This novel was very readable and well-written. I knew nothing of the 14th century before reading it but became immersed in the story and the plight of the characters using their ingenuity to escape from the Black Death. I am keen to read the next book in the series and to follow the fortunes of the more sympathetic characters - Lady Anne, Thaddeus, Gyles and Isabella. I found Eleanor to be unsympathetic but I think this is necessary to the plot and it will be interesting to see how her character develops.

This is a wonderful slow burn of a read, with strong characters in a terrible situation. It’s full of fascinating historical details, neatly woven into the story.

The Last Hours by Minette Walters
I hadn’t read anything by Minette Walters for a long time, but was intrigued when I saw she had written an historical book, set in 1348. It begins when the Black Death comes to Dorset.
The Lady of the Manor has been left on their estate, her husband, has to gone to a neighbouring estate to negotiate the marriage of their spoilt daughter Eleanor. During his absence word is brought to Lady Anne of the strange sickness that has overtaken many of inhabitants of nearby villages. Lady Anne, compassionate and progressive thinking, although under her bullying husband’s thumb, devises a strategy to keep the plague out of Devilish, and sets to work, appointing a commoner Thaddeus Thurkell to be the new Steward. This is a very popular move with the serfs and villagers, but not with Eleanor, who proceeds to undermine her mother. What follows is the story of how Lady Ann achieves keeping the plague out, and how the serfs start to charge of their own lives.
We discover much about life in medieval times, especially from the point of view of the serfs, and about the attitudes of men to their wives. I thoroguhly enjoyed this book, interesting characters, good plotting and sense of time.
I gather from the end comment that a sequel is planned, as it ends with ‘to be continued’. I will definitely read this when it is available.
Thanks to Net Galley for letting me read this book.

Summer 1348, and rumours are spreading throughout Dorset of a virulent plague which kills everyone who comes into contact with it. Alarmed by the news, Lady Anne of Develish decides to take drastic precautionary measures, bringing all the estate's serfs and freemen within the bounds of the manor house's moat and refusing entry to everyone else - including her husband, who has just returned from a neighbouring estate infected with the disease!

This possible haven is threatened from both within and without. People, animals and chickens cram themselves into the moated area, but, after an initial flurry of settling in, there's little to do but wait out the pestilence, and tensions are running high; a situation exacerbated by the positively weird behaviour of Lady Anne's teenage daughter Eleanor. Their situation is threatened by armed soldiers roaming the countryside, and, despite moving the villagers' stores into the hall, supplies won't last long and ultimately someone must venture out to find food, and check on the situation on neighbouring estates.


This novel is another case (there seem to be quite a few around at the moment) of an author 'jumping' genres. Minette Walters is known for her crime novels; here she's taken on a mix of historical and apocalyptic fiction. I suppose we tend to think of apocalyptic fiction as belonging to sci-fi or futuristic writings, but the Black Death was very real, sweeping through Europe and in places killing half the population.

I'd expected a somehow 'busier' story, more action-packed with Lady Anne and her followers almost constantly fighting off attackers; instead it's slow burn sort of read, but one that's grabs the reader. An enclosed community is bound to suffer from tensions, without taking a plague ravaging the countryside into consideration, and this one is no exception. It's only when a group is forced to venture out and confront the devastation left by the plague that they realise how lucky they were.

There's an amazing amount of period detail, fitted in round the story rather than obscuring it, explaining the social structure under which serfs were bonded to a lord, unable to leave his property, limited in the work they can do to better their own lot; that lord paying allegiance to a higher lord; and everything ultimately being at the king's disposal. And of course, women at every level having least say of all in their lives.
Lady Anne is an unusual women - raised in a convent, with firm beliefs on cleanliness and sanitation, but not meek and mild as you would expect. She's well aware of the wrongs committed by her husband, and where ever she can, she's taken a stand against them, altering their serfs lives for the better. When others are saying the plague is sent by God as punishment for sins, she looks for more practical reasons behind the outbreak. Maybe she feels at times just a little too modern and informed, but if monks at the time could have thinking on the same lines, why shouldn't a clever, convent-raised woman?

Hi Karen,

My next Review Is:-

“The Last Hours”, written by Minette Walters and published in hardcover by Allen & Unwin; Main edition on 2 Nov. 2017. 560 pages. ISBN-13: 978-1760632137

In June, 1348: the Black Death enters England through the port of Melcombe in the county of Dorsetshire. Unprepared for the virulence of the disease, and the speed with which it spreads, the people of the county start to die in their thousands.

