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Dark Water #4
The Quarterlands
Can their love survive the truth?
Josiah is facing the ultimate showdown against his powerful enemy, but the stakes have never been higher. If he fails, he'll lose not only Alex but also his freedom.
As he finally solves Elliot Dacre’s murder, he also uncovers the devastating secret Alex has hidden from everyone. Now, Josiah is faced with an impossible choice: surrender Alex to his dark destiny or sacrifice himself to save the man he loves.
Don't miss the explosive finale of the Dark Water series where the truth that lurks in the Quarterlands has the power to tear their lives apart.
Dark Water. Deadly Secrets. Dangerous Love.
London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat.
Josiah believed he'd escaped the Quarterlands forever. But his pursuit of justice drives him back to the one place he swore he'd never return—home.
Meanwhile, Alex surrenders to his captor's desires, playing a dangerous game of deception. But as the charade corrodes his sanity, their relationship twists into something monstrous.
When Josiah's relentless investigation finally uncovers Alex's most deeply buried secret, it threatens to destroy everything between them.
In this searing finale, the past demands its reckoning. Can there be any future for these two shattered men, or will the truth destroy them both?
This book series explores difficult themes and contains intense content intended for mature readers. Please consult the content advisory page listed in the Author’s Notes to make an informed reading decision.
This series must be read in order starting with Book One, "Crocodile Tears". Each book continues the story directly and cannot be read independently.
Enemies to Lovers. Slow Burn. Hurt/Comfort. Forced Proximity. Touch-Starved/Emotional Awakening.
Josiah is facing the ultimate showdown against his powerful enemy, but the stakes have never been higher. If he fails, he'll lose not only Alex but also his freedom.
As he finally solves Elliot Dacre’s murder, he also uncovers the devastating secret Alex has hidden from everyone. Now, Josiah is faced with an impossible choice: surrender Alex to his dark destiny or sacrifice himself to save the man he loves.
Don't miss the explosive finale of the Dark Water series where the truth that lurks in the Quarterlands has the power to tear their lives apart.
Dark Water. Deadly Secrets. Dangerous Love.
London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat.
Josiah believed he'd escaped the Quarterlands forever. But his pursuit of justice drives him back to the one place he swore he'd never return—home.
Meanwhile, Alex surrenders to his captor's desires, playing a dangerous game of deception. But as the charade corrodes his sanity, their relationship twists into something monstrous.
When Josiah's relentless investigation finally uncovers Alex's most deeply buried secret, it threatens to destroy everything between them.
In this searing finale, the past demands its reckoning. Can there be any future for these two shattered men, or will the truth destroy them both?
This book series explores difficult themes and contains intense content intended for mature readers. Please consult the content advisory page listed in the Author’s Notes to make an informed reading decision.
This series must be read in order starting with Book One, "Crocodile Tears". Each book continues the story directly and cannot be read independently.
Enemies to Lovers. Slow Burn. Hurt/Comfort. Forced Proximity. Touch-Starved/Emotional Awakening.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2025
82 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Xanthe Walter
35 books229 followersXanthe has been writing for most of her life, creating hundreds of short stories, novellas, and novels. Born in London, England, she puts her drama degree to good use by creating dramatic adventures about gorgeous men!
She had a day job for many moons, but when she discovered the wonderful world of MM fanfiction, she knew she'd found her tribe!
She wrote in fandom for over a decade, winning many awards, before transitioning to professional writing in 2012 with the BDSM romp, Ricochet.
Xanthe writes genre-defying MM romances, skilfully weaving murder mysteries, sci-fi, and fantasy into compelling love stories. Her books often contain plenty of spice, as well as the occasional sprinkling of BDSM.
If you enjoy MM romance and relish engaging novels with well-written characters, then jump on board her emotional rollercoaster!
Sometimes she goes to dark places, but you're guaranteed payoffs that hit the sweet spot and make the journey truly memorable.
When she's not writing, Xanthe is a musical theatre fan, geeks out on Tudor history, and never says no to a proper cream tea! She splits her time between London and Somerset with her two beautiful cats.
Come and join her on her friendly Facebook group Xanthology.
