Review of Orinthia

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 26 Mar 2025, 20:50

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Orinthia" by Most Everyone.]

4 out of 5 stars

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I’ve had anxiety ever since I can remember. And I’m not alone, not even close. According to the World Health Organization, 4% of the population suffers from an anxiety disorder. So when I discovered that Orinthia, the main character in this novel, struggles with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I knew I had to pick it up. Orinthia by Most Everyone follows a young woman who joins a drug trial in search of relief. She could never have predicted that the pill she was taking would trigger an unusual superpower: she can read minds. Along with unexpected allies, Orinthia embarks on an adventure to empower herself and find out the truth behind the miraculous drug trial and the strange dreams she’s been having. But what is the real purpose of this study? Who is behind it? Is there a difference between being mental and super mental?

The first aspect I want to praise is the incredibly relatable story. Just the dedicatory gave me goosebumps: "This series is for those who wake up every day despite the overwhelming urge to not exist, for those who are told to "get over it" by the same people who claim you can tell them anything."

Orinthia’s story is also one of the most accurate depictions of mental illness I’ve read. Anxiety is not just about breathing rapidly or having your heart beat a mile a minute but also about sensory overload, fear of change, and weird habits, such as skin picking. I love that the author didn’t resort to gruesome or overly dramatic descriptions just for the wow factor but still accomplished such an accurate portrayal of this disease.

The witty dialogue and Orinthia’s even wittier inner monologue make this a light read despite the main topic, mental health, being an incredibly serious one. Orinthia’s inner monologue sometimes seems directed at the reader, creating an immersive reading experience. It is also a hopeful and empowering story with meaningful lessons. For example, the journey of Coy, Orinthia’s newfound friend, shows us that there are no negative emotions when canalized correctly.

The novel’s pacing is perfect. Even before Orinthia developed superpowers and all the high-stakes action started, I was incredibly invested in her everyday life.

The format of this book enriches the experience. The author uses bold font, italics, and different colors to enhance the meaning of the words. For example, they use jumbled words on the page when Orinthia is having trouble hearing thoughts.

Despite this being an action-filled novel meant for young adults, the author didn’t slack on the character development and psychological depth. My favorite aspect of this is Orinthia’s complex relationship with her mother, which showcases how sometimes the people we love the most are also the ones who hurt us the most. This is also a layered story that can make us ponder the reasons for our mental ailments, our behaviors, and the tools we have to cope with them. The book can also help young adults identify that maybe those butterflies in the stomach or that ringing in their ears is a symptom of a mental illness.

This is, in my opinion, a flawless book in all meaningful narrative aspects. I didn’t give it a perfect rating because it has more than ten editing mistakes. They are not significant and do not hinder the reading experience, but those are the rules. I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with anxiety, especially young adults. It is a helpful read for parents, caregivers, or anyone wanting to peek into an anxious mind and become more empathetic. It’s a fantastic book for readers who like unique superhero stories and action-filled narratives and for anyone who enjoys great character development or who is interested in psychology.

Orinthia reminded me that in a world with no miracle cures for mental distress, we have our pets, our friends, and great books like this one.

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Orinthia
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Stephanie Runyon · Post by **Stephanie Runyon** » 05 Apr 2025, 21:03

This sounds like a book I would enjoy. Great review highlights that make me want to pick it up. I like that it addresses mental health while keeping the character development complete.

Arshadq · Post by **Arshadq** » 14 Apr 2025, 01:44

A very honest review! I loved the way you described the book in full; not many people do! I love a story that delves deep into a character so the reader gets to know them. I would love to pick this book up. Thank you!