Could you condemn one child to save another?
In a near-future Europe fracturing under climate
change and far-right politics, biologist Lina Stephenson works in the remote
Rila Mountains, safely away from London State.
When an old enemy dies, Lina’s dangerous past
resurfaces, putting her family’s lives at risk. Trapped with her vulnerable sister
alongside the dead man’s family, Lina is facing pressure from all sides: her
enemy’s eldest son is determined to destroy her in his search for vengeance,
whilst his youngest carries a sinister secret...
...But the forest is hiding its own threats and as
a catastrophic storm closes in, Lina realises that to save her family she too
must become a monster.
Review:
Slightly strange to begin with and somewhat confusing to get into, this book suddenly garbs hold of you and doesn’t let you go. I loved it. I starting suspecting workings of ‘other forces’ about halfway through the book, but the author did not give anything away easily. I am still left guessing about characters’ pasts and I like it, it gives a feeling of another book coming, whilst this story has been closed off.
Lina has secret, so does Thiago. They work for ESF, hidden amongst the mountains of Romania in a world far apart from ours, where fear drives everyone’s lives. Lina tries desperately to save her remaining family, whilst dealing with State visitors hiding from their own secrets. Suspicions rise on all sides alongside a rising unrest from the local villagers. Lina is torn between the children in middle of it all and has to face some hard decision that will shape the future for her, her father and sister and pretty much everyone around her.
Fab characters, the story flowed really well, was intriguing all the way through to the last page.
Thank you to TBConFB for access to this fab book.
Rating: 5/5
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