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.

Wow... loved this book! I thought it would be just another 'post apocalyptic' tale but was happily surprised that this was so much more than that....

Instead of zombies, a plague or natural disaster, humans have started to hear 'voices' which has led to the total breakdown of society.

The story focuses on Pilgrim, a loner, who has his own voice called 'Voice'. Pilgrim chances upon Lacey and together they embark on a journey to find old family whilst building their own little family on the way.

The last paragraph sounds like the story will be pretty tame and family friendly. NO! This book contains graphic description of attacks, torture and murder... strangely despite how in depth the description it feels totally appropriate to the story.

GX Todd has created some brilliant characters... no spoilers but when the fate of one character becomes uncertain early on I was already fully emotionally invested in the character and effected by the events.

My only complaint is that the reader is provided with no answers or any indications at all as to who the 'voices' are or why they are here. I can only hope this is part of a series and we find out more in book 2!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

G.X. Todd throws us into the world of 'The Voices' with Defender, book 1 of a 4 book series. Pilgrim, Lacey and Alex (& of course Voice) form a tight trio in this post apocalyptic road trip to reunite Lacey with her family. As with all good road trips, the story is in the journey. The trials, tribulations and horrors they face in their few hundred mile adventure is what makes this book worth reading and will have you on the edge of your seat while doing it.

How this world has come to be post apocalyptic is unexplained, except that in this world it is commonplace to hear voices, commonplace maybe but not all voices are the same and not all people's reactions to the voices are the same either.

Thoroughly absorbing, gripping, well worth a read. Thank-you to Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Didn't enjoy this, I'm afraid. I am normally a sucker for post-apocalyptic fiction but this one didn't do it for me. A couple of reasons:

- the whole thing is soaked in pain and torture. I get that life in these times isn't going to be all kittens and roses, but this is unrelentingly grim, It reads like someone's been writing fanfiction for Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

- the nature of the apoclaypse and the stuff about Voices is frustratingly sketchy. I know it's the beginning of a series, but I don't think there were enough crumbs left dangling here for me to be at all invested in finding out more.