The Wilds
The Wilds
Dystopian Fantasy
Strong Hold Publishing
August 29, 2015
350
My name is Dahlia but I’m called a Plaguer, a person who survived the Bloody Death. When the virus first hit the world, it ravaged the human race. I thought I was lucky to survive it but survival comes at a cost. Ever since the sickness, I see things and I’m hunted for these visions.
The setting was unique – a version of post-apocalyptic America that has been devastated by The Blood Plague, and the paranormal aspects were fun and also unique.
The main character, Dahlia, is a hard-nosed survivor of the Plague, which ultimately awakens some power in her. She is stubborn and all hard-edges. Because of the setting, I can understand this, but it made it hard to relate to her.
The other major character, Dax, is also hard-nosed, stubborn, and a victim of the times. He’s a chiseled action hero projected onto the page. Fine.
The interactions between the two characters are just like fingernails on a blackboard. I get it – you are both hard-nosed and stubborn. Wouldn’t some openness and collaboration logically help you both out in your respective situations? But no, you can’t open up – you’ve been hurt too many times in the past! Criminy…
Honestly, the book read somewhat like a straight-up romance novel in terms of the tension and conflict between Dax and Dahlia, but without the sex. I don’t mind sex in novels – the reason I can’t stand romance novels (typically) is the overblown, exaggerated, emotional melodrama that inevitably taints whatever plot is drunkenly plodding along.
Having vented a bit, and despite my irritation, the story and characters (and other ancillary characters) were still compelling enough for me to enjoy the book. I will tentatively read the next one to see if the characters can build on the development in book 1 to collaborate and beat the bad guys.