#Review: The Division by Cristina Mia
The Division
Author: Cristina Mia
Publisher: Self-published
Rating: 4.5/5
The Division is a richly imagined fable that surprised me with both its poignancy and sharp social commentary. At first glance, it’s about talking animals in a meadow overtaken by a mysterious fog—but don’t be fooled by the pastoral setting. This is an allegory that bites.
The premise—a toxic fog called The Division that creeps into the lives of animals and causes disharmony—is deceptively simple. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the “fog” is no mere weather pattern. It’s a metaphor for systemic manipulation, fearmongering, and the politics of blame, echoing our world with uncomfortable precision.
The characters are standout elements—each animal group represents a facet of society: the elite peacocks with their opulent feathers and shady agendas, the falcons functioning as authoritarian enforcers, and the strays—particularly Olive—who symbolize the marginalized and forgotten. Olive’s evolution from a wary survivor to a pivotal leader is written with nuance, and Felix the falcon adds complexity with his crisis of conscience. I was especially drawn to the field mice (yes, the mice!)—unexpected intellectuals with tunnels of knowledge, quite literally.
That said, the allegory occasionally leaned a bit too hard into exposition. Some conversations felt like TED Talks in fur coats. While I appreciated the depth of world-building, a few scenes were heavy-handed in delivering the moral. Yet, the prose was elegant and often poetic, with vivid imagery that made the meadow feel eerily real.
What impressed me most was the ending—not tied up with a neat bow, but hopeful enough to plant the idea that truth and unity, however brief, are worth fighting for. The Division is not just a story about animals; it’s a tale about us, our fears, our divisions, and the delicate strength of unlikely alliances.
A fable for adults with the heart of a revolution. Highly recommended if you like your fiction with feathers, fangs, and philosophical depth.
Find the book here.