She had a day job for many moons, but when she discovered the wonderful world of MM fanfiction, she knew she'd found her tribe!
She wrote in fandom for over a decade, winning many awards, before transitioning to professional writing in 2012 with the BDSM romp, Ricochet.
Xanthe writes genre-defying MM romances, skilfully weaving murder mysteries, sci-fi, and fantasy into compelling love stories. Her books often contain plenty of spice, as well as the occasional sprinkling of BDSM.
If you enjoy MM romance and relish engaging novels with well-written characters, then jump on board her emotional rollercoaster!
Sometimes she goes to dark places, but you're guaranteed payoffs that hit the sweet spot and make the journey truly memorable.
When she's not writing, Xanthe is a musical theatre fan, geeks out on Tudor history, and never says no to a proper cream tea! She splits her time between London and Somerset with her two beautiful cats.
Come and join her on her friendly Facebook group Xanthology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 8, 2025
A- / 4.5 stars rounded up/
The Quarterlands brings Xanthe Walter’s compelling Dark Water series to an exciting and thoroughly satisfying close, trying up all the loose ends and resolving the intricate mysteries at the heart of the series. As this is a story spanning four books, it’s essential to have read the first three before this one, and this review will contain some spoilers for those.
The series, set in a dystopian future in which much of the world has been submerged, kicked off with a murder, which put investigator Josiah Raine and indentured servant Alex Lytton into each other’s paths. We’ve learned how Alex – a seriously messed-up kid from a privileged background - was made the target of a cleverly orchestrated vendetta by the machiavellian George Tyler, a powerful and incredibly wealthy businessman who had once been a close friend of Alex’s father, but is now his implacable enemy. And we’ve watched Josiah, a man whose heart has remained frozen in the seven years since his beloved husband was killed, slowly regaining himself and his purpose in life as, with Alex’s help, he’s learned to let go of the past and to start to move on.
By the end of Ghost Eye (book two) Alex had come to trust Josiah enough to tell him about what happened to his dearest (and only) friend, Solange – who was killed by Tyler in a fit of rage – and that finding a way to bring Tyler to justice for what he did has been his one sustaining purpose throughout the years of servitude and abuse he’s lived through. In book three, The Lost Zone , we witnessed past-Alex learning how to transform himself from an angry young man intent on preserving his identity and raging against the machine into the perfect IS, focused on service, on doing whatever will please his houder (owner) and completely subjugating his sense of self in order to present a serene and impenetrable mask to the world in order to keep his true thoughts and purpose well hidden.
The past timeline of The Quarterlands picks up shortly after where it left off in The Lost Zone, with Alex having returned to Tyler following his stint at Belvedere, and with their fucked-up relationship having resumed – and set to become even more fucked-up than it already was. Tyler is very much the villain of the piece, yet there has always been something darkly compelling about him, something Alex was attracted to back when they first met, and which has now become something dark and twisted. Alex can’t explain it or understand it – he hates Tyler but he’s drawn to him, too, and he realises that Tyler is as caught up in this twisted web of loathing and desire as he is himself. As time passes, Tyler’s warped obsession with Alex becomes all-consuming and ugly, and eventually, living on a knife edge, trying to judge Tyler’s increasingly volatile moods and being subjected to his escalating outbursts of violence take a massive toll on Alex’s mental health, and he becomes increasingly withdrawn and dissociated, losing all sense of self and purpose.
In the present day timeline, Josiah, increasingly concerned about Alex’s fragile mental state as the investigation into Solange’s murder has progressed, and realising that Alex is not in a place to have a romantic relationship with anyone, told him that they should go back to being just friends. It almost killed him to do it – he’s deeply in love with Alex – but Josiah is well aware that Alex isn’t free to be with anyone, and that what he needs now, more than anything, is support and unconditional love while he heals from the emotional and physical trauma of the past seven years. He reaches out to Noah and Charles Lytton, hoping that having the two people Alex loves most of all back in his life will help start him on the road to recovery.
