Hive

by DL Orton

madders of time series, Book 1

science fiction / dystopian / strong female lead

A gripping science fiction novel of survival, sacrifice, and impossible choices.

About the Book

Hive launches the Madders of Time series. In the not-too-distant future, Earth’s last survivors huddle inside a biodome as rising seas and relentless swarms of microdrones ravage the planet. Engineer Isabel and Diego may be humanity’s last hope, trapped in a decaying world where hope is as scarce as food

As the walls begin to crack and the hope of salvation fades, Isabel makes a startling discovery: the time-bending technology buried beneath their feet.

With humanity teetering on the edge, she gives up everything in an attempt to alter the dystopian present and see her missing lover once more.

As time runs out, she’s whisked into a coffin-like machine set to plunge deep into her past. A neural net insists she is humankind’s best hope, but no one explains why. They also neglect to mention the time machine has been activated once before with deadly results.

But the power to change history comes at a steep cost. Forced to confront their own regrets and the weight of humanity’s failures, Isabel and Diego must choose between altering the past and surviving the present.

Awards

• Winner IndieReader Discovery Award in Science Fiction
• 2025 Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Short List
• 2025 Eric Hoffer Award Honorable Mention in General Fiction
• 2026 Independent Press Award Winner for Book Cover Design – Fiction
• 2026 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite in Science Fiction: Existential & Social Resilience

Why Readers Love It

• A strong female protagonist whose determination drives the story
• High-stakes time travel where every decision has consequences.
• Emotional relationships that matter as much as the science
• A hopeful vision of humanity despite overwhelming odds

Who should read Hive?

Hive is ideal for readers who enjoy emotionally driven science fiction, dystopian survival stories, time-travel mysteries, and speculative fiction that explores love, sacrifice, and impossible moral choices.

Praise

DL Orton writes vividly, bringing us right into the scenes.

Independent Book Review

Beneath the story’s smart-alecky exterior is a very smart interior, developing characters […] in fresh, imaginative, and strangely relatable directions, considering they involve quantum physics and parallel universes.

Kirkus Reviews

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