In the estate of Develish, Lady Anne takes control of her people's future - including the lives of two hundred bonded serfs. Strong, compassionate and resourceful, Lady Anne chooses a bastard slave, Thaddeus Thurkell, to act as her steward. Together, they decide to quarantine Develish by bringing the serfs inside the walls. With this sudden overturning of the accepted social order, where serfs exist only to serve their lords, conflicts soon arise. Ignorant of what is happening in the world outside, they wrestle with themselves, with God and with the terrible uncertainty of their futures.

Lady Anne's people fear starvation but they fear the pestilence more. Who amongst them has the courage to leave the security of the walls?

And how safe is anyone in Develish when a dreadful event threatens the uneasy status quo..?

A murder occurs and everyone is worried who may be next. Whilst the funeral takes place, Thaddeus Thurkell together with a hand picked group of serfs leave the confines of Devilish with the intention of finding a fresh source of food before the limited supplies available run out. The promise is to return within two weeks with what ever is discovered. The story then moves to two view points that of Thaddeus and his adventurous band of serfs and their adventures on the outside and also the viewpoint of Lady Anne.

Minette Walters is England's bestselling female crime writer. She has won the CWA John Creasey Award for best first crime novel, the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best crime novel published in America and two CWA Gold Daggers for Fiction. Minette Walters lives in Dorset with her husband and two children.

I have read, privately, several of the authors previous books and was therefore aware of her superb writing skills in researching and creating a fictional situation and Impeccably infusing it with period detail. The book is very atmospheric and deftly plotted,the characters are all very richly drawn.

The details of the book are fascinating-and give a very vivid picture of life at this time. I was transported every time I picked up this highly imaginative story to the fourteenth century. There were several loose ends at the conclusion which I believe will be tackled in further books in this series. Strongly recommended this was one of the best historical mysteries that I have read this year.
Best wishes,

Terry
(Review to be published on eurocrime.co.uk and also on amazon but by mysteryfanatic

Virus-free. www.avast.com

I haven’t read a Minette Walters book before but if this is anything to by I’ll be reading more! Set in the time of the Black Death, the story follows the lives of Lady Anne, Thaddeus and the population of Develish as they try to keep the plague, thieves and looters from other settlements at bay.
The portrayal of life in the 1300s is fascinating, with serfs treated no better than animals, appalling living conditions and hygiene and a corrupt clergy who do little help.
I really enjoyed the style of writing and the characters are so well drawn that they come to life. A very talented story teller.
My thanks to Netgalley for this copy.

An engaging, gripping and slightly claustrophobic read set in the period of the Black Death, which has always been a fascination of mine. Walters perfectly captures the mindset and its attendant hysteria of the time and Lady Anne is a sympathetic character who the reader cannot help rooting for. I am a little irritated at the typical high born lady of unusual intellect and education, brutish husband and vapid child tropes. I appreciate that its rich fodder for storytelling and that after the Norman conquest women did have a lot less freedom but it’s a bit too well worn for my liking. Or at least it’s been used so much that it’s become one of those chains of literary shorthand where the original associations and facts have become divorced from the artistic execution. However this was still a thoroughly enjoyable historical novel, not least because I know the area where it was set well having grown up nearby. Highly recommend for fans of Follett’s Pillars of the Earth series.

Thanks Atlantic Books and netgalley for this ARC.

We are taken way back to the Middle Ages. Minette Walters sets the atmosphere and mood just right for the gruesome scenes involving the plague.

This is the first Minnete Walters story I've read and, to be honest, I don't know if it was really my cup of tea. I'd not ready anything in this genre before but was persuaded by my wife to give it a go. I'm glad I did, as it's opened my eyes to a different style of writing.
Perhaps I just need to read another of hers?

Minette Walters is a name I associate with crime fiction so it was primarily intrigue that prompted me to request a copy of 'The Last Hours' from NetGalley. 

