4 STARS | The Scourge by A.G. Henley

Title: The Scourge
Series: Brilliant Darkness #1
Author: A.G. Henley
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Horror, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
Elements: Zombies
Publisher: A.G. Henley
Format: PDF
ASIN: B0073O59OI
Published: January 31st, 2012
Source: Kismet Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

Seventeen-year-old Groundling, Fennel, is Sightless. She's never been able to see her lush forest home, but she knows its secrets. She knows how the shadows shift when she passes under a canopy of trees. She knows how to hide in the cool, damp caves when the Scourge comes. She knows how devious and arrogant the Groundlings' tree-dwelling neighbors, the Lofties, can be.

And she's always known this day would come—the day she faces the Scourge alone.

The Sightless, like Fenn, are mysteriously protected from the Scourge, the gruesome creatures roaming the forests, reeking of festering flesh and consuming anything—and anyone—living. A Sightless Groundling must brave the Scourge and bring fresh water to the people of the forest. Today, that task becomes Fenn's.

Fenn will have a Lofty Keeper, Peree, as her companion. Everyone knows the Lofties wouldn’t hesitate to shoot an arrow through the back of an unsuspecting Groundling like Fenn, but Peree seems different. A boy with warm, rough hands who smells like summer, he is surprisingly kind and thoughtful. Although Fenn knows his people are treacherous, she finds herself wanting to trust him.

As their forest community teeters on the brink of war, Fenn and Peree must learn to work together to survive the Scourge and ensure their people’s survival. But when Fenn uncovers a secret that shatters her truths, she’s forced to decide who and what to protect—her people, her growing love for Peree, or the elusive dream of lasting peace in the forest.

The Scourge isn't at all like I thought it would be. This isn't you're typical zombie apocalypse-type story. I was really surprised by the twists that took place. The romance between Fenn and Peree was really sweet, too. I loved that they were able to overcome their statuses as a Groundling and a Lofty. There are characters that you love to love, and those you love to hate. A.G. Henley does an amazing job describing the world and she has written a world with a lot of depth. There are still things to be discovered and people to meet. I can't wait for the sequel.

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A.G. Henley is the author of the young adult novel, THE SCOURGE. She is also a clinical psychologist, which means people either tell her their life stories on airplanes, or avoid her at parties when they've had too much to drink. Neither of which she minds. When she's not writing fiction or shrinking heads, she can be found herding her children and their scruffy dog, Guapo, to various activities while trying to remember whatever she's inevitably forgotten to tell her husband. She lives in Denver, Colorado.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.