From Goodreads: When the environment is ravaged by rising sea levels and monstrous storms, America is divided and survival becomes more precious than love.

When seventeen-year-old Nada and Isaac stumble upon a handsome stranger in the woods, their cozy alliance and romance begin to unravel. This stranger promises Nada the impossible in exchange for helping him rescue his sister from a prison in the last corner of civilization in the western United States. But this rescue operation is wrought with complications, including the fact that the girl they are supposed to save is the ex-President’s daughter. This mission puts everyone’s life at risk, especially Isaac–the one person who has always been there for Nada. Now Nada and her small tribe must choose between a somewhat comfortable existence in the mountains and the chance at a life free of fear and starvation.

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This is the first novella in a series of three that tells the post-apocalyptic tale of Nada and her friends as they attempt to survive in what’s left of America.  Mainly told from the viewpoint of Nada, readers instantly dive into her world as she begins her story with a statement that can’t help but pique the reader interest: “I didn’t know how sharp my blade was until Isaac used it to stab me in the back.”  With an intro like that, I was highly engaged and ready to know what exactly Nada meant… literal?  Figurative? I’m thinking figurative since Isaac is not my favorite character in the world and he does some pretty awful things in this novella… but as this is just the first installment, I guess I’ll just have to wait and see…

Like I said… Isaac isn’t my favorite.  Perhaps it’s because he’s a player, but I feel like there is something else there too that just rubs me the wrong way.  Especially after what happened with Mary—and I can’t stand her.  Nada seems a bit naive and too trusting to survive the wilderness, but I could be wrong.  She’s done well for herself so far, but I didn’t feel like I really got to know her (or Deadric) very well, like I’d wanted to, and yet, they’re my favorite characters in the series so far.  I’m hoping to learn more about them in the second novella of the series, and I’m about to start it now, so stay tuned.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.