There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

A book with a stunningly original voice and a fascinating premise. This book is part Revenent, part True Grit and part The Road. Elka is a young girl raised by Trapper in an apocalyptic future where there's no civilisation or technology. Under the guidance of Trapper she's learned to live off the land and survive in a harsh and unforgiving world. Suddenly she learns that Trapper isn't the father figure she thought he was and he becomes not only her enemy, but her hunter. In her efforts to escape Trapper she acquires a friend in Penelope and starts a search for her parents. Penelope acts as Elka's conscience and Elka begins to question just how much she really knew and ignored about Trapper's activities.

This is a beautifully written book. The dialogue is written in a sort of old fashioned speech, with lots of dropped "g"s which gives it the feel of an original western. You would think this was a novel set over a hundred years ago but for the mentions of a unspecified event which wiped nearly everything out. Elka and Penelope's friendship is a journey in itself as they struggle to understand each other and find a common bond and it's an absorbing read as Elka often makes questionable and unwise decisions. Quite unlike anything else I've read this year and a great choice if you're looking for something that bit different.

I received a ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

What a great read i loved it i couldnt put it down i was flipping the pages at lightning speed.

Many years ago there was a huge disaster (the Big Stupid) and society changed. Elka used to live with her grandmother as her parents travelled away but after a huge storm she found herself lost in the woods and taken in by Trapper. Ten years later Elka has learnt a lot of skills from Trapper and is trusted to go into town. There she sees a poster for a wanted murderer and recognises it as Trapper. Shocked, she decides to strike out on her own and try to find her parents but Trapper and the local marshall Lyon are on her trail.

This book has had very good reviews and been nominated for prizes and I'm sure it will have lots of fans, however for me I just found in annoying. It's probably because I am not a big fan of 'fantasy' nor 'dystopian vision' novels and the post-apocalyptic setting was too much.

This is a very easy to read book, perfect for taking on holiday. A bit unbelievable at times but still worth the read. The lead character Elka, gets lost in the woods after a storm. It is a bit post apocalyptic but more like a Western! It is well written and takes the reader on a journey with Elka.. Narrated in the first person, it is part mystery and part survival story. Many thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon.