalyptic story told from the perspective of Dr Hannah.
In a world where the human population is forced to turn nocturnal to avoid the deadly UV rays and heat from the sun, and an unexplained Soundfield has developed, Dr Hannah is trying to keep her non-verbal son, Isaac, safe and look after her poorly mum. The country is governed by an authoritarian regime set on ‘adopting’ Nero-divergent children who have a particular aptitude for music. Children like Isaac.
This story started off extremely strong. I loved the danger of this alternative reality and the storytelling is smooth and well paced. There are plenty of mysteries to unpick along the chapters as well.
This book’s downfall is that many of the major mysteries aren’t unpicked at all. Whilst I’m sure some will read this and think the unexplained elements aren’t a problem, for me, I was disappointed not to learn exactly what the Soundfield is and why it appeared. I enjoyed the science behind the language acquisition and links to the Soundfield, and it felt as though this would all pull to a great conclusion and reveal… but it didn’t.
The ending also felt out of place and not in line with the rest of the plot.
The audiobook is brilliant narrated and there are some really cool sound effects throughout which add to the atmosphere of the story.
A post-apocalyptic story told from the perspective of Dr Hannah.
In a world where the human population is forced to turn nocturnal to avoid the deadly UV rays and heat from the sun, and an unexplained Soundfield has developed, Dr Hannah is trying to keep her non-verbal son, Isaac, safe and look after her poorly mum. The country is governed by an authoritarian regime set on ‘adopting’ Nero-divergent children who have a particular aptitude for music. Children like Isaac.
This story started off extremely strong. I loved the danger of this alternative reality and the storytelling is smooth and well paced. There are plenty of mysteries to unpick along the chapters as well.
This book’s downfall is that many of the major mysteries aren’t unpicked at all. Whilst I’m sure some will read this and think the unexplained elements aren’t a problem, for me, I was disappointed not to learn exactly what the Soundfield is and why it appeared. I enjoyed the science behind the language acquisition and links to the Soundfield, and it felt as though this would all pull to a great conclusion and reveal… but it didn’t.
The ending also felt out of place and not in line with the rest of the plot.
The audiobook is brilliant narrated and there are some really cool sound effects throughout which add to the atmosphere of the story.
July 13, 2025
Quiet. Haunting. Touching.
June 15, 2025
If you are looking for a read that is immersive and thought provoking, this needs to be added to the top of your TBR, I both listened and read this and highly recommended it as a audiobook.
The concept of the soundfield was eerie, especially due to the current effects of climate change. The audiobook really brings the ‘soundfield’ into its own as a character.
The remaining characters were complex, especially Hannah and her maternal protection of Issac. The ‘dystopian/science’ aspect of the plot was interesting to follow, detailed but without becoming full of jargon.
I am excited to read more by the author, such a fascinating debut.
The concept of the soundfield was eerie, especially due to the current effects of climate change. The audiobook really brings the ‘soundfield’ into its own as a character.
The remaining characters were complex, especially Hannah and her maternal protection of Issac. The ‘dystopian/science’ aspect of the plot was interesting to follow, detailed but without becoming full of jargon.
I am excited to read more by the author, such a fascinating debut.
March 16, 2025
This is set in a futuristic world where a major event causes people to switch to living during the day instead of at night. Our narrator is a well-known scientist who is trying to keep her son's musical abilities from being discovered by the authorities. He can't talk but can mimic the Soundfield's voices or even respond to them somehow, and abilities like his might be the key to helping humanity survive this and better their lives.
It takes at least half of the book for the readers to be given any, any background about what this big change in the world means. And then there is a lengthy explanation, which was very fascinating, but was also exposition-heavy. I didn't really care about that though.
The real issue for me was that there was a lot that could've been done with this. The author obviously knows what they're talking about, and about halfway through the explanation I looked them up to learn they're a musician. But the whole book seemed to have been written to center around those few chapters that tell us what led to this whole global situation and the immediate after effects. Too bad. I'd read more from Martin, sure, but it's going to take a lot of good reviews to convince me to try the next one.
---------
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
I was given a review copy by the publisher.
It takes at least half of the book for the readers to be given any, any background about what this big change in the world means. And then there is a lengthy explanation, which was very fascinating, but was also exposition-heavy. I didn't really care about that though.
The real issue for me was that there was a lot that could've been done with this. The author obviously knows what they're talking about, and about halfway through the explanation I looked them up to learn they're a musician. But the whole book seemed to have been written to center around those few chapters that tell us what led to this whole global situation and the immediate after effects. Too bad. I'd read more from Martin, sure, but it's going to take a lot of good reviews to convince me to try the next one.
---------
Blog | Instagram | Twitter
I was given a review copy by the publisher.
July 26, 2025
Debut UK author Barnaby Martin enters the dystopian science fiction genre with a novel that echoed the classic Cormac McCarthy novel THE ROAD coupled with plenty of high-level scientific theory and his own unique image of the future. THE QUIET, at its’ heart is a story of family and the lengths a mother will go to protect her incredibly special son in the face of much danger and uncertainty.
Twenty years prior to the action of this novel, which is set in the not-so-distant future, the world was forever changed by the emergence of something that has been labelled the Soundfield. This phenomenon, along with increasing planetary heat which makes it all but impossible to come out during the daytime, has set the science community into a huge quandary to try and decipher, understand, and hopefully overcome this deadly enigma.
