Finally! A book that cannot be put down! It has definitely been a while--so long in fact that I had forgotten what it was like to procrastinate everything in my life all for the sake of an irresistable book. Ah, the joy of reading something completely magnetic.

Jonathan Stroud is back with a vengence in a new series for middle school and young adult readers. Crammed with action scenes and set in a fantasy/dystopian/alternate version of England, the crowning jewels of this novel are the characters. Scarlett is a capable and confident heroine and Albert Browne is her foil with his naivete and open nature; the two play well off of each other. The villians are deeply evil and the supporting characters are quirky. As ever with Mr. Stroud's writing, the dialogue sparkles and there are ample dashes of humor throughout. This is a fabulous start to a promising series.

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy

This one just wasn't for me. I had to keep going back to check if there was an earlier book in the series (there isn't) or other works set in the same world (there aren't) that I had missed. Readers are plopped immediately into a post-apocalyptic Britain that is apparently half zombie film and half western (the Western elements were what I found particularly flummoxing). The pace is very fast, the dialogue is snappy, and the main characters are very appealing...but I still just could not get on board.

Jonathan Stroud has done it again. I wasn’t sure if this book would live up to his previous series but I should never have doubted his ability to weave together an original and engaging mix of characters, plot, and world-building.

I am both intrigued and slightly horrified by the picture he paints of a post-apocalyptic England where the balance of nature has been through off, resulting in dangerous creatures and cannibalistic humans roaming the wilds. Amid this chaotic, perilous landscape, the main characters face off against threats from multiple sides. I loved Scarlett McCain from the start, and just like Scarlett, Albert grew on me throughout the course of the novel. I even found myself attached to other side characters by the end.

This book also examines important themes such as conformity vs individuality, tolerance, abuse, and morality. It’s not simply a fantasy book; it’s a book that invites the reader to think critically about what they’re reading.

I loved this book! I was only planning on giving it four stars since I’m very selective but while writing this review I’ve convinced myself to raise it to five. I hope to see more books in this series that expand on the first.


I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew from the author that this would be a winner, and Stroud did not disappoint! I hope they're setting up a series here because I want more stories of Scarlet and Browne being outlaws together.

Set in a futuristic England after the earth has succumbed to some sort of cataclysm (I also cannot wait to find out more about how the earth got how it is) that has given some people magical powers and turned others into wraith-like zombies. The setting feels almost old-western plus machinery and magic? It was hard to pin down but utterly delightful.

Outlaw Scarlett meets up with on-the-run Albert and that's when everything begins. Read this one - you won't be disappointed.