Set in June 1348, the Dorsetshire port of Melcombe is about to become infamous as the place where The Black Death enters England. Whilst the Church proclaims the sickness as a punishment from God, Lady Anne of Develish - a small demesne just outside Melcombe - has other other ideas. Determined to protect her household from the devastating plague, Anne gathers her serfs within the gates of Develish and refuses entry to outsiders, even extending her quarantine to her own husband. Thus begins a historical novel that has shades of dystopian fiction as Lady Anne and the denizens of Develish endure against the pandemic whilst the world around them - and the order that it sustains - is dying. 

The premise is certainly interesting and I was immediately drawn into the world that Walters creates. Develish is a world in microcosm - a perfect miniature of the social hierarchy that propped up the feudal system with God and the Church at the top, Norman nobles on the next rung down and the Saxon serfs towards the bottom of the pack - sworn to service their whole lives long. At first Develish seems to obey this hierarchy - Sir Richard of Develish is boorish, ignorant and cruel-hearted, kind only to his spoilt and petty daughter Eleanor. With the arrival of the Black Death however, the normal social order is plunged into disarray. With Sir Richard away paying court to a neighbouring noble, his long-suffering wife Lady Anne swiftly takes action, using her reputation for compassion and intelligence to encourage her bondsmen and their families to isolate themselves from the sickness before it can enter Develish's walls. Thus begins a narrative that sees serfs working alongside stewards in a desperate attempt to survive the plague that has fallen upon the land - a plague that has the potential to forever alter the dynamic between bondman and master. 

Walters has clearly put a lot of research into this novel. For the majority of the time, it is worn lightly although there is the occasional info dump or character playing exposition monkey. For the most part however, I felt that the world was well-realised and well-drawn and that the book was at its best when it was looking at the changes wrought on the established social order by the drastic situation - each of the characters reacts differently with some (such as the feisty Lady Anne) rising to the challenge whilst others (the deluded Eleanor) refuse to accept that their place in the world has changed. 

This strength does highlight the novel's weakness however. The characters, for me anyway, felt thinly drawn - almost caricatures at times. Sir Richard, for example, is a pantomime villain - boorish, fat, lazy and stupid - and its therefore no surprise when his various wicked actions come to light throughout the course of the book.  On the other side of the coin, Lady Anne and her 'steward', the bondsmen Thaddeus, are intelligent, courageous and compassionate in their pursuit of the wider interests of the people of Develish and their decisions and actions are always vindicated. Whilst this didn't prevent me finishing the book - I raced through it in a couple of days - the one-dimensional caricatures and lack of character development did grate. 

My other niggle was with the ending - or should I say, the lack of an ending. It became apparent that the book was drawing to a close with an increasingly small number of pages in which to wrap up the various plot strands introduced. This, I eventually realised, is because there will be a sequel (due Autumn 2018). Now I have nothing against sequels but I do think that each book in a series should stand on its own. Reading Hilary Mantel's 'Bring Up The Bodies', for example, is infinitely enhanced by having read 'Wolf Hall' but it can be read as an independent book in its own right. 'The Last Hours' however felt, to me at least, like reading half a book - a great premise is established, characters are introduced, relationships are established and all is going well. And then it ends. Just. Like. That. Plot threads are left hanging, relationships unresolved and there are hints towards the end of the novel of many events still to come. Which would have been fine if this had been marketed as Part One of a series or duology but, as far as I can tell, this isn't made clear in the blurb or marketing so it came as a disappointment. 

This makes it sound like I didn't enjoy 'The Last Hours' - which is a shame because there's a lot to recommend it. Walters can clearly turn her hand to historical fiction and has created a page-turning novel set during a fascinating period of English history that saw huge societal change. I'll probably even read the next book in the series because I do want to know what happens to the people of Develish - it's just more likely to be a library loan than a purchase if I'm being completely honest. If you like your historical fiction, this is definitely worth giving a read - and the page-turning nature of the story makes it a good introduction to the genre for fans of Walter's fast-paced crime and thriller titles as well. Overall this was a solid 2.5/5 read for me - I enjoyed it while it lasted but I don't think I'll be reading it again.

A well-written account of a village during the plague, with some interesting characters, and insight into life at the time. But, I'm sorry, but the end? There wasn't one. It appeared to have had at least a couple of chapters chopped off. I was left disappointed.

