The Dead Lands by Benjamin Percy

In Benjamin Percy's new thriller, a post-apocalyptic reimagining of the Lewis and Clark saga, a super flu and nuclear fallout have made a husk of the world we know. A few humans carry on, living in outposts such as the Sanctuary-the remains of St. Louis-a shielded community that owes its survival to its militant defense and fear-mongering leaders.

Then a rider comes from the wasteland beyond its walls. She reports on the outside world: west of the Cascades, rain falls, crops grow, civilization thrives. But there is danger too: the rising power of an army that pillages and enslaves every community they happen upon.

Against the wishes of the Sanctuary, a small group sets out in secrecy. Led by Lewis Meriwether and Mina Clark, they hope to expand their infant nation, and to reunite the States. But the Sanctuary will not allow them to escape without a fight. @ goodreads 

MY REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1217010110

Read from May 05 to 08, 2015

I would like to thank Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

I originally heard about this book in my Stephen King Book Group. It was up as one of the books to read and I thought it sounded really interesting.

I actually enjoyed this book a lot. The world is all but wiped out by a virus/nuclear bombs. It's like a cluster of things going on. Then we have all of the mutations from the radiation that shows up in people and animals. Of course, the animals were there worst as they were either bigger or just plain freaky and dangerous!

So here is this Sanctuary that is built around St. Louis with a tyrant of a Mayor, Thomas Lancer, who is a lot like The Governor in The Walking Dead. Meaning, he's a big jerk who has a big head and has no trouble with torturing and killing people!

Not everyone wants to stay in the Sanctuary under these conditions and are waiting for a chance to escape. This comes to them unexpectedly in the form of a girl with black eyes that shows up at the wall of the Sanctuary. There are a lot of things that go down with her arrival, but eventually some of them escape and head to what they are hoping is the promised land as the girl, Gawea, makes it out to be.

I love so many characters in the book, even some I didn't like in the beginning. You have Clark, she is a girl that is a wall sentry and ranger. York is Clark's half brother, he is funny and sweet. Lewis I didn't care for at the beginning, he seemed to be shady with his mechanical owl going around spying on people and out in the bad lands looking for signs of life, but I ended up liking him. I loved Gawea with her black eyes but feel sorry for her later in the book when some things happen. Ella, who is a girl that worked for Lewis that he just left behind. And there is Simon, I loved his and Ella's story. Although, he has a sad story with his father.

There are other characters in the book but I didn't seem too impressed with them accept Jon Colter, he was cool.

So some of them set out to find this land and a man named Aran Burr that has sent for Lewis, that is why Gawea is there.

On this trip you have deaths of people you love as per the norm. and a whole lot of craziness going on! But I did enjoy this little journey into the Dead Lands and beyond!  4 Stars