Author: Sarah Davis-Goff
Genre: Dystopian Thriller
Format: Hardcover 288 pages
Release Date: 7 March 2019
Publisher: Tinder Press
Firstly I would like to thank Anne Cater and the publisher for inviting me to join in this Blog Tour and for the copy of this book provided to me for review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Synopsis
Remember your Just-In-Cases. Beware Tall Buildings. Watch Your Six
Raised by her mother and Maeve on Slanbeg, an island off the west coast of Ireland, Orpen has a childhood of love and stories by the fireside. But the stories grow darker, and the training begins. Ireland has been devoured by a ravening menace known as the skrake, and though Slanbeg is safe for now, the women must always be ready to run, or to fight.
When Maeve is bitten, Orpen is faced with a dilemma: kill Maeve before her transformation is complete, or try to get help. So Orpen sets off, with Maeve in a wheelbarrow and her dog at her side, in the hope of finding other survivors, and a cure. It is a journey that will test Orpen to her limits, on which she will learn who she really is, who she really loves, and how to imagine a future in a world that ended before she was born.
My Thoughts
I really had no idea what to expect with this book when I first started reading. Reading the blurb gave little away to me but it sounded so intriguing I was excited to dive in and start nevertheless. It’s a short read at under 300 pages and I found myself flying through the pages and finished it in just two sittings!
Orpen lives on a small deserted island with her mother and Maeve who I presumed to be her sister. They live a rigorous life consisting of hours of training to become strong to fight to survive. All her life Orpen has been bought up to fear the skrake. There’s not a whole lot of information given about how or why people have turned into skrake but to be honest, this kind of adds to the mystery and in a way made the book better. The reader can fill in the hows and whys for themselves, all that really matters is that it’s happened and these three individuals now need to try and survive.
The book is told from Orpen’s point of view and she’s an odd little character. She seems to have spent most of her life living this lifestyle with only her mother and Maeve for company and she also comes across as slightly intellectually and emotionally stunted. But I’ll give this to her, the girl sure can fight!
I finished this book wanting more and that for me is always a good sign. I really really hope there will be a second book to follow on from this one because I still have so many questions and feel there is so much more that can be done with this story and Orpen’s character. I am keeping my fingers crossed the author is planning a next instalment!
About the Author
Sarah Davis-Goff was born and raised in Ireland. After going to college in the US and UK, she eventually returned, and now lives in Dublin. ‘Last Ones Left Alive’ is her debut novel.
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I keep seeing this one and not sure if to read or not. Would you call it dystopian fiction?? I’ve read The Dreamers and The Last recently and enjoyed those.
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Yes I probably would call it dystopian. It’s got that end of the world feeling to it. If you enjoyed the last then you would probably enjoy the feel of this book.
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Thank you 😀
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Thanks so much for this Blog Tour support Laura x
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