While Josiah is looking out for Alex and continuing to prepare for Tyler’s trial, he’s hasn’t given up on finding out who killed celebrity holographer Elliot Dacre – the murder which originally bought him and Alex into each other’s orbits. He’s sure that Dacre’s death is somehow linked to Alex, even though he knows Alex wasn’t responsible, and ever since he learned about what happened to Solange, Josiah has felt sure that there’s something else, something big, that Alex isn’t telling him – and he can’t let it go. The things that have made him one of the finest investigators in the country – his ingrained drive to search for the truth, his instinct, and his deep-seated sense of what’s right - make it impossible for him not to keep digging into Alex’s past. As Alex continues to repair his relationships with his father and brother and to regain his health, physically and mentally, Josiah doggedly continues his investigation into Dacre’s murder – and as he finally unmasks the killer, he also works out the terrible secret Alex has worked so hard to keep hidden for over a decade.
Dacre’s murder is finally solved in this book, and I had no idea as to who the killer was beforehand. If I have a complaint about the Dacre plotline, it’s that that reveal comes just a bit out of left-field; the reasons given absolutely hold up - my issue is more that I didn't get to see how Josiah worked it out.
All the books in this series have been tremendous, nail-biting rides on an emotional rollercoaster, and this final instalment is no different. Xanthe Walter does an amazing job here of pulling all her plotlines and timelines together to produce a cohesive, exciting and incredibly gratifying finale that puts readers through the emotional wringer alongside the characters. The two timelines align perfectly and bring us full circle to the ‘first’ meeting between Josiah and Alex, this time told from Alex’s perspective, and Alex’s big secret (I had guessed the ‘what’ but hadn’t worked out the ‘how’ and ‘why’) is finally revealed. My heart broke over and over for him – he’s been through so much, made so many sacrifices and been so badly misjudged by almost everyone. He’s so broken yet so strong - a flawed, multi-faceted individual who goes on an incredible and sometimes brutal journey of growth and self-discovery, evolving from a confused, traumatised young man who makes some bad choices and doesn’t always treat people very well to a wiser, much more compassionate person who has come to a very hard-won deeper self-awareness and understanding of himself.
Josiah, too, has come a long way from the man moving through his life on auto-pilot we first met. He’s rejoined the land of the living and has opened himself up to the possibility of love again, he’s re-energised when it comes to his job and is determined to get to the bottom of the secrets surrounding the Lyttons. But his compulsion to seek justice at all costs finds him facing an impossible choice, one with the potential for devastating personal consequences. Does he continue his search for the truth and possibly lose Alex forever, or does he abandon it and lose himself?
The worldbuilding is, as I’ve said before, rich, detailed, and vividly imagined, and I have to applaud the author for her scarily plausible take on what happens to a society that suddenly finds itself irrevocably changed. The cast of secondary characters who appear across the series is superbly drawn and the two leads are complex, imperfect, damaged men who have managed to retain their humanity despite experiencing some horrific and life-changing events. Alex and Josiah’s journey has not been an easy one, and there have been some harsh words and deep wounds inflicted along the way, but by the time we reach the end of the story, they see one another for who they really are and are ready to move forward together.
I can’t talk about the excellence of the characterisation without mentioning the other most important character in the series, George Tyler, and how much I appreciate that he’s so much more than a one-note, moustache-twirling villain. He is a villain, no question – but he’s also charismatic and dynamic and passionate, and it’s easy to understand why younger Alex falls so easily under his spell. There are even moments – very tiny ones of course! – in this book where I almost (almost) felt sorry for him. And much as it pains me to say it, I couldn’t help thinking that the relationship between Alex and Tyler – incredibly toxic though it is – has more chemistry and development here than the romance between Alex and Josiah does. I understand the need for the focus on the Alex and Tyler dynamic, but I’d have liked to have seen equal weight given to further developments in Alex and Josiah’s relationship in this final instalment of their story.
Although it was sometimes difficult to see how an HEA for Alex and Josiah could be arrived at, I trusted the author when she said there would be one, and she has come up with an ending that feels absolutely right for these characters and which delivers poetic justice in the best way. Would I have liked to spend a bit more time with Alex and Josiah after I read “The End”? Yes, absolutely - it’s always hard to let go of characters you’ve become so invested in. Am I happy with where they’ve ended up? Again, yes, absolutely. Their HEA has been bloody hard-won and they deserve every damn second of it.