The Prologue depicts a tense moment where Dr. Hannah Newnham is physically fighting with a governmental officer that is attempting to take away her young son under the Atavism Act of 2043. Atavism translates to genetic archaeology specific to DNA and characteristics that arise in certain people. In this case, there was allegedly a group of special children, some of whom may have been genetically modified, that could possess answers to dealing with the Soundfield and even communicating with it in their own unique way.
This is what young Isaac, Hannah’s son, may possess. She can only communicate with him via sign language and her work as a genetic lecturer and scientist makes her aware of his other extraordinary gifts that could include a distinct mastery of music which allows him to manipulate the stars in the sky and sounds emanating from the Soundfield. The Soundfield provides a constant hum which is as creepy as it is mind-numbing to the human race and, along with the unbearable rising heat, has driven much of the human race into hiding during daylight hours and beyond.
One way that Isaac deals with his special abilities is by constantly wearing a portable CD player and headphones whenever he is outside. During a frightening confrontation with a security officer, the CD player breaks, and Hannah is now worried that his ability to manage the world at large may be in jeopardy. The novel jumps in time from the future period that it is set in to a time in the recent past where we get to see how Hannah was very much a part of the scientific community as both practitioner and college lecturer and how she moved completely away from this position to flee the life she had made for herself and Isaac to venture out into the unpredictable and very dangerous world at large.
Once the moment we witnessed in the Prologue occurs, Hannah and Isaac have no choice but to abandon their apartment and leave everything behind without notice. While on a train bound for nowhere in particular, they are grabbed by a woman named Layla who leads them to a place to hide knowing that the authorities were nearby and in pursuit of them. Once the coast was clear, Layla takes them to a now abandoned department store that was inhabited by a small colony of people, some of whom had been there five years or longer.
The leader of this group, Pedro, is very protective of the people in his small community and does not trust Hannah and Isaac, especially once he learns of her past work with the science community that many blame for the Soundfield issue that has oppressed them all. Hannah’s goal is to stay here for a bit and then go in search of her former colleague and lover, Elias, in an effort to find a place and person that will be safe for Isaac. Since this is also a great thriller, events will unfold that do not make Hannah’s plans come to fruition in the way she had hoped, and this makes for some very suspenseful moments.
The Soundfield is never fully explained in complete detail, and I liked that, as the human race in THE QUIET really do not have a full understanding of it themselves. There is a great twist near the end of the novel that I did not see coming and it definitely takes this unsettling science fiction tale into a different realm. Hope to see more from Barnaby Maritn in the future.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Twenty years prior to the action of this novel, which is set in the not-so-distant future, the world was forever changed by the emergence of something that has been labelled the Soundfield. This phenomenon, along with increasing planetary heat which makes it all but impossible to come out during the daytime, has set the science community into a huge quandary to try and decipher, understand, and hopefully overcome this deadly enigma.
The Prologue depicts a tense moment where Dr. Hannah Newnham is physically fighting with a governmental officer that is attempting to take away her young son under the Atavism Act of 2043. Atavism translates to genetic archaeology specific to DNA and characteristics that arise in certain people. In this case, there was allegedly a group of special children, some of whom may have been genetically modified, that could possess answers to dealing with the Soundfield and even communicating with it in their own unique way.
This is what young Isaac, Hannah’s son, may possess. She can only communicate with him via sign language and her work as a genetic lecturer and scientist makes her aware of his other extraordinary gifts that could include a distinct mastery of music which allows him to manipulate the stars in the sky and sounds emanating from the Soundfield. The Soundfield provides a constant hum which is as creepy as it is mind-numbing to the human race and, along with the unbearable rising heat, has driven much of the human race into hiding during daylight hours and beyond.
One way that Isaac deals with his special abilities is by constantly wearing a portable CD player and headphones whenever he is outside. During a frightening confrontation with a security officer, the CD player breaks, and Hannah is now worried that his ability to manage the world at large may be in jeopardy. The novel jumps in time from the future period that it is set in to a time in the recent past where we get to see how Hannah was very much a part of the scientific community as both practitioner and college lecturer and how she moved completely away from this position to flee the life she had made for herself and Isaac to venture out into the unpredictable and very dangerous world at large.
Once the moment we witnessed in the Prologue occurs, Hannah and Isaac have no choice but to abandon their apartment and leave everything behind without notice. While on a train bound for nowhere in particular, they are grabbed by a woman named Layla who leads them to a place to hide knowing that the authorities were nearby and in pursuit of them. Once the coast was clear, Layla takes them to a now abandoned department store that was inhabited by a small colony of people, some of whom had been there five years or longer.
The leader of this group, Pedro, is very protective of the people in his small community and does not trust Hannah and Isaac, especially once he learns of her past work with the science community that many blame for the Soundfield issue that has oppressed them all. Hannah’s goal is to stay here for a bit and then go in search of her former colleague and lover, Elias, in an effort to find a place and person that will be safe for Isaac. Since this is also a great thriller, events will unfold that do not make Hannah’s plans come to fruition in the way she had hoped, and this makes for some very suspenseful moments.
The Soundfield is never fully explained in complete detail, and I liked that, as the human race in THE QUIET really do not have a full understanding of it themselves. There is a great twist near the end of the novel that I did not see coming and it definitely takes this unsettling science fiction tale into a different realm. Hope to see more from Barnaby Maritn in the future.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
July 27, 2025
Debut author Barnaby Martin enters the dystopian science fiction genre with a novel that echoes Cormac McCarthy’s THE ROAD, coupled with plenty of high-level scientific theory and his unique image of the future. At its heart, THE QUIET is a story of family and the lengths a mother will go to protect her incredibly special son in the face of much danger and uncertainty.
