Review

In a slightly future world devastated by daily earthquakes, Iris and her mother are on the run. They left their Sydney home after it was hit by a quake, and like millions of others, they’re constantly on the move in cars and campervans. Unlike others, they are being pursued: why, Iris doesn’t know. Then Iris’s mum disappears. Her last instructions were to go to a particular hotel in a place called Glassy Bay. But why?

Iris contacts the hotel and makes an immediate, strong connection with Lena, whose family owns it. There are strange things going on in Glassy Bay: mysterious developments, disappearances & reappearances, Navy boats, strangers, a suspicious death…

Iris, Lena and her friends start trying to join the dots. Who are these powerful and sinister forces? What are they trying to do?

*

I can’t believe this published in May, and I only realised it existed a couple of days ago. Not enough publicity!

Erin Gough wrote one of my all time favourite YA novels — Amelia Westlake — so although her new novel was clearly a complete departure from the sweet rom-com genre, I was immediately desperate to read it. Thankfully, I found an ebook on Libby and dived straight in.

I’m delighted to report that this was a fun, twisty, fast paced read, and I devoured it in a day. I didn’t love it as much as Amelia Westlake, but I prefer rom-coms to dystopias, so fair play.

I was gripped from the start by the eco-dystopian premise of a world that’s racked by earthquakes. The suspense (mostly) didn’t let up, and I enjoyed the characterisation, particularly the dynamic between sweet Lena and snarky Marty. The plotting & foreshadowing are very clever. There are also some minor romantic elements which are well handled.

Recommend — a gripping eco-dystopian sci-fi adventure.

Age: 13+

> Click here for content info. Mild spoilers… enter at own risk!

YA depictions of: environmental decline (earthquakes, global warming, etc.); institutional corruption; two passionate kissing scenes with a very mild reference to touching; a very mild sexual allusion after someone has stayed overnight; wlw and mlw romance; dead body is found, shot – not graphic; estranged father; arguing and separated parents; dead parents; strained teen relationships with parents; perilous situations. One or two f- & s-words.

*

Gough, E. (2024). Into the mouth of the wolf. Hardie Grant Publishing.

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