The Quarterlands is another fast-paced, thrilling and engrossing read, and while I’m sad to have reached the end of Alex and Josiah’s story, I enjoyed every bit of the time I spent in this world with them. Clever, compelling and utterly addictive, Dark Water will definitely be making an appearance on my Best of 2025 list, and it’s a series I’m definitely going to return to. Thanks, Ms. Walter, for keeping me so very well entertained these past few months!
The Quarterlands brings Xanthe Walter’s compelling Dark Water series to an exciting and thoroughly satisfying close, trying up all the loose ends and resolving the intricate mysteries at the heart of the series. As this is a story spanning four books, it’s essential to have read the first three before this one, and this review will contain some spoilers for those.
The series, set in a dystopian future in which much of the world has been submerged, kicked off with a murder, which put investigator Josiah Raine and indentured servant Alex Lytton into each other’s paths. We’ve learned how Alex – a seriously messed-up kid from a privileged background - was made the target of a cleverly orchestrated vendetta by the machiavellian George Tyler, a powerful and incredibly wealthy businessman who had once been a close friend of Alex’s father, but is now his implacable enemy. And we’ve watched Josiah, a man whose heart has remained frozen in the seven years since his beloved husband was killed, slowly regaining himself and his purpose in life as, with Alex’s help, he’s learned to let go of the past and to start to move on.
By the end of Ghost Eye (book two) Alex had come to trust Josiah enough to tell him about what happened to his dearest (and only) friend, Solange – who was killed by Tyler in a fit of rage – and that finding a way to bring Tyler to justice for what he did has been his one sustaining purpose throughout the years of servitude and abuse he’s lived through. In book three, The Lost Zone , we witnessed past-Alex learning how to transform himself from an angry young man intent on preserving his identity and raging against the machine into the perfect IS, focused on service, on doing whatever will please his houder (owner) and completely subjugating his sense of self in order to present a serene and impenetrable mask to the world in order to keep his true thoughts and purpose well hidden.
The past timeline of The Quarterlands picks up shortly after where it left off in The Lost Zone, with Alex having returned to Tyler following his stint at Belvedere, and with their fucked-up relationship having resumed – and set to become even more fucked-up than it already was. Tyler is very much the villain of the piece, yet there has always been something darkly compelling about him, something Alex was attracted to back when they first met, and which has now become something dark and twisted. Alex can’t explain it or understand it – he hates Tyler but he’s drawn to him, too, and he realises that Tyler is as caught up in this twisted web of loathing and desire as he is himself. As time passes, Tyler’s warped obsession with Alex becomes all-consuming and ugly, and eventually, living on a knife edge, trying to judge Tyler’s increasingly volatile moods and being subjected to his escalating outbursts of violence take a massive toll on Alex’s mental health, and he becomes increasingly withdrawn and dissociated, losing all sense of self and purpose.
In the present day timeline, Josiah, increasingly concerned about Alex’s fragile mental state as the investigation into Solange’s murder has progressed, and realising that Alex is not in a place to have a romantic relationship with anyone, told him that they should go back to being just friends. It almost killed him to do it – he’s deeply in love with Alex – but Josiah is well aware that Alex isn’t free to be with anyone, and that what he needs now, more than anything, is support and unconditional love while he heals from the emotional and physical trauma of the past seven years. He reaches out to Noah and Charles Lytton, hoping that having the two people Alex loves most of all back in his life will help start him on the road to recovery.
While Josiah is looking out for Alex and continuing to prepare for Tyler’s trial, he’s hasn’t given up on finding out who killed celebrity holographer Elliot Dacre – the murder which originally bought him and Alex into each other’s orbits. He’s sure that Dacre’s death is somehow linked to Alex, even though he knows Alex wasn’t responsible, and ever since he learned about what happened to Solange, Josiah has felt sure that there’s something else, something big, that Alex isn’t telling him – and he can’t let it go. The things that have made him one of the finest investigators in the country – his ingrained drive to search for the truth, his instinct, and his deep-seated sense of what’s right - make it impossible for him not to keep digging into Alex’s past. As Alex continues to repair his relationships with his father and brother and to regain his health, physically and mentally, Josiah doggedly continues his investigation into Dacre’s murder – and as he finally unmasks the killer, he also works out the terrible secret Alex has worked so hard to keep hidden for over a decade.