Twenty years prior to the book’s action, which is set in the not-so-distant future, the world is forever changed by the emergence of the Soundfield. This phenomenon, along with increasing planetary heat that makes it all but impossible to go outside during the day, has put the science community in a huge quandary as they try to decipher, understand and hopefully overcome this deadly enigma.
In the Prologue, Dr. Hannah Newnham is physically fighting with a government officer who is attempting to take away her young son, Isaac, under the Atavism Act of 2043. Atavism translates to genetic archaeology specific to DNA and characteristics that arise in certain people. In this case, allegedly there is a group of special children, some of whom may have been genetically modified, who could possess answers to dealing with the Soundfield and even communicating with it in their own way.
Hannah can only communicate with Isaac via sign language, and her work as a genetic lecturer and scientist makes her aware of his other extraordinary gifts. Among them is a distinct mastery of music that allows him to manipulate the stars in the sky and sounds emanating from the Soundfield, which provides a constant hum that is as creepy as it is mind-numbing. Along with the unbearable rising heat, it has driven much of the human race into hiding during daylight hours and beyond.
One way that Isaac deals with his special abilities is to wear a portable CD player and headphones when he is outside. During a frightening confrontation with a security officer, the CD player breaks, and Hannah is worried that his ability to manage the world at large could be in jeopardy.
The novel then shifts to a time in the recent past, where we see Hannah very much a part of the scientific community as both a practitioner and a college lecturer. But then she flees the life she has made for herself and Isaac to venture out into an unpredictable and dangerous world.
Once the moment we witness in the Prologue occurs, Hannah and Isaac have no choice but to abandon their apartment and leave everything behind without notice. While on a train bound for nowhere in particular, they are grabbed by a woman named Layla, who leads them to a place to hide knowing that the authorities are nearby and in pursuit of them. Once the coast is clear, Layla takes them to a now-abandoned department store that is inhabited by a small colony of people, some of whom have been there for five years or longer.
Pedro, the leader of the group, is quite protective of his people and does not trust Hannah or Isaac. This is especially so once he learns of Hannah’s past work with the science community, which many blame for the Soundfield issue that has oppressed them all. Hannah’s goal is to stay there for a bit and then go in search of her former colleague and lover, Elias, in an effort to find a place that will be safe for Isaac. Since this is also a great thriller, events will unfold that do not make Hannah’s plans come to fruition in the way she had hoped, which makes for some highly suspenseful moments.
The Soundfield is never explained in complete detail, and I liked that, as the human race in THE QUIET really do not have a full understanding of it themselves. There is a great twist near the end of the novel that I did not see coming, which takes this unsettling science fiction tale into a different realm. I hope to see more from Barnaby Martin sooner than later.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Twenty years prior to the book’s action, which is set in the not-so-distant future, the world is forever changed by the emergence of the Soundfield. This phenomenon, along with increasing planetary heat that makes it all but impossible to go outside during the day, has put the science community in a huge quandary as they try to decipher, understand and hopefully overcome this deadly enigma.
In the Prologue, Dr. Hannah Newnham is physically fighting with a government officer who is attempting to take away her young son, Isaac, under the Atavism Act of 2043. Atavism translates to genetic archaeology specific to DNA and characteristics that arise in certain people. In this case, allegedly there is a group of special children, some of whom may have been genetically modified, who could possess answers to dealing with the Soundfield and even communicating with it in their own way.
Hannah can only communicate with Isaac via sign language, and her work as a genetic lecturer and scientist makes her aware of his other extraordinary gifts. Among them is a distinct mastery of music that allows him to manipulate the stars in the sky and sounds emanating from the Soundfield, which provides a constant hum that is as creepy as it is mind-numbing. Along with the unbearable rising heat, it has driven much of the human race into hiding during daylight hours and beyond.
One way that Isaac deals with his special abilities is to wear a portable CD player and headphones when he is outside. During a frightening confrontation with a security officer, the CD player breaks, and Hannah is worried that his ability to manage the world at large could be in jeopardy.
The novel then shifts to a time in the recent past, where we see Hannah very much a part of the scientific community as both a practitioner and a college lecturer. But then she flees the life she has made for herself and Isaac to venture out into an unpredictable and dangerous world.
Once the moment we witness in the Prologue occurs, Hannah and Isaac have no choice but to abandon their apartment and leave everything behind without notice. While on a train bound for nowhere in particular, they are grabbed by a woman named Layla, who leads them to a place to hide knowing that the authorities are nearby and in pursuit of them. Once the coast is clear, Layla takes them to a now-abandoned department store that is inhabited by a small colony of people, some of whom have been there for five years or longer.
Pedro, the leader of the group, is quite protective of his people and does not trust Hannah or Isaac. This is especially so once he learns of Hannah’s past work with the science community, which many blame for the Soundfield issue that has oppressed them all. Hannah’s goal is to stay there for a bit and then go in search of her former colleague and lover, Elias, in an effort to find a place that will be safe for Isaac. Since this is also a great thriller, events will unfold that do not make Hannah’s plans come to fruition in the way she had hoped, which makes for some highly suspenseful moments.
