Essential Information

• Title: Hive (Madders of Time Book 1)
• Author: D. L. Orton
• Genre: Science Fiction with elements of Romance
• Publication Date: May 6, 2025
• Length: 352 pages
• Format: Paperback
• Publisher: Rocky Mountain Press

First Impressions

I initially heard about Hive through D. L. Orton’s Book Publicity Agent reaching out to ask if I’d be interested in reading and reviewing D. L. Orton’s book. They did send me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I love stories with quirky AIs and a good time travel tale always piques my interest. The book cover is also beautiful, and I just wanted it to be able to have that on my bookshelf in the least. I also have been wanting to branch into books with a little more romance in them as I have my own sci-fi and fantasy story ideas with heavy romantic impacts. I thought this would be a great book to add to my vault for science fiction with the elements of romance. I read Hive in a paperback format and received an extra letter from the author behind the cover, which was a nice touch. Based off the synopsis, I expected evil microdrones, a survival story, and a love story that traverses time. So let’s see how Hive lined up with my expectations.

Synopsis

Hive by D. L. Orton is a multi-POV time traveling Sci-fi novel. In the sci-fi thriller Hive, a familiar world teeters on the brink of three catastrophes, keeping readers enthralled. As you explore this version of earth, you’ll follow three characters with unique knowledge in the world that could make all the difference. Isabel, Diego, and Matthew all play an integral part in what’s brought the world so close to it’s end, and they’re the only ones who can prevent it from getting worse.

The main conflict of the story really arises in the Prologue when the characters are down to two last survivors and one chance to make everything right. One survivor must go back in time to stop the errors that led to their current state, while the other is left to die and hope the changes are enough. The greatest challenge of Hive is to ask if changing the past can really change the present/future, and what’s the cost of these changes. This multiverse, sci-fi thriller reminds us of the chaos the world can fall into as we continue our innovation.

Critical Analysis

Hive was a bit of a mixed experience for me, but let’s go over some of the technical reasons it worked and didn’t work.

Narrative Craft

I am a new reader of D. L. Orton and her work has a unique voice that may not align with all readers. I want to say D. L. Orton’s writing style is open. Anyone can come to the writing and understand what’s going on. That can be a hard thing for sci-fi books, where technical terms can impede general reader accessibility. However, the thing that makes it so accessible is the same thing that holds it back.

There are a lot of cliches, and all the characters seem to have the same type of humor, internally and externally. I have to bring up the humor here because there’s a lot, to where it loses any power by the end of the book. Everything is a joke, a movie reference, or some kind of connection to pop culture. I appreciated them at first, and just thought the characters might be a little quirky. The consistency of the attempts at humor took it from a literary device and put it into the author’s voice. I could see the possible layering of hidden details in the humor, but the more it popped up, the less I felt invested in the book. I would say D. L. Orton’s voice is that of lightness and more surface level.

This also plays into the dialogue and character interactions. When the characters are alone, the voice of humor isn’t too bad, but even characters from completely different career fields join in on the same banter. I won’t go too deep into the characters here, but the author sets the tone with the dialogue in the prologue. So take that as a test if you’re curious about what I’m hinting at. With that, let’s talk a bit about the pacing and structure.

Overall, the pacing and structure was well constructed and kept me engaged through the story. The first act and second act were great in getting the reader hooked and hitting all the key plot points to keep the reader engaged. I felt like the chapters were broken up well and left each one with just enough of a cliffhanger that I didn’t feel jipped with each chapter, and the books, ending. I really enjoyed the chapter headings; they summarized the viewpoint, changes in the timeline, and likelihood of success. The ending felt a bit more like it was assembled with a little less care, or more for the setup of the series. Closing scenes and chapters were a little random, though they could logically make sense. The final emotional beat didn’t quite feel earned by me, but I’d be curious to hear your thoughts.

Thematic Depth

The back cover copy of Hive promises themes of “love, sacrifice, and resilience as a handful of ordinary people fight to unravel a conspiracy that stretches across space and time.” For the most part, D. L. Orton delivers on this promise. Spoiler alert: If you’re worried about spoilers, consider this your warning!

From the beginning, you’ll encounter hints of a love triangle—though the main events of it have already passed. Isabel, Diego, and Dave were once close friends, but their relationships shifted, and what remains is Isabel at the center, embodying themes of love and the mistakes made out of fear. The dynamic between Isabel and Dave feels more like a business transaction, exploring how such partnerships can damage lives and careers. On the other hand, the relationship between Isabel and Diego is presented as the ideal: a balanced and harmonious partnership where each person plays their part—“You get the cat, I get the dog, and we share the chores.” While these depictions are well-executed overall, some moments of good-versus-bad love border on cartoonish.

Among the book’s exploration of love, the connection between Matthew Hudson and his niece stands out most. It delves into the responsibilities of caregiving and the ability to act as a caring figure—even when the person in need is old enough to take care of themselves. This aspect captivated me, offering a deeper and more touching perspective on love and sacrifice.

Hive also acts as a climate fiction warning about bee extinction and the negative impacts of artificial solutions. We’re warned of the chaos that will break out during such times, and what seems to be a common theme of corporations willing to use anything to make a dollar. I think this has some valid points, and offers readers to ask themselves some important “what-if?” questions.

Character Analysis

Alright, let’s dig into the characters. I will say that each of the characters felt different to me overall, though Hive depends on some stereotypes for many side characters.

