Blackwolf by Phil Gilvin

DISEASE STALKS THE LAND LIKE A WOLF, BUT THE FIGHTING GOES ON. AND IF YOU'RE CAUGHT UP IN IT, WHO CAN YOU TRUST?

2150, the Women's Republic of Anglia. The world, transformed by climate change, dwindling resources and successive epidemics, is in danger of descending into chaos. Ex-Truth Sister Clara Perdue, having escaped the great flood of London, has become separated from her friend Jack Pike and is now trying to reach Wight, where her mother Sophia is in prison. But once she makes it there, how can she avoid capture herself? And how can she help Sophia?

Meanwhile, Jack has fallen in with Hurn, a warlike chieftain in the lawless lands between Anglia and Wessex. Can he find new friendships and forget Clara? And when the Wessex army attack, can he face his doubts and fight?

And while Hurn seeks to steal a virus weapon, another plague is sweeping through Britain. Can Clara and Jack survive?

Review

This is the follow up to ‘Truth Sister’ which I read and reviewed last year and I was looking forward to catching up with Clara and Jack. This continues their story and we find them a few months after the events in the first book. I would normally say that books in a series can be read as a stand-alone but I think you really do need to have read the first book to fully understand and appreciate the story. There is some explanation given but it’s very minimal and I feel it would be wise to read them as a series.

Clara and Jack have been separated and we find Clara trying to get to the Isle of Wight to rescue her mother from jail and Jack is with a group who are fighting for their wee bit of land, free of the Republic. They find themselves in the middle of groups vying for terrority between Wessex and Anglia. When their paths cross again can they put the past behind them and trust one another again?

The separation of the two characters really allowed the author to play around with their development away from their co-dependent relationship. I always forget how young they actually are considering they are dealing with such huge topics and events. Both characters are easily likeable but I have to admit that Jack is my favourite - there is an innocence in his character that you don't want to see knocked out of him. Both are brave, especially when it involves someone they love and courageous towards others as well.

I flew through this in one day and I was captivated with their journey in this dystopian world. The pacing was a tad slow at times but towards the end it ramped up and there were plenty of misdirection and twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes!

Let me know if you pick this one up!