The Soundfield is never explained in complete detail, and I liked that, as the human race in THE QUIET really do not have a full understanding of it themselves. There is a great twist near the end of the novel that I did not see coming, which takes this unsettling science fiction tale into a different realm. I hope to see more from Barnaby Martin sooner than later.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
May 13, 2025
If nothing else, Barnaby Martin’s book The Quiet might win a prize for the weirdest post-apocalypse. And that’s saying something in a genre that has had killer viruses, killer mushrooms, zombies, aliens and robots. But even with its wacky premise, The Quiet falls quickly into the same lazy and tired tropes as many other books in this genre and does very little to make them new or interesting.
The Soundfield is some unexplained form of atmospheric anomaly that began about ten years before. It significantly increased both global temperatures and UV, rendering some parts of the world uninhabitable but also preventing people going out during daytime to the point where people have “shifted” to a nighttime existence. The Soundfield also creates noise – it creates a musical in the air which seems like it may be some form of communication. For those looking for an explanation – where the Soundfield came from, why it does what it does, or how – Martin is not going to provide one.
The action is set in Britain (while the country is never specifically named this is clearly British post apocalyptic fiction). The country is under some form of authoritarian rule and the authorities are taking children for something called the “Atavism Project”. Why this is only comes clear later in the book. One of those children is Isaac, who, when the book opens is being taken from his mother Dr Hannah Newnham, an expert on the Soundfield.
The narrative focusses on Hannah and Isaac. Following the opening Martin goes back a few days to describe their lives – Hannah hiding the fact that six-year-old Isaac does not speak but can sing, her fraught relationship with her dying mother, her work as a lecturer, and the hand to mouth nighttime existence in a towerblock. Once the narrative catches back up to the opening scene, it then moves forward with a little more pace and threat.
The Quiet is full of post-apocalyptic tropes, particularly those in books of this type coming out of the UK (Ali Smith’s Gliff, This Fragile Earth by Susannah Wise, The End We Start From by Megan Hunter). An authoritarian regime, food shortages, special clothing for going outside, a resistance movement (who live in an abandoned shopping centre, naturally). But despite the heat and UV, there also seems to be a fairly unspoiled “countryside” in which animals roam around. Never mind the unanswered question as to where the food is coming from in a world where it is apparently too hot and blasted to grow crops. This feels like lazy worldbuilding – the Soundfield as an idea that is never allowed to make sense.
What is worse, or at least more unforgiveable, is that nothing actually resolves by the end of the book. The characters never discover where the Soundfield comes from or how it works or how to communicate with it. Isaac is somehow a key to all of it in a way that never makes sense (it has something to do with “atavism”) but in the end he is seemingly ignored by the authorities. The final couple of twists, in particular, make no sense.
All in all Martin has a few interesting ideas about music and language but they are buried in a nonsensical post-apocalyptic scenario.
The Soundfield is some unexplained form of atmospheric anomaly that began about ten years before. It significantly increased both global temperatures and UV, rendering some parts of the world uninhabitable but also preventing people going out during daytime to the point where people have “shifted” to a nighttime existence. The Soundfield also creates noise – it creates a musical in the air which seems like it may be some form of communication. For those looking for an explanation – where the Soundfield came from, why it does what it does, or how – Martin is not going to provide one.
The action is set in Britain (while the country is never specifically named this is clearly British post apocalyptic fiction). The country is under some form of authoritarian rule and the authorities are taking children for something called the “Atavism Project”. Why this is only comes clear later in the book. One of those children is Isaac, who, when the book opens is being taken from his mother Dr Hannah Newnham, an expert on the Soundfield.
The narrative focusses on Hannah and Isaac. Following the opening Martin goes back a few days to describe their lives – Hannah hiding the fact that six-year-old Isaac does not speak but can sing, her fraught relationship with her dying mother, her work as a lecturer, and the hand to mouth nighttime existence in a towerblock. Once the narrative catches back up to the opening scene, it then moves forward with a little more pace and threat.
The Quiet is full of post-apocalyptic tropes, particularly those in books of this type coming out of the UK (Ali Smith’s Gliff, This Fragile Earth by Susannah Wise, The End We Start From by Megan Hunter). An authoritarian regime, food shortages, special clothing for going outside, a resistance movement (who live in an abandoned shopping centre, naturally). But despite the heat and UV, there also seems to be a fairly unspoiled “countryside” in which animals roam around. Never mind the unanswered question as to where the food is coming from in a world where it is apparently too hot and blasted to grow crops. This feels like lazy worldbuilding – the Soundfield as an idea that is never allowed to make sense.
What is worse, or at least more unforgiveable, is that nothing actually resolves by the end of the book. The characters never discover where the Soundfield comes from or how it works or how to communicate with it. Isaac is somehow a key to all of it in a way that never makes sense (it has something to do with “atavism”) but in the end he is seemingly ignored by the authorities. The final couple of twists, in particular, make no sense.
All in all Martin has a few interesting ideas about music and language but they are buried in a nonsensical post-apocalyptic scenario.
June 2, 2025
I don’t understand how this book isn’t everywhere already. The Quiet is one of those rare sci-fi novels that manages to be both intelligent and deeply emotional, deeply human. I went in hoping for clever world-building and a few decent twists. What I got was a slow-burning, finely crafted dystopia that left me feeling slightly haunted and genuinely impressed.
