Thank you NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for this eCopy to review

Steps is a dystopian thriller set in a world where governments have imposed a lifespan limit of 60,000,000 steps due to overpopulation. In this inverted reality, your countdown begins, and how long you live is now in your hands. The story follows the chaos and subcultural clashes as citizens strive to extend their lives, leading to a city teetering on the brink of collapse during its busiest night of the year.

The novel immerses readers in a darkly humorous and thought-provoking exploration of moral dilemmas that blur the lines between light and dark. As society’s fabric is tested, the story poses the question: What would you do? The narrative is filled with high-stakes tension, absurdity, and a fast-paced plot that keeps you wondering what’s next.

The characters are quirky and the concept is original, but I felt that the character development could have been stronger. The focus is more on the thrilling plot and the unique premise, which leaves some room for deeper exploration of the characters’ motivations and backgrounds.

The novel explores themes of survival, morality, and the lengths people will go to extend their lives. It delves into the societal impact of such a restrictive lifespan limit and the resulting chaos and conflict.

Steps is an intriguing and thought-provoking thriller, it is engaging and fast-paced, with a darkly humorous tone that adds to the overall enjoyment of the book. The vivid descriptions and imaginative concept make for an entertaining read that offers a unique take on dystopian fiction.

I like this book! I do think that I really really loved the concept of the book, but I don’t think it was executed the best way. I think there was a lack of information and not enough explanation for things, but the concept of knowing when your life is gonna end based on steps is really really good.


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

An interesting concept that was short enough to have an impact. Has us thinking about what we do with our own steps.

Really 3.5 stars - the concept was interesting, but the story felt a little shallow - more description and action than dialogue and inner thoughts. To control population, everyone now has only 60 million steps before they die. This book takes a peek at what that would be like, with people finding different modes of walking, and some stealing steps from other people. A greedy mayor attempts to harvest steps from her constituents, and a group of citizens attempts to thwart her. This was a fun, fast, easy read. It was more an exploration of the concept than a deep or complicated plot. I could see this being made into an animated film.

Steps presents a gripping dystopian scenario where a lifespan limit of 60 million steps leads to chaos and moral dilemmas in an overpopulated world. As citizens race against time to extend their lives, the story unfolds amidst corruption and conflict, delivering dark humor and thought-provoking themes. Dagott crafts a narrative that keeps readers on edge, exploring what it means to truly live.