I know life is quite depressing and en route to dystopia as it is, but sit down a second. I need to talk to you about a really great book. Defender, the first of a new series of novels by debut writer G. X. Todd, takes a spin on apocalypse genre by changing up pandemic narratives. Moving away from the killer flus of Station Eleven or The Last Of Us (the Rob Ewing novel, not the game), Todd presents us with an epidemic of audible hallucinations. In the interest of honesty in this review, I’d like to state I have experienced audible hallucinations and in reading the premise I was intrigued and a little nervous of how they were going to be handled. I am relieved to say that I needn’t have worried. I don’t want to give away too much to do with the voices as Todd carefully spoons you tidbits of information as the novel goes, but be reassured by my personal experience tinted review. Defender’s lead characters follow the commonly-seen-in-video-games trope of crusty, morally-grey man and naive ingenue girl who can really wield a gun – The Last Of Us (now I mean the game) and Telltale’s The Walking Dead spring to mind. Pilgrim is a mysterious man on a bike who has a voice; in a world where many of the people who heard have died, he is somewhat of a minority, having coexisted with Voice for seven years since the world went to hell. Lacey has been living alone since her Grammy died in their house, and decides that she needs to find her sister Karey and niece Addison in Vicksburg. Upon tricking Pilgrim into buying some lemonade, Lacey decides he will be the man to escort her to her sister. Pilgrim and Lacey have a great chemistry and a genuine affection for each other, which is a joy to read. Their friendship and care is a lightness and hope in a dark world. And when I say dark, I mean The Road levels of dark. When you pick up Defender, don’t think it is a novel to read before bed (yes I made this mistake frequently). I’ve popped content warnings at the bottom of the page to be specific for those who want them, but this novel is very violent, bloody and grim. I loved it. I really loved it. The mystery of the voices thrilled me and the plight of Lacey, Pilgrim and Alex (who they rescue from absolutely blood curdling circumstances quite early on in the novel) gripped me until the last page. Todd’s writing is intricate, weaving complex graphic action scenes through seamless construction, setting your heart racing and your mind screaming oh god did that really just happen oh god it did. Interested? Get it here in hardback or preorder the paperback which is out in August. If you use any of the links on my website, I get a small percentage of what you pay which helps me come up with more recommendations! Thank you kindly to the team at Headline Books for sharing this copy with me. Content notes: rape, violence against women, graphic violence, references to suicide and self harm, discussion of audible hallucinations.

This is not a normal post-apocalyptic story. There are no zombies, no plague, no nuclear war, nor an invasion by bug-eyed aliens. Instead, what toppled civilisation was the Voices that appeared inside peoples’ heads. Voices that incite suicides, murders, destruction and anarchy. Not everyone has a Voice inside their head, and not every Voice is bad. Some people without Voices, are just evil anyway, and don’t need to be encouraged to do bad things. Everyone still looks like they used to. You can’t see the Voices, the evil or the madness – so how can you know who to trust? Living in an isolated cottage, Lacey has been protected from the collapse of civilisation by her grandmother. Now her grandmother is dead, and she has to go out into the mad world. Her hope is to find her older sister and the sister’s family. She is resourceful, but very naïve and completely unprepared for what may lie ahead. Luckily, the first person she meets is Pilgrim, one of the few good men left. Pilgrim is happy being alone with his (good) Voice, and doesn’t want or need company – Lacey has other plans. Lacey wins. Pilgrim reminded me so much of Daryl in “The Walking Dead” – a very reluctant, but for all that, the more admirable, hero – and he rides a motorbike. Lacey, despite her young age, sheltered upbringing, and the extremely fast learning curve on which she finds herself, is a very strong, capable and courageous female lead character. The book is very fast paced. Danger is ever present. There is no let up for either the reader or the main protagonists. The world has become a hell on Earth. The vivid descriptions of scenes would not be out of place in Dante’s inferno - the colours, the smells, the blood, … This is not a book to read if you plan on getting a good night’s sleep – it is disturbing (as are all good post-apocalyptic novels), but you just cannot put it down. I am really looking forward to part 2 of this series, for some more disturbed sleep. I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Defender offers up a strong start to The Voices series. This no holds barred rollercoaster ride takes place in a U.S. dystopian landscape following a pandemic outbreak of voices telling people to kill themselves. The majority of people succumb to this pressure, leaving survivors to pick through the aftermath and scratch out a new existence. But wait, there's an interesting twist. Some survivors do hear the Voice but it isn't set on harm, it's more of a companion offering advise and possibly friendship. But what does it all mean? That is the big question. I found this book a quick read because I could not put it down. The end of the conventional world is a topic I really enjoy (such fab escapism!) so this was right up my street. I love Pilgrim, our extremely private hero. He's strong mentally and very capable in tight spots. Lacey brings a warmer dimension to Pilgrim's world and sets him on a path that is sure to bring trouble. Trouble comes in spades and that is the crux of the adventure. So much happens that I cannot talk about. A pity, there's some juicy stuff to cover. Action, action, action! Great stuff, but, if you are squeamish this might prove to be too much. There's a heavy handed application of violence that won't agree with all. I am anxious to read the next book to see where this story is headed. It's clear there are many more miles to cover in this compelling story.

This novel is about a dystopian future in which the majority of the population of the USA and presumably of the world has been wiped out, driven to kill themselves and others by inner voices. The main protagonists are Lacey (a sixteen-year-old girl brought up in an isolated house), Pilgrim, (a man just trying to survive in a hostile environment), both eventually joined by Alex, a woman trapped by survivors. They face various enemies together with much bloodshed and suffering along the way. Quite dark and engaging, this will be enjoyed by anyone who likes the Mad Max stories and similar tales. A second volume must follow as no explanation is given for the original catastrophe or about the Flitting Man. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.