Set in a future where the sun made the Earth uninhabitable and society has flipped into nocturnal survival mode, The Quiet opens in a world already undone. The air hums with the eerie, ever-present noise of the Soundfield, a strange and invisible force that arrived twenty years ago and never left. No one knows what it is or where it came from. It sings. It terrifies. It almost feels like another character of the book.
At the centre of the novel is Hannah, a scientist turned fiercely protective mother, and her son Isaac, a boy who cannot speak but who hears and mimics the Soundfield in ways no one else can. Their story is tense and tender. Hannah is all instinct and calculation, constantly trying to outpace a system that would take her son from her if it ever knew what he could do. Isaac, for all his silence, feels vivid and singular. His connection to sound, to music, to the strange beauty of the Field, is both joyful and deeply sad. You get the sense that he lives in a different register entirely, somewhere between danger and wonder.
There are echoes of Arrival here, especially in the way the novel approaches language, perception, and the alien as something that might not be evil, just misunderstood. But The Quiet goes darker. More paranoid. More maternal. The science is plausible enough to root the story, but not so dense that it drowns it. Martin’s prose is fluid and atmospheric, occasionally lyrical but never self-indulgent.
What really stuck with me was how well Martin captures that sharp edge of anxiety that comes with trying to protect someone in a world designed to strip them of their difference. The dystopia is big, yes, but the emotional world of the book is intimate. It’s about motherhood, secrecy, fear, and the small, often irrational choices people make when love collides with terror. Hannah’s guilt, her secrecy, her desperate tenderness - it all felt painfully real.
There are some moments, mostly toward the end, that feel slightly rushed. You can tell this is the first act of something larger, and a few threads don’t tie up as tightly as I wanted. But honestly, I didn’t mind. The ride was gripping enough that I’ll gladly follow wherever the next book leads.
This novel deserves far more hype than it’s getting. It’s dystopia, yes, but with a pulse. Sci-fi with soul. The kind of book that makes you wonder how close we already are to the world it imagines. I couldn’t put it down. I wouldn’t have wanted to anyway.
Set in a future where the sun made the Earth uninhabitable and society has flipped into nocturnal survival mode, The Quiet opens in a world already undone. The air hums with the eerie, ever-present noise of the Soundfield, a strange and invisible force that arrived twenty years ago and never left. No one knows what it is or where it came from. It sings. It terrifies. It almost feels like another character of the book.
At the centre of the novel is Hannah, a scientist turned fiercely protective mother, and her son Isaac, a boy who cannot speak but who hears and mimics the Soundfield in ways no one else can. Their story is tense and tender. Hannah is all instinct and calculation, constantly trying to outpace a system that would take her son from her if it ever knew what he could do. Isaac, for all his silence, feels vivid and singular. His connection to sound, to music, to the strange beauty of the Field, is both joyful and deeply sad. You get the sense that he lives in a different register entirely, somewhere between danger and wonder.
There are echoes of Arrival here, especially in the way the novel approaches language, perception, and the alien as something that might not be evil, just misunderstood. But The Quiet goes darker. More paranoid. More maternal. The science is plausible enough to root the story, but not so dense that it drowns it. Martin’s prose is fluid and atmospheric, occasionally lyrical but never self-indulgent.
What really stuck with me was how well Martin captures that sharp edge of anxiety that comes with trying to protect someone in a world designed to strip them of their difference. The dystopia is big, yes, but the emotional world of the book is intimate. It’s about motherhood, secrecy, fear, and the small, often irrational choices people make when love collides with terror. Hannah’s guilt, her secrecy, her desperate tenderness - it all felt painfully real.
There are some moments, mostly toward the end, that feel slightly rushed. You can tell this is the first act of something larger, and a few threads don’t tie up as tightly as I wanted. But honestly, I didn’t mind. The ride was gripping enough that I’ll gladly follow wherever the next book leads.
This novel deserves far more hype than it’s getting. It’s dystopia, yes, but with a pulse. Sci-fi with soul. The kind of book that makes you wonder how close we already are to the world it imagines. I couldn’t put it down. I wouldn’t have wanted to anyway.
March 23, 2025
I love dystopian thrillers and after reading the blurb for The Quiet, I was excited to request and read it.
When the Soundfield mysteriously arrived, the peace of the world went with it. The sun now burns during the day, the UV rays strong enough to kill and the field hums morning and night with its own song. Hannah and 6 years old Isaac hold a secret, and one they must do anything to protect.
I think some of my lack of engagement with this book has to do with the disconnect between the blurb and what I was reading, particularly in the initial half of the book. The tagline on Goodreads mentioned a silenced world, which isn’t true as the world is more or less the same, in fact with more noise due to the hum of the sound-field. The other thing which confused me was the part about having to keep her child safe - I was expecting Isaac to be hidden away somewhere, so the first chapters where she takes him out to work and through checkpoint barriers and on public transport was odd. I was also annoyed that the book was implying that music and singing seemed to be banned but Isaac listens to music on his CD player and she herself has sheet music openly out, which made little sense. I then got confused as to why, when singing was so bad, her son would just sing in the open, with seemingly no care for the consequences. The second half of the book tries to explain this with flashbacks and much needed exposition, but it seemed a little too late by this point.