A well researched and written story based around the Black Death Plague. It is thought to have entered this country via ports on the south coast. The author lives in that area today and wanted to relate what may have happened. It also gives an in-depth concept of how the country was run in those days with earldoms, lords of the manor and subservient illiterate serfs. Ignorance and lack of basic hygiene were factors in the spread of the disease. There were pockets of enlightenment and the main character, Lady Ann , provided that in her demesne or domain. She had been educated in a convent before marrying Sir Robert who was the antithesis of her. Once rid of him she , through her wisdom and diligent planning, saved the lives of her people. This was not without dissent among the people enclosed in their most surrounded environment. The book is insightful and tackles issues, incest, promiscuity, subterfuge, mental health, revolt, illiteracy and how literacy gave empowerment. This is a long but interesting read when you unfold the elements within and many of the issues raised are still relevant today. It will be interesting to see where the sequel takes us on this journey.

Thanks to Atlantic Books, Allen & Unwin and to NetGalley for offering me an ARC copy of this novel that I freely chose to review.
Although Minette Walters is a familiar name, I have not read any of her crime fiction, so I can’t really compare this historical novel to her previous work, but after reading this I’ll check them out for sure.
I was intrigued by this novel, partly because of the author, but also because I had recently read a novel set during the period of the Black Death and was curious to read more on the subject.
The author sets the novel in Develish, an estate in Dorsetshire (there is not such a village in present-day Dorset, although there is one called Dewlish that I wonder if it might have been the inspiration for the one in the book), on the brink of the arrival of the plague to England. Sir Richard is away from the estate, trying to arrange the marriage of his daughter, Lady Eleanor, and although he tries to return home when he realises people are dying, it is too late for him. His wife, Lady Anne, who was educated in a convent and knows about healing, herbs, and letters, takes control (she already was managing the estate, although always unofficially, as her husband did not know how to read or write and thought that flogging or whipping his serfs was all that was required) and isolates the estate, moving all the farmers and serfs inside the walls of Sir William’s manor house —set apart from the village houses and the fields by a moat— and ensuring that her sanitation and hygiene rules are followed. Nobody really knows how the disease spread but her measures seem to work, although not everything is well in Develish.
The story is fascinating because of the complexity of the characters, the power struggles (there are clear differences between the Norman lords and the Saxon population, with the Normans being shown as abusive stuck-up individuals whilst the Saxons do all the work, and there is much discussion about taxation, indentured conditions, education…), the social order of the era, and the added difficulties of trying to confine two hundred people in a small space, ensuring the peace is maintained, and keeping their spirits up.
Lady Anne keeps records, with the intention of leaving a written account of what happened in case they all perish, so others might learn from their experiences, but she also keeps a more personal account, and at times it is clear that what she writes is an edited version of the truth, although always for good reasons. Her sensibilities seem very modern. She does not treat people according to their birth but to their actions, her religious ideas are out of keeping with the period (she has no respect for priests and dismisses any attempts of blaming the illness on people’s lack of faith or sinful behaviour) and she does show a great deal of understanding and hindsight of how the spread of the plague will revolutionise the social situation, bringing new opportunities to the skilled workers who survive (as there won’t be enough people to do all the jobs and that scarcity will allow them to negotiate better conditions). She is one of the most interesting and important characters of the novel, together with Thaddeus Thurkell, a young man (only eight years younger than her, as she was married at fourteen) of unknown parentage whom she has taught and protected from childhood and who seems as out of place as she is. At some point in the novel, due to the murder of his half-brother, he leaves the demesne with five young boys and we follow their adventures too, learning about the fate of other estates and villages, and getting more insight into the character of Thaddeus and his young assistants.
Sir William dies early in the story, although he is much talked about through the rest of the novel. He is an evil character with no redeeming features, although we don’t realise quite how bad he really was until close to the end of the novel (but we probably suspected it). Personally, I prefer my baddies greyer rather than all black. Lady Eleanor is another one of the characters that I found problematic. She is her father’s daughter, spoilt and cruel, dismissive of serfs and with a sense of entitlement not based on any personal qualities. Again, there are no redeeming features apparent in the girl, although her behaviour made me consider some psychiatric diagnoses (borderline personality disorder seems likely) and towards the end, I felt sorry for both, her and Lady Anne, as they are boxed into a corner with no easy or satisfactory way out. There are many other secondary characters, although very few of them are given enough individual space for us to get to know them (apart from the priest, Isabella, and Giles) but the author manages to create a realistic sense of a community growing and evolving thanks to an enlightened leader, united by their faith in Lady Anne, and facing together the challenges of their difficult situation.
The story is told in the third person but each chapter or fragment of the story is told from one of the characters’ point of view. This is not confusing and serves the story well, helping give the readers a sense of control (and also increasing the tension, as at times we believe we know the truth because we know more than some of the characters, but we do not realise we are missing important pieces of information). The book recreates the historical period without being too heavy on descriptions. We learn more about how society worked than about every little detail of clothing and food (but there should be enough information for fans of historical fiction to enjoy it, although I am not an expert in the era and not all reviewers agree).There are some funny moments (like when they see a cat for the first time and believe it is a monster), some battles, fights, scary moments, secrets galore, and plenty of intrigues, but it is not a fast page-turner and there is a fair amount of time dedicated to the politics and social mores of the era (that, for me, was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the story). I felt the novel progressed at a good pace, but I would not recommend it to readers looking for a story full of action and adventures.
I enjoyed the novel, in particular the historical background, the psychological portrayal of the characters (the bad characters are just bad, while the good characters are fairly complex and not all good, and there is plenty of room for further development) although I did have doubts as to how in keeping with the historical period some of the attitudes and the ideas expressed were, but my main issue was the ending. As many people have commented on their reviews, it is never mentioned that this is book one and not a full-story and then the book ends up with a to be continued. After so many pages, the ending of the novel felt rushed, and although the story stops at an inflection point, there are many questions to be answered and I suspect most readers will feel disappointed.
An interesting incursion into the historical fiction genre by the author, and one that will make readers wonder about what freedom really means, the nature of power, and how much (or how little) life has changed since.

