Following the devastating events of Plague Land (2017), Leon and Freya are on their own, navigating the English landscape after the virus appears to have gone dormant. As it turns out, it's only entering its secondary phase. It's not altogether clear what this second phase is, but those affected by the virus seem to be reanimated, this time sharing a collective consciousness with the others affected. The novel scratches the surface of serious issues, like unjust power dynamics and the ways we define "humanity." Just like in Plague Land, however, it's difficult to visualize exactly what is happening: world building and descriptive action sequences aren't as strong as the more gory and horrific elements of the story. Scarrow absolutely nails the graphic body horror ir warning, a strong stomach is required. Despite its narrative issues cluding the lack of a clear protagonist and jarring, unnecessary changes in point of view is furthers the trilogy and is definitely ramping up to an epic final installment.

Two years after a sweeping pandemic decimates the world's population, two teens hope their nightmare has come to an end—but the virus has evolved.In England, Leon Friedmann and Freya Hart, both presumably white, have been struggling to survive for two years since a gruesome virus killed off or scared off most of the populace. Leon, whose father was in New York City when it struck, lost his 12-year-old sister, Grace, in a horrific fire. Meanwhile, Freya's multiple sclerosis gets more painful by the day. During a supply run, they discover a radio transmission promising that help can be found in Southampton. On their way to the port city, they're taken in by a well-meaning man and his army of Knights. When a young girl claiming to be Leon's sister, Grace, is rescued, Leon is initially thrilled, but all is not as it seems. The virus, thought to have been killed by two extreme winters, has evolved in terrifying ways. Meanwhile, Leon's father, Tom, has spent the past two years trying to find his family. Scarrow's thrilling follow-up to Plague Land (2017) effortlessly welcomes new readers into his vividly rendered wasteland populated with an otherworldly and terrifyingly intelligent organism bent on remaking humanity. He even throws in an homage to the film The Thing.Readers with weak stomachs need not apply, but those who love cinematic, thrill-a-minute apocalyptic horror will be riveted. (Horror. 14-18)