It's certainly a unique premise, and you can tell that author Barnaby Martin is a composer with a love for music, however a lot of the science and exposition of the story felt very dense to get through and did not grab me as a reader. There was far too much of a ‘tell not show’ technique which left me disengaged with it. The ending reveal was far too obvious, and I just didn’t feel like the plot was going anywhere - the ending chapter really muddied the waters and confused me with what had just happened. I’m unsure if it was trying to set up for a sequel but it felt like far too little had actually happened in the book itself to warrant setting up the next instalment.
Overall, The Quiet sadly did not hit the right notes for me – with a confusing story which did not match the marketing and an ending that made little sense. Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
When the Soundfield mysteriously arrived, the peace of the world went with it. The sun now burns during the day, the UV rays strong enough to kill and the field hums morning and night with its own song. Hannah and 6 years old Isaac hold a secret, and one they must do anything to protect.
I think some of my lack of engagement with this book has to do with the disconnect between the blurb and what I was reading, particularly in the initial half of the book. The tagline on Goodreads mentioned a silenced world, which isn’t true as the world is more or less the same, in fact with more noise due to the hum of the sound-field. The other thing which confused me was the part about having to keep her child safe - I was expecting Isaac to be hidden away somewhere, so the first chapters where she takes him out to work and through checkpoint barriers and on public transport was odd. I was also annoyed that the book was implying that music and singing seemed to be banned but Isaac listens to music on his CD player and she herself has sheet music openly out, which made little sense. I then got confused as to why, when singing was so bad, her son would just sing in the open, with seemingly no care for the consequences. The second half of the book tries to explain this with flashbacks and much needed exposition, but it seemed a little too late by this point.
It's certainly a unique premise, and you can tell that author Barnaby Martin is a composer with a love for music, however a lot of the science and exposition of the story felt very dense to get through and did not grab me as a reader. There was far too much of a ‘tell not show’ technique which left me disengaged with it. The ending reveal was far too obvious, and I just didn’t feel like the plot was going anywhere - the ending chapter really muddied the waters and confused me with what had just happened. I’m unsure if it was trying to set up for a sequel but it felt like far too little had actually happened in the book itself to warrant setting up the next instalment.
Overall, The Quiet sadly did not hit the right notes for me – with a confusing story which did not match the marketing and an ending that made little sense. Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
April 28, 2025
Motherly love, language and music, and the constant need for answers. All key themes throughout this novel that I found super easy to read, I was slipping through the chapters without even realising.
We're in the future on Earth and climate change means people live during the night to avoid the searing heat of the daytime. On top of this the Earth has been covered by the Soundfield, which makes noises that nobody can interpret. Our main character is a former scientist but she is now trying to keep her son safe from the government.
None of that is a spoiler, but you also don't get any solid answers about what on earth is going on in this book until the 50% mark. Luckily this book was so easy to read otherwise I would've given up in frustration before that point. But the ~170 pages flew by and I was curious to see what I'd learn.
There is sign language representation in this book, and from my very limited knowledge when the signs are described they seem to be accurate to BSL which I'm so glad Martin took the time to add this detail. I also enjoyed the discussions on musicality and genetics that played into the sci-fi aspect of this novel. I'm trying not to spoil things here!
The constant need of humanity to have answers to everything, and the lengths they'll go to get those answers, is a plot point in the novel. But Martin also explores this in how he has chosen to end the story. We don't get a conclusion. Not one that was satisfying or explains anything. Don't get me wrong, we get a few answers, but I want to know more about the Soundfield! I want to know about the scientific research and what happens to the characters and to the planet! Unfortunately, we don't get that in this book.
I do really hope that there is a sequel in the future, even if there is still a lot left unexplained there is so much that Martin could work with in the world-building he has set up and I'd definitely want to read it! If you can handle an ambiguous ending, I recommend this one.
Thanks to the folks over at BookBreak for sending me a physical copy for review, as well as NetGalley for an eARC.
We're in the future on Earth and climate change means people live during the night to avoid the searing heat of the daytime. On top of this the Earth has been covered by the Soundfield, which makes noises that nobody can interpret. Our main character is a former scientist but she is now trying to keep her son safe from the government.
None of that is a spoiler, but you also don't get any solid answers about what on earth is going on in this book until the 50% mark. Luckily this book was so easy to read otherwise I would've given up in frustration before that point. But the ~170 pages flew by and I was curious to see what I'd learn.
There is sign language representation in this book, and from my very limited knowledge when the signs are described they seem to be accurate to BSL which I'm so glad Martin took the time to add this detail. I also enjoyed the discussions on musicality and genetics that played into the sci-fi aspect of this novel. I'm trying not to spoil things here!
The constant need of humanity to have answers to everything, and the lengths they'll go to get those answers, is a plot point in the novel. But Martin also explores this in how he has chosen to end the story. We don't get a conclusion. Not one that was satisfying or explains anything. Don't get me wrong, we get a few answers, but I want to know more about the Soundfield! I want to know about the scientific research and what happens to the characters and to the planet! Unfortunately, we don't get that in this book.
I do really hope that there is a sequel in the future, even if there is still a lot left unexplained there is so much that Martin could work with in the world-building he has set up and I'd definitely want to read it! If you can handle an ambiguous ending, I recommend this one.
Thanks to the folks over at BookBreak for sending me a physical copy for review, as well as NetGalley for an eARC.
December 29, 2024
Barnaby Martin’s The Quiet is a thought-provoking story set in a world transformed by the mysterious “Soundfield,” an enigmatic force that has left humanity living in darkness, forced to avoid the scorching, radiation-filled daylight. While the exact relationship between the Soundfield and the deadly heat is not entirely clear, the novel weaves these elements together to create a tense and atmospheric backdrop.