In the estate of Develish, where the Black Death threatens to destroy the community, its Lord, the dissolute Sir Richard, succumbs to the pestilence that is sweeping the land. His wife, the educated, convent-raised Lady Anne, is a far superior successor at his death. Though she had already been covertly managing the estate, now her medical knowledge, justice and kindness are skills that are needed more than ever before.

She is aided in her task by faithful serfs (who she treats like friends rather than slaves), as they become her eyes and ears. Her trusted steward is the outcast, bastard slave, Thaddeus Thurkell, who is intelligent and skilled. Lady Anne sees the hurting man behind the gruff exterior, having taught him, among others, to read and write.

However, her wayward daughter, Eleanor, doesn't take kindly to being quarantined within the estate, or the serfs acting beyond their supposed station. Her selfish and wilful antics cause her mother great anguish and despair, and her rebellious ways make Thaddeus decide to leave, (taking a handful of youths with him) in pursuit of food and information in their environs.

There is also an exploration of faith versus empty religious practice. Father Anselm, Priest in residence, has no strong moral compass and fails to acquit himself well, whereas Lady Anne, sceptical of the established church, lives out her faith from a deeply held belief in God's goodness and grace.

Tension mounts, as the action shifts between events within the estate and Thaddeus and the boys faring outside of it. Loyalties, relationships and issues of trust are all tested, culminating in potential danger for them all. Have they more to fear within the walls of the estate itself or from pestilence and threats outside of it?

This marvellously written medieval mayhem is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of Dorsetshire life in 1348, based on historical facts. The characters are memorable and sympathetically drawn. My only gripe is in seeing "to be continued" at the novel’s close, when I longed to know the final outcome now.

The Last Hours - A plausible look at one demesne's approach to the Black Death!

Have never read anything from Minette Walters until this book and volunteered to read it because it's historical fiction which I really do relish. Overall I did enjoy the book, polishing it off in a couple of evenings as it is a very easy read. Lots of interesting characters in the book, many with their own sub-story to tell. The book also shines some light on the way that people thought, believed and behaved at that time. To me, many fascinating parallels with the USA some 400 years later. In fact, to my mind, some things never change.

As others have mentioned, the daughter, Eleanor, is a nasty piece of work but every time she popped up in the story I found myself asking if it would have been possible for her to have really behaved like that; I concluded not but she was an essential part of the "plot". Other characters like her mother and the priest were far more "real".

Will I read the sequel, yes because I expect the second book will be stronger in fabric and plot due to the foundations of The Last Hours. When the sequel does finally hit the shelves, I shall, no doubt, read both books back-to-back.

I love reading historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. Loved it, loved the characters and can't wait to read more from the author!