Dacre’s murder is finally solved in this book, and I had no idea as to who the killer was beforehand. If I have a complaint about the Dacre plotline, it’s that that reveal comes just a bit out of left-field; the reasons given absolutely hold up - my issue is more that I didn't get to see how Josiah worked it out.
All the books in this series have been tremendous, nail-biting rides on an emotional rollercoaster, and this final instalment is no different. Xanthe Walter does an amazing job here of pulling all her plotlines and timelines together to produce a cohesive, exciting and incredibly gratifying finale that puts readers through the emotional wringer alongside the characters. The two timelines align perfectly and bring us full circle to the ‘first’ meeting between Josiah and Alex, this time told from Alex’s perspective, and Alex’s big secret (I had guessed the ‘what’ but hadn’t worked out the ‘how’ and ‘why’) is finally revealed. My heart broke over and over for him – he’s been through so much, made so many sacrifices and been so badly misjudged by almost everyone. He’s so broken yet so strong - a flawed, multi-faceted individual who goes on an incredible and sometimes brutal journey of growth and self-discovery, evolving from a confused, traumatised young man who makes some bad choices and doesn’t always treat people very well to a wiser, much more compassionate person who has come to a very hard-won deeper self-awareness and understanding of himself.
Josiah, too, has come a long way from the man moving through his life on auto-pilot we first met. He’s rejoined the land of the living and has opened himself up to the possibility of love again, he’s re-energised when it comes to his job and is determined to get to the bottom of the secrets surrounding the Lyttons. But his compulsion to seek justice at all costs finds him facing an impossible choice, one with the potential for devastating personal consequences. Does he continue his search for the truth and possibly lose Alex forever, or does he abandon it and lose himself?
The worldbuilding is, as I’ve said before, rich, detailed, and vividly imagined, and I have to applaud the author for her scarily plausible take on what happens to a society that suddenly finds itself irrevocably changed. The cast of secondary characters who appear across the series is superbly drawn and the two leads are complex, imperfect, damaged men who have managed to retain their humanity despite experiencing some horrific and life-changing events. Alex and Josiah’s journey has not been an easy one, and there have been some harsh words and deep wounds inflicted along the way, but by the time we reach the end of the story, they see one another for who they really are and are ready to move forward together.
I can’t talk about the excellence of the characterisation without mentioning the other most important character in the series, George Tyler, and how much I appreciate that he’s so much more than a one-note, moustache-twirling villain. He is a villain, no question – but he’s also charismatic and dynamic and passionate, and it’s easy to understand why younger Alex falls so easily under his spell. There are even moments – very tiny ones of course! – in this book where I almost (almost) felt sorry for him. And much as it pains me to say it, I couldn’t help thinking that the relationship between Alex and Tyler – incredibly toxic though it is – has more chemistry and development here than the romance between Alex and Josiah does. I understand the need for the focus on the Alex and Tyler dynamic, but I’d have liked to have seen equal weight given to further developments in Alex and Josiah’s relationship in this final instalment of their story.
Although it was sometimes difficult to see how an HEA for Alex and Josiah could be arrived at, I trusted the author when she said there would be one, and she has come up with an ending that feels absolutely right for these characters and which delivers poetic justice in the best way. Would I have liked to spend a bit more time with Alex and Josiah after I read “The End”? Yes, absolutely - it’s always hard to let go of characters you’ve become so invested in. Am I happy with where they’ve ended up? Again, yes, absolutely. Their HEA has been bloody hard-won and they deserve every damn second of it.
The Quarterlands is another fast-paced, thrilling and engrossing read, and while I’m sad to have reached the end of Alex and Josiah’s story, I enjoyed every bit of the time I spent in this world with them. Clever, compelling and utterly addictive, Dark Water will definitely be making an appearance on my Best of 2025 list, and it’s a series I’m definitely going to return to. Thanks, Ms. Walter, for keeping me so very well entertained these past few months!