The narrative centers on Hannah, a brilliant but disillusioned scientist who now dedicates herself to protecting Isaac, a young boy with a rare gift. Isaac and other children like him possess abilities that the government—and perhaps others—seek to control. However, the full extent of these abilities is left tantalizingly unexplored, likely setting the stage for future installments.
The plot follows familiar territory: a researcher makes a groundbreaking discovery only to have it seized by shadowy government forces with unclear but potentially sinister intentions. Despite this trope, The Quiet feels fresh, thanks to its unique premise and the richly imagined world. The omnipresent hum of the Soundfield, the scarcity of resources, and the nocturnal existence of humanity are vividly described, immersing the reader in a world that feels both alien and unsettlingly familiar.
While I found the story engaging, it didn’t quite reach the gripping heights promised by the blurb. Instead, it feels like the opening act of a larger tale. The narrative lays solid groundwork for what seems to be a promising series, though it left me wishing for more immediate answers and a deeper exploration of its intriguing concepts.
Hannah and Isaac are compelling characters, and their journey is one I’m eager to follow in the sequel. The Quiet may not have been as enthralling as I’d hoped, but it is undoubtedly an original and imaginative start to a series with significant potential that I'm looking forward to reading.
The narrative centers on Hannah, a brilliant but disillusioned scientist who now dedicates herself to protecting Isaac, a young boy with a rare gift. Isaac and other children like him possess abilities that the government—and perhaps others—seek to control. However, the full extent of these abilities is left tantalizingly unexplored, likely setting the stage for future installments.
The plot follows familiar territory: a researcher makes a groundbreaking discovery only to have it seized by shadowy government forces with unclear but potentially sinister intentions. Despite this trope, The Quiet feels fresh, thanks to its unique premise and the richly imagined world. The omnipresent hum of the Soundfield, the scarcity of resources, and the nocturnal existence of humanity are vividly described, immersing the reader in a world that feels both alien and unsettlingly familiar.
While I found the story engaging, it didn’t quite reach the gripping heights promised by the blurb. Instead, it feels like the opening act of a larger tale. The narrative lays solid groundwork for what seems to be a promising series, though it left me wishing for more immediate answers and a deeper exploration of its intriguing concepts.
Hannah and Isaac are compelling characters, and their journey is one I’m eager to follow in the sequel. The Quiet may not have been as enthralling as I’d hoped, but it is undoubtedly an original and imaginative start to a series with significant potential that I'm looking forward to reading.
May 6, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this eCopy to review
The Quiet by Barnaby Martin is a gripping dystopian novel set in a world transformed by the mysterious "Soundfield," an enigmatic force that has left humanity living in darkness, forced to avoid the scorching, radiation-filled daylight. The story centres around Hannah, a brilliant scientist, and her gifted son, Isaac. Hannah's life revolves around keeping Isaac safe from the dangers posed by his unique abilities and the oppressive regime that seeks to control them.
The plot unfolds as Hannah navigates the challenges of survival in this harsh new world. The Soundfield, which arrived twenty years ago, has drastically altered the environment, making daytime uninhabitable and resources scarce. Hannah's early career was dedicated to understanding the Soundfield, but now her focus is solely on protecting Isaac. The tension between her scientific curiosity and maternal instincts adds depth to her character.
One of the standout aspects of The Quiet is its exploration of the impact of the Soundfield on society. Martin's world-building is meticulous, creating a vivid picture of a society struggling to adapt to its new reality. The constant hum from the Soundfield and the necessity to live at night add a unique and eerie atmosphere to the story.
The characters are well-developed and relatable. Hannah's determination and Isaac's vulnerability make for a compelling duo. Their relationship is central to the narrative, highlighting themes of sacrifice, love, and resilience. The supporting characters, including those Hannah must lie to and those she hopes to trust, add layers of intrigue and complexity to the plot.
The Quiet is a compelling and original novel that offers a fresh perspective on dystopian fiction. Fans of science fiction and stories about survival and resilience will find much to enjoy in this book.
The Quiet by Barnaby Martin is a gripping dystopian novel set in a world transformed by the mysterious "Soundfield," an enigmatic force that has left humanity living in darkness, forced to avoid the scorching, radiation-filled daylight. The story centres around Hannah, a brilliant scientist, and her gifted son, Isaac. Hannah's life revolves around keeping Isaac safe from the dangers posed by his unique abilities and the oppressive regime that seeks to control them.
The plot unfolds as Hannah navigates the challenges of survival in this harsh new world. The Soundfield, which arrived twenty years ago, has drastically altered the environment, making daytime uninhabitable and resources scarce. Hannah's early career was dedicated to understanding the Soundfield, but now her focus is solely on protecting Isaac. The tension between her scientific curiosity and maternal instincts adds depth to her character.
One of the standout aspects of The Quiet is its exploration of the impact of the Soundfield on society. Martin's world-building is meticulous, creating a vivid picture of a society struggling to adapt to its new reality. The constant hum from the Soundfield and the necessity to live at night add a unique and eerie atmosphere to the story.
The characters are well-developed and relatable. Hannah's determination and Isaac's vulnerability make for a compelling duo. Their relationship is central to the narrative, highlighting themes of sacrifice, love, and resilience. The supporting characters, including those Hannah must lie to and those she hopes to trust, add layers of intrigue and complexity to the plot.
