From Booklist

Following a cataclysmic plague, the eastern U.S. has been quarantined behind a massive wall extending from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Crossing the wall is a capital offense, so 16-year-old Lane is horrified to learn that her father has gone over the barrier and headed to the East. At the behest of the authorities, she is sent after him and quickly finds her life in danger from the Feral—vicious, hybrid beings who are half human and half animal. Happily, Lane finds help from two fearless young men: Everson, a guard, and Rafe, a soldier-of-fortune type. In between swashing and buckling, both take time to fall in love with Lane, who is being pursued by a tiger-man who wants to eat her heart. Yes, life is complicated in the East, and more than a tad melodramatic. Fans of dystopian fiction, however, will find a good deal to like in this fast-paced mash-up that includes elements of romance and horror and, no surprise, an inconclusive ending that promises a sequel. Grades 8-12. --Michael Cart

Review

Praise for DARK LIFE:

"There's no denying the nifty premise, solid characterization, and tense moments that contribute to a cinematic reading experience. Falls's undersea world warrants further exploration." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Falls creates an interesting reality in her new novel. . . . Based on the young ages of the characters, this book will appeal to middle grade readers, who will enjoy the novel's mystery and suspense. It is a definite must-read for SF fans." - VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES

"A Western . . . with plankton instead of cows, harpoons instead of six-shooters and submarines instead of covered wagons . . . and a few plot twists keep the tension high. A thrilling conversion of the classics to one of our newer frontiers." - KIRKUS REVIEWS

"The exotic setting and well-conceived details about undersea living, along with likable characters and a minor surprise at the end, will keep readers turning the pages." - BOOKLIST

"Falls’ (Rip Tide,2011, etc.) first novel for teens is the nail-biting start of a new trilogy.

Nineteen years ago, the deadly Ferae Naturae (“of a wild nature”) virus killed 40 percent of America’s population. Now, 16 year-old Lane McEvoy lives a safe, sterile life in the shadow of the Titan, a 700-foot-tall wall that extends from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, separating the uninfected west from the Feral Zone to the east. Lane’s life is turned upside down when the head of Biohazard Defense makes her an offer she can’t afford to refuse. Director Spurling has evidence that Lane’s father, Mack, is a “fetch,” paid to retrieve valuables left behind during the exodus two decades before. Unless Lane locates her father so he can recover something the director has lost, Spurling will expose Mack’s treason, and Lane will lose him to execution by firing squad. As she ventures into the Feral Zone, Lane picks up two unlikely allies: the enigmatic feral-hunter Rafe and the militant, by-the-book guard Everson. Readers will find themselves drawn into Lane’s story through the author’s consistent worldbuilding and striking turns of phrase. Lane is an appealing and credible protagonist; her progression from obsessive cleanliness to fearless engagement with the infected is subtle and believable.

Sure to satisfy fans of the dystopian-romance genre and to gather new ones along the way. " - Kirkus starred review

About the Author

Kat Falls is the author of Dark Life and its sequel, Rip Tide. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she holds an MFA in screenwriting from Northwestern University, where she now teaches. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children.