October 2, 2025
It feels wrong to say I enjoyed this series because of how incredibly dark it is. It deals with several heavy themes including rape, prostitution, systematic abuse and slavery. I strongly encourage readers to review the TW beforehand as these subjects are portrayed graphically on page. This series made me think, it made me feel. I’m an avid reader, and love to immerse myself in new worlds, to get to know the characters. But rarely do I have actual physical reactions to books. This book made me cry, made my stomach hurt from dread, made my chest hurt from anguish because I was so upset at what was happening, and how unfair it was.
The series is a dark, dystopian portrayal of the world set in the 2080/2090s. It takes place in what once was the UK, which following the collapse of modern society (as we knew it), implemented a system of Indentured Servitude (IS) to help cope with the aftermath of the collapse, subsequent wars and the evolving geographical landscape. People become IS for two reasons. First, they voluntarily become an IS with the hopes of escaping poverty and bettering their lives. My impression is that the system was intended to function similarly to the military. A person enters the system on a contract of a set time period (i.e. 4 years, 10, etc) to do a job, though technically whoever owns the contract can make the IS do whatever they want. Prostitution and physical assault of an Indentured Servant (IS) is illegal, though, as we know those in power often circumvent rules to their own benefit. In return for service, IS receive money, education, housing, whatever they stipulated in the contract. In theory, the system is supposed to be mutually beneficially, and for some characters, it was. The reader is shown alternative perspectives of the IS system through secondary characters such as Dr. B and Gideon.
The second reason people enter IS is because they were convicted of a minor crime such as theft, and forced into service. The length of service is dependent on the crime and legal ruling. Convicted IS are seen as ‘lesser than’ even more so than voluntary IS. However, in general, all IS are looked down upon within society. They are quite literally legal property where ‘ownership’ is handled in the courts via lawyers and contracts.
This is the world our MCs find themselves in. The novels are told from two POVs with differing timelines. There’s Josiah who narrates the present as it unfolds, and Alex who narrates events in the past leading up to the present. The chapters alternate one after another throughout the books (Past, Present, Past, etc.). Each book picks up immediately where the last left off within the respective timelines. Normally, I don’t like when books use this format. I typically find it jarring and disconnects me from the story. The author, however, does a remarkable job of weaving the past narration into the present, and it delivers the intended emotional effect. The reader in essence sees the present day, experiences how characters are struggling with what occurred though not knowing exactly what has happened. It creates a sense of foreboding as the reader first learns the cruel depravity of Alex’s life. Then, it just creates dread, disgust and anguish because the readers know what is going to happen but are helpless to stop it. These books are physically painful to read at times. There were points where my stomach and chest physically hurt because I was so overwhelmed with what was happening to Alex.
We start off in the present. Josiah, a homicide investigator, is called to the murder scene of a famous photographer, Dacre. He is prior military and still grieving the loss of his husband who was murdered seven years earlier. He is well respected by his colleagues as an efficient and capable investigator, though very closed off and isolated in his grief. We learned that Dacre owns Alex’s IS contract. Alex is immediately arrested for suspicion of murder.
The second chapter propels us back in time several years earlier to when Alex is a young college student. As first impressions go, Alex is seen as a self-centered playboy living off his father’s money and privilege, and overall is not very likable. The reader is initially led to believe Alex has very little, if any, redeeming qualities. His grandfather pioneered a technology paramount to the country’s survival after the collapse, which allowed the family to become quite wealthy. Alex gained notoriety in the media when he was blamed for the crash killing his mother and crippling his older brother Charles, a beloved Olympic gold medalist. Although he doesn’t seem to recognize it himself, Alex clearly struggles with guilt and lack of self-worth, and copes with sex and a mildly addictive euphoric drug called Croc. I focus primarily on Alex because it really is HIS story. Alex is what kept me invested. We learn more about Josiah’s past in the military, his marriage to Peter and his life following Peter’s murder. This helps us understand Josiah more, as he undoubtedly plays a huge role in Alex’s life, but everything centers around Alex.
In the beginning, Alex is shown as a young, immature kid rebelling against his father’s rules and essentially ignorant and naive to way of the world, likely in large part to his privileged upbringing. He makes several mistakes which seem rather irredeemable. The pivotal mistake being when he stole money from his father’s company, was arrested, convicted and ultimately sentenced to Indentured Servitude for life. As the story progresses, we learn more details about the pivotal points in Alex’s life. It’s all the more heartbreaking to discover how he was manipulated. Alex made bad choices and mistakes. That is true, and Alex himself never tries to shift the blame. He holds himself accountable even feeling he deserves the punishment. But, it’s also important to consider how he, a naive college kid, was maneuvered and manipulated by someone twice his age. Alex should have faced appropriate legal punishment for his crimes, but that’s not what happens.
Throughout the course of the books, we learn that Gregory Tyler, a lifelong rival of Alex’s father both within the professional realm and personal, engineered the events to trap Alex into servitude. Tyler did this purely out of revenge, hating and blaming Alex for the crash that killed his mother whom Tyler was having an affair with and professed to love. This was part of it, but I also think the history with his father and Alex’s plays a huge role in motivating Tyler’s actions though it’s not as heavily focused on.
Once Tyler is in possession of Alex’s IS contract, Alex is subjected to years of physical, mental and emotional abuse and humiliation. Tyler routinely prostitutes Alex and other IS including Alex’s friend Solange out to wealthy men and women, recording the events for blackmail to further his company and bolster his own power. He gives Alex to other men to be raped, beaten and humiliated. (I want to reiterate that these scenes are explicitly show on page. They are very difficult to read.) This is all done for the purpose of ‘breaking’ him, as Tyler constantly tells him. The abuse continues to escalate as Tyler is essentially left unchecked by the law. This is reinforced when Tyler engineers a scenario of a sympathetic guard allowing Alex to call social services. However, it is revealed that the social worker is corrupt, and turns a blind eye. Alex’s tries to escape but is eventually caught, and almost beaten to death by Tyler. Solange is killed by Tyler when she tries to stop him from killing Alex.
Her death has a profound effect on Alex, who later accepts that his purpose in life, his sole reason for living, is to bring her justice. It is at this point that Tyler sends Alex away to an exclusive ‘training facility’ which is essentially brain-washing to manufacture the perfect IS. This marks a change in Alex’s behavior as he stops fighting back all together. He adopts the facade of being a compliant, perfectly submissive IS in hopes of surviving long enough to fulfill his promise to Solange. He gives into Tyler’s demands of wanting Alex to willing submit to him sexually, to achieve the ultimate act of control over him. Tyler gradually becomes more and more obsessive over Alex; his obsession morphing into a violent delusion of love. Alex slowly loses more and more of himself as he struggles to endure. Subsequent events ultimately lead to Alex being sold to Dacre, the photographer murdered at the beginning of the story.
As for the present timeline, Josiah continues the Dacre murder investigation. Alex is cleared of suspicion, and Josiah’s agency gains legal, temporary custody of Alex’s contract. We, alongside Josiah, continue to learn more about Alex’s past. More secrets are revealed as Alex and Josiah begin to trust one another. It cumulates in a criminal case being brought against Tyler for Solange’s murder and his illegal mistreatment of his servants. Tyler is eventually convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter. I can honestly say I’m relieved the book concludes that plot line as such. Given the stark realities we were exposed to during the series, I would not have been surprised if Tyler got off and made appeals to gain custody of Alex again. Thankfully, that didn’t happen, because while it would have portrayed a reality that happens all too often in life, it would have been unbearable.