The Quiet is a compelling and original novel that offers a fresh perspective on dystopian fiction. Fans of science fiction and stories about survival and resilience will find much to enjoy in this book.
February 12, 2025
Good read
Thank you, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of Barnaby Martin’s, The Quiet.
The Quiet is an interesting read, good voice, with an excellently executed double timeline. The plot is intriguing. From one day to the next, a Soundfield emitting a constant hum, appeared above Earth. Solar intensity and UV levels increased to (near) lethal, and humans had to turn night into day and day into night. There is quite a bit of science (musical and scientific jargon) in this science fiction novel, which I like.
I would have welcomed more worldbuilding; this near-future version of our planet is alien enough to warrant it. And more background. How did governments slip into the autocratic, militarised state they are in, for example.
Barnaby Martin’s, The Quiet, is a good science fiction novel, around the theme, how far will a parent go to protect their child. Still, I can’t escape the feeling it could have been much more than that, if Isaac’s connection with the Soundfield had been expanded and given more prominence. If there's to be a sequel, with Isaac as the main character, I will definitely want to read that.
Thank you, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of Barnaby Martin’s, The Quiet.
The Quiet is an interesting read, good voice, with an excellently executed double timeline. The plot is intriguing. From one day to the next, a Soundfield emitting a constant hum, appeared above Earth. Solar intensity and UV levels increased to (near) lethal, and humans had to turn night into day and day into night. There is quite a bit of science (musical and scientific jargon) in this science fiction novel, which I like.
I would have welcomed more worldbuilding; this near-future version of our planet is alien enough to warrant it. And more background. How did governments slip into the autocratic, militarised state they are in, for example.
Barnaby Martin’s, The Quiet, is a good science fiction novel, around the theme, how far will a parent go to protect their child. Still, I can’t escape the feeling it could have been much more than that, if Isaac’s connection with the Soundfield had been expanded and given more prominence. If there's to be a sequel, with Isaac as the main character, I will definitely want to read that.
May 27, 2025
Welcome to The Quiet- a peek into a strange and darkly ominous world, part Orwellian but also, in some small way, strangely hopeful, as Science and Nature battle a fantastical oddity, with humanity’s future lying in the balance.
Dr Hannah Newnham/Williams, our first person POV narrator, is a scientist and a mother (perhaps more truly identified by reversing the order). Hannah’s narration is at times puzzling and opaque, illuminating in fits and starts, as pieces are filled in with a pace that tantalizes the reader. Without giving too much away, (no spoilers here), Hannah’s back-story, and how it relates to an explanation of the world she now lives in, slowly and unevenly unfolds.
Throughout it all, Hannah’s relationship with her son Isaac (in the present), six years old and particularly vulnerable, remains touching and authentic. Hannah and Isaac’s guileless bond is this readers favorite aspect of the novel, — in a world that is otherwise bleak and dystopian, it would be hard not to be warmed and nourished by Isaac’s achingly focused world view, and the easy love and tenderness shared with Hannah.
An interesting, ambitious read, with a fascinating and original premise, (just sciencey enough in the manner of the best speculative fiction) — I enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down.
A great big thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts provided are my own.
*** four and a half shiny stars
February 26, 2025
I got an ARC of this debut novel for the fantasy-hive and I will post a review there in due course.
This is an intriguing book that has something of the air of Cormac McCarthy's The Road , John Lanchester's The Wall and Andrew Hunter Murray's The Last Day in its imaging of a dystopian future where a world wide crisis has generated both a flood of refugees and a rampantly authoritarian government.
The distinctive feature of Martin's vision is the focus on language and particularly our genetic predisposition to language leading to a potential resurgence in an ancient protolanguage that may hold the key to solving the world's current crisis. The protagonist, a scientist in retreat from her own discoveries, enables Martin to feed in some interesting genetic and historical aspects of the development of language. This plays out alongside a tense mother&son struggle to survive in anonymity beneath the diminished radar of a brutal police state. Alongside the linguistic novum, Martin plays with setting as he imagines a world where the dangerous heat and radiation of daytime has forced people into a nocturnal existence.
So a fun read in a potential sci-fi-linguistics subgenre (eg the 2016 film Arrival based on Ted Chiang's short story The Story of your life). It's a theme that is ripe for investigation by other authors.
This is an intriguing book that has something of the air of Cormac McCarthy's The Road , John Lanchester's The Wall and Andrew Hunter Murray's The Last Day in its imaging of a dystopian future where a world wide crisis has generated both a flood of refugees and a rampantly authoritarian government.
The distinctive feature of Martin's vision is the focus on language and particularly our genetic predisposition to language leading to a potential resurgence in an ancient protolanguage that may hold the key to solving the world's current crisis. The protagonist, a scientist in retreat from her own discoveries, enables Martin to feed in some interesting genetic and historical aspects of the development of language. This plays out alongside a tense mother&son struggle to survive in anonymity beneath the diminished radar of a brutal police state. Alongside the linguistic novum, Martin plays with setting as he imagines a world where the dangerous heat and radiation of daytime has forced people into a nocturnal existence.
So a fun read in a potential sci-fi-linguistics subgenre (eg the 2016 film Arrival based on Ted Chiang's short story The Story of your life). It's a theme that is ripe for investigation by other authors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews