Wilders
You may notice "Wilders" by Cass Kim has a few covers. The original, with the purple and blue trees. The Trees in all black, which was used for the Special Edition and the Audiobook. And the new (and final) cover, with Renna running in the woods. As "Wilders" is Cass's first ever published book, she tried a few times to see what cover would be the most popular. Part of the journey. Thanks for sticking with her and the series through all of its new looks!
The forest behind Renna’s home is dark and dense. It holds more secrets than she knows. Having grown up in the half-pocalypse, a world balancing against the tide of a blood-borne virus, Renna knows the rules by heart:
1) Stay inside between dusk and dawn.
2) Close and lock the copper and silver screens.
3) Report anyone suspected of infection immediately.
Now, at seventeen, Renna will have to survive against the rules.
- An unprecedented attack.
- A strange boy with copper eyes.
Can Renna survive the darkness to save the people she loves?
Praise for Wilders:
"Cass Kim nailed it from Chapter 1! I’d like to relate it to BirdBox meets The Walking Dead, but this had my attention even more. I devoured this book in two lengthy sittings (a girl has to sleep...). I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone! You won’t be disappointed!" -Amazon Reviewer
"This was a page turner - read it through in one evening (stayed up too late!) Well-written and wonderfully imagined take on the zombie/virus theme. Appreciated that the author built a realistic vision of how the world might very well adapt to an ongoing crisis of this sort, and the way people would attempt to carry on living a more or less normal life in spite of it. Fits into the YA genre with a teenage protagonist trying to navigate the murky waters of everything from the social awkwardness of an all-night party to the terrors lurking in the woods behind her house. Some gore as is appropriate to the story, but the horror often takes a backseat to the thoughtful exploration of the very human ways people behave in response to extreme events. (And there is a delightful cat named Tim Tam! Bonus!) " -Amazon Reviewer
"I admire any story that lies in a popular genre and manages to completely be its own thing. "Wilders" is such a book. Its take on zombies, infection, and the apocalypse are different from any I've ever seen. There are tons of little details that make the plot threads pop, and when I turned the last page of this novella, I wanted more. " -Amazon Reviewer
"'Oh em gee, not another outbreak/zombie apocalypse/YA dystopian story, don't we have enough already?' My first thought when I glimpsed this book. Then I decided ehhh what the hey, give it a chance. Now I'm glad I did. It's got very likable characters, excitement, a spunky heroine and her delightful bestie, a wonderful cat, a heroic hero, and no nonsense with love triangles and romantic tension etc. (at least not yet--this is the first in a series). I'd like to see more soon. Recommended for 13 and up."
"I really enjoyed this fast-paced, exciting read. In fact, I couldn't put it down! I've certainly read a lot of zombie books and seen a lot of zombie movies but this is a whole different take on the apocalypse. Even though terrifying zombies exist, life still goes on in this story, just so long as you're well armed, careful and prepared. Society still runs as usual and people do not turn on each other. The characters are well established and likeable too. It was such a refreshing look at an old story. I highly recommend. "