Title: A Touch of Death
Author: Rebecca Crunden
Series: The Outlands Pentalogy #1
[Syopsis]
A thousand years in the future, the last of humanity live inside the walls of the totalitarian Kingdom of Cutta. The rich live in Anais, the capital city of Cutta, sheltered from the famine and disease which ravage the rest of the Kingdom. Yet riches and power only go so far, and even Anaitians can be executed. It is only by the will of the King that Nate Anteros, son of the King’s favourite, is spared from the gallows after openly dissenting. But when he’s released from prison, Nate disappears.
A stark contrast, Catherine Taenia has spent her entire life comfortable and content. The daughter of the King’s Hangman and in love with Thom, Nate’s younger brother, her life has always been easy, ordered and comfortable. That is, where it doesn’t concern Nate. His actions sullied not only his future, but theirs. And unlike Thom, Catherine has never forgiven him.
Two years pass without a word, and then one night Nate returns. But things with Nate are never simple, and when one wrong move turns their lives upside down, the only thing left to do is run where the King’s guards cannot find them – the Outlands. Those wild, untamed lands which stretch around the great walls of the Kingdom, filled with mutants and rabids.
[Extract]
‘But there are things not even Crown and Council can steal and control. Not my mind, not my heart, not my soul.’
His words made her smile with deep, indescribable empathy. More and more she was understanding how so many had flocked to the Underground Club. Even desolate and ravaged, Nate spoke with passion few could emulate. And she knew what he meant. She had never had a choice. Of late it had begun to bother her, too. Like a wound that was slowly festering. Perhaps she never would have known such a feeling if she hadn’t run away. If she didn’t spend so much time now thinking of what could have been. What ought to have been.
What are readers saying?
A Touch of Death has had loads of four and five star reviews (check them out on Goodreads), with reviews saying:
“Wow this was a real rollercoaster of a ride and I cannot wait to find out what happens to Nate and Kitty.”
“A welcome addition to the dystopia genre, told with raw boldness by an author to keep on eye on!”
“It was fantasy mixed with a bit of post-apocalyptic mixed with science-fiction. DEFINITELY something I will recommend to my friends.”
“This book has everything that can be expected of a good dystopian story – detailed and extensive world-building, believable characters, intriguing plotline, engaging twists and turns, even pace and oscillating tension.”
[About the author]
Rebecca Crunden is a Texas-born, Irish-based author of science fiction and fantasy. She lives in Cork with her partner.
Why not…
Buy A Touch of Death on Amazon
Visit Rebecca’s website
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DON’T FORGET… FOLLOW ME ON: INSTAGRAM @SNAZZY_BOOKS_ / GOODREADS LAURA / AND TWITTER @LAURANAZMDEH!