Isabel is a highly intelligent and talented woman who finds herself with the wrong man. In the prologue, her husband is burying that wrong man and I really liked this version of Isabel. She’s seen a lot, lived through a lot, and has the perspective of someone nearing death. When you get sent back in time to meet the younger Isabel, you can tell the stark difference of experience. D. L. Orton did a great job of showing the contrast between those times, and even though I didn’t like the younger depiction of Isabel, it made sense. Isabel grows and learns to trust others, even after Dave’s betrayal.

Diego is another intelligent person who finds himself regretting his past and that he didn’t act on his love for Isabel when he should have. There’s never really a moment of doubt that the two are supposed to be together, just the gap between when they get back together. As a character, Diego comes across on the softer side and a little passive at critical moments. This works great for increasing the tension of the story, but not as much for the love aspects. The one connection that kind of nulls this issue is the fact that both have escaped Dave’s grasp, though Diego’s escape isn’t as clearly shared. Diego had to really grow into going for what he wants, no matter the cost.

Dave, well, is Dave. He’s the sleezy ex-husband and head of a multi-billion dollar company strong-arming the government into contracts. He’s the epitomy of a man’s man from the tip of the corporate hierarchy. While a critical character to the story, the presentation of his personality leaves little to like about the man. The weakness wasn’t in using this type of character, but that Dave never had a moment that might make us care for him enough to make him three-dimensional. I think this hurt the overall story, though in a minor way.

Matthew Hudson is a great guy. He’s working with post-grads and is another highly intelligent man. (Yes, I know they are all “highly intelligent” but it’s also to show how it felt as the story introduces these characters.) Even though I liked Matthew Hudson the most of the characters, he is also the one part of the storyline that seems more story that character arc. Hudson is the same throughout the story as he tries to satisfy the governments needs, even if he doesn’t really want to. He seemed the most real to me.

Supporting Characters

Okay, let’s get into some supporting characters that are important. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Smith, Dick and Junior, are pure stereotypes. Like with Dave, Mr. Johnson, A.K.A. Dick, is a trully unpleasant federal agent. Though they never disclose his exact three-letter agency. Once again, there’s nothing here to like about the man and he only acts as an antagonist to Matthew Hudson. The issue isn’t that he’s an antagonist, but that we never understand why he is the way he is. Even if there was a short line calling back to Mr. Johnson’s past, that would make him a little more understandable. Junior, is just that rookie trying to impress his boss, but is more down to earth. He’s a little nicer, and tries to help a little more, but there’s not much beyond the kid outside of that.

Finally, Sergeant Major Richter, brought to you by the Marine Corps. I actually really like this character, and as a side character didn’t expect him to have an arc. He’s another genuine character with ebbs and flows in their personality that only takes part in the universal banter every so often. D. L. Orton did a great job of showing a military Sergeant Major in action through controlling high-risk situations.

Impact and Significance

Hive by D. L. Orton was an enjoyable read that left me reflecting on the direction our world is heading. While it addresses topics that could come across as heavy, the abundance of humor seems to balance out the darker elements with moments of levity. Near the end, I skimmed, as it felt like the real conclusion came with Matthew Hudson’s chapter.

I truly wanted to love this book more because the concept was so compelling. I see the story as a potential cautionary tale about climate change and its impact on the bee population, though the bees played a smaller role in Hive than I had anticipated. That said, they will probably take on greater significance in future installments.

Reader’s Guide

Who Would Enjoy This Book

I would say this story targets women in their mid to late thirties who want a science fiction novel showing an intelligent woman doing the best she can. I don’t believe you’ll need any background knowledge beyond some scientific terms. Those terms are explained, and honestly, if you’ve been keeping up with the Marvel movies, you’ll have a basic enough understanding for most of the science. The romances in this story are nice and clean with a wardrobe malfunction and a brief conversation during sex. Nothing is described in detail and should be safe for most audiences older than middle-grade readers. I think there is a good handful of swear words throughout, so if that concerns you, it might not be your book.

Rating Breakdown

Score each aspect out of 5:

• Writing Quality: ★★★☆☆
• Plot/Development: ★★★★☆
• Character/Argument Strength: ★★★☆☆
• Pacing: ★★★★☆
• Innovation: ★★☆☆☆
• Overall: ★★★☆☆

Final Verdict

Hive offers an intriguing premise: a world on the brink of catastrophe where three intelligent individuals—Isabel, Diego, and Matthew—must use time travel to prevent global disaster. D.L. Orton delivers solid pacing and structure with clever chapter headings that keep readers oriented through timeline shifts.

The accessible sci-fi world-building makes this approachable even for casual genre readers. The stark contrast between the older, wiser Isabel of the prologue and her younger self shows thoughtful character development, while Matthew Hudson emerges as the most authentic character.

However, the constant humor and pop culture references eventually undermine the gravity of the apocalyptic situation. When every character shares the same witty banter, individual personalities become blurred. The antagonists remain somewhat one-dimensional, and the ending feels more focused on setting up the next book than providing a satisfying conclusion.

The themes of love, sacrifice, and climate change are present, though the bee extinction angle plays a smaller role than expected.

I’m giving Hive three stars because while its concept shows promise and the story kept me engaged, the execution didn’t fully capitalize on its potential. By the final chapters, I found myself skimming rather than savoring.

This book would appeal to readers seeking sci-fi with romantic elements, particularly women in their thirties interested in intelligent female protagonists navigating complex relationships. If you enjoy accessible time travel stories with humor and don’t mind occasional profanity, Hive offers an entertaining, if imperfect, adventure.

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