Role of Media- I think an important aspect of this series is the role of the media, and the affect it can have on peoples’ lives; not only the direct impact on the people involved but also the influence it has over others. We see this in various ways. Most notably, of course, is Alex who is villainized by the media ever since he was just 17 years old. Even if Alex had been responsible for the crash, he was a traumatized minor who lost his mother. It’s one thing to report the story. It’s quite another to demonize a child for what they viewed as destroying a national treasure, i.e. Charles. Would the media have made such commotion if Charles wasn’t a beloved figure? No. It’s especially ironic because Charles in reality wasn’t such as a golden boy. He wasn’t an inspiration who worked hard to win the country’s first gold medal since the collapse. He cheated. He lied. He used drugs. He had no qualms about his mother, and later his underage brother, using sex to help he get away with it. And yet, even when the truth is ultimately revealed, the media backlash he got still paled in comparison to Alex. The media’s portrayal of Alex is something that follows him throughout his whole life. From making him a target for predators during his IS to influencing his trial, and later towards his own thoughts and feelings about his wedding (spoiler from the novella). It was jarring to read how little sympathy people felt towards Alex, even knowing what he endured, simply because they felt he “deserved” it. Then there’s Josiah, the rather infamous ‘indie hunter’, “indie” being slang for indentured servant. The media portrays him as a vicious hater of IS who will track them down and prosecute them when in reality Josiah helped operate an illegal network to help IS escape abusive contracts and flee the country. Josiah himself said, “I’ve never once given an interview or said anything to that effect. Until now, only the people in my life have had any idea what I think or believe. This speaks to a wider truth: none of us really knows public figures, even if we think we do. The media painted a picture of me that bears only the smallest relation to my reality…I’ve also arrested dozens of people who aren’t indentured servants, but the media is less interested in that” (Book 4, Ch 17). And isn’t that the ugly truth of it all? The media too often presents a very ugly image of a misconstrued reality. Truth be damned. These books clearly demonstrate the insidious side of media.
Charles- I struggled with the relationship between Alex and his brother. By large Charles is seen as kind, hardworking, loyal and loving, whereas Alex is selfish, egotistical, entitled, and lacking loyalty. In reality, it’s the complete and utter opposite. Let’s give Charles the benefit of the doubt and say he acted out of panic instead of selfishness when he asked his younger brother to take the blame for the crash. Ok, fine. But then he just roles with it. Despite the media backlash against Alex, Charles decides to compete in the para Olympics even knowing it will invigorate the hate against Alex. But, what does he care? He “needs”this, and Alex is seen as the bad guy because he’s scared and lashes out. Again, let’s give Charles the benefit of the doubt. He was crippled in the accident, and that is not without its challenges. However, what I found utterly reprehensible and unforgivable is his behavior following Alex’s IS. The media’s longterm condemnation of Alex did influence his sentencing, however, coming clean about the accident wouldn’t have done anything. Yet, Charles never followed up with Alex after his IS, never even attempted to buy his contract despite promising Alex he would. Hell, he didn’t even know when the 7 year embargo period ended. He just completely cut him out of his life. On the other hand, Alex maintains his promise to Charles despite knowing it was the catalyst and cause for his suffering. I understand relationship with family can be complicated, and there are many things one can forgive of family that they otherwise wouldn’t. That being said, I think most people, myself included, would find it incredibly difficult to forgive Charles and not blame him for his actions.
In conclusion, this series is not a romance. I don’t care what labels or genres are attached in the description. There is a minor subplot of romance between Alex and Josiah which I think was handled well in terms of the circumstances surrounding its conception and later development. Alex imprinted on Josiah during a traumatic event and spent years viewing his as a savior. Having been forced to use sex as a survival mechanism for so long, it became part of Alex, and whether he realized it or not, that played a role in their relationship. I think they made the right decision to end their relationship so Alex could prioritize his recovery. I also think it was the right decision to not start a new relationship while either was an IS. In the end, they do come together again and ultimately get married (The series ends with their engagement. Marriage comes in the novella). However, as I said before, it is not a romance. Do not go into this book believing it to be or expecting a romance. In my opinion, this novel is more a portrayal/commentary on modern day slavery and the systems that enable it by depicting the brutal reality of sex trafficking and corruption of power/influence.
The series is a dark, dystopian portrayal of the world set in the 2080/2090s. It takes place in what once was the UK, which following the collapse of modern society (as we knew it), implemented a system of Indentured Servitude (IS) to help cope with the aftermath of the collapse, subsequent wars and the evolving geographical landscape. People become IS for two reasons. First, they voluntarily become an IS with the hopes of escaping poverty and bettering their lives. My impression is that the system was intended to function similarly to the military. A person enters the system on a contract of a set time period (i.e. 4 years, 10, etc) to do a job, though technically whoever owns the contract can make the IS do whatever they want. Prostitution and physical assault of an Indentured Servant (IS) is illegal, though, as we know those in power often circumvent rules to their own benefit. In return for service, IS receive money, education, housing, whatever they stipulated in the contract. In theory, