Wildlands

In the not-too-distant future, the Wildlands are a no-go area for humans. A vast area of Britain has been rewilded, returned to nature, and can only be crossed by a high-speed aerial line on a train that doesn’t stop. 

Except on the day Astrid and Indie are travelling, an unexpected incident means they not only leave the train but get left behind in a place that is as dangerous as it is beautiful. 

Disbelieving, disorientated, and with only a rucksack and a phone with no signal, the girls’ chances of leaving the Wildlands alive are slim. And when one disaster after another sabotages their best efforts, the prospect of getting home again seems vanishingly small. 

Set in a utopian landscape and addressing big questions about humanity’s relationship with the environment, this is a gripping and refreshingly original story of survival against the odds. 

With incidental themes of sisterhood, belonging, and same-gender parents, there is plenty of substance to the backstory that informs many of the decisions the girls have to make and the way their relationship stands up to the trauma they face. 

Engrossing, thrilling and thought-provoking.