The Last Hours isn’t what one would usually expect from a Minette Walters novel. It’s set in Dorset in 1348, at the time of the Black Death, and focuses on the effects of the plague on the inhabitants of a small estate called Develish. The narrative is very involving and, although the principals are Lady Anne, wife of the lord of the manor, and Thaddeus Thirkell, illegitimate son of a serf family, there is a rich cast of characters, all of whom are very relatable, yet seem to act authentically. I can only assume the historical detail is accurate. It certainly feels as though this book has been incredibly carefully researched and I have never read anything that gives such an acute insight into the medieval religious mindset and the power of the Church in medieval times. I would definitely recommend The Last Hours. The only thing I didn’t like about it was that it ended.

As a terrible sickness, recognisable as the Black Death, sweeps across the land, the people of one Dorset manor find themselves freed from a tyrannical overlords. Thrown on their own resources they begin to plan for an unknown and almost unimaginable future. As this happens some of the group have to face up to the consequences of the past.

Well researched and believable, this novel has an almost dystopian feel, as the protagonists come to terms with the possibilities of a new beginning, following on from catastrophe.

This is part one of the the story and I'm looking forward to the next episode.

I am a fan of Minette Walters' traditional books - thrillers with solid characters and plots that set your spine tingling. So I was excited to see The Last Hours, a completely different style of writing, for her, breaking ground in the realm of historical fiction.

The Last Hours takes us into Normand occupied England (roughly in my neck of the woods!) during the time of the black plague. This book feels like it could have been a blog from the 1300s in its descriptive power of people, the way they dress and act and, most notably, through the dialog between characters. So formal and polite but completely different from the way we converse today. Insults delivered in such a posh way come across properly but still packed with stinging venom. That alone is reason enough to read this historically-rich novel but the story line is full of tension as Lady Anne and the serfs of Develish take refuge within the manor walls to protect themselves from the death outside. Is there a better antagonist than a quick-killing plague?!? Ah, but wait, there is more. Something wicked is afoot that could divide those within the walls. Will it topple them and expose them to the plague? You've got to read it to find out.

It was so easy to imagine myself in this time with these characters. The fear and uncertainty, the power plays and politics, the secrets and lies - all drew me in. It’s possible to find these things in any close-living community throughout time isn’t it (and also in fictional dystopian/sci-fi worlds) and I thought Minette Walters exposed the shadows so very well.

I was emotionally invested in the characters from the beginning. Lady Anne’s daughter Eleanor with her petulance and high born ways with plenty of chances of redemption yet still persists in alienating herself; kick-ass heroine Lady Anne who leads her people with strength and humility, knows when to talk and when to keep quiet; Thaddeus, outer strength but inner turmoil; the leading serfs and their families who have already suffered much loss before the Black Death and have much respect for Lady Anne empowering the serfs; Hugh de Courtesmain who has never seen a demesne being led like Develish in his life and doesn’t know where he fits.

I thought the format of the story worked extremely well. One answer to a crisis leads Thaddeus and the sons of the leading serfs to leave Develish and explore the surrounding estates. So while life and all its warp and weft still happens for those still inside, we also get to experience the devastation outside. Thaddeus takes on the stern side of the father role, teaching the boys much more than practical skills. They become more introspective about who they are and overcome limits imposed from their own fathers as well as confront their own fears.

At 560 pages, The Last Hours might seem imposing! Being so caught up in the story I really didn’t want it to end. I enjoyed the pace of the story and was so disappointed when I was nearing the end. Fortunately there is a second novel. I’m desperate to find out where the story will lead me next!

As an aside, I’ve always been fascinated with Knowlton in Dorset. With their numbers decimated by the Black Death, the survivors abandoned their village and migrated elsewhere. Many times I’ve given my imagination free reign at the ruins of Knowlton Church and although The Last Hours isn’t set in Knowlton, it’s fired my imagination even more!

One of my top reads of 2017.

This was a story of life in the 1300s when the land was ruled by Normans and its people had become serfs. The "Black Death" creeps through the countryside from a port on the South coast, killing a large proportion of the population. The story is about a group of people who find ways to prevent the plague affecting them and describes their efforts to survive, given the regime by which they are governed. Also how all this begins to change their perceptions about the way they should live. The descriptions and the characters brings everything to life and it is easy to become part of what is happening. Unfortunately it is the first part of a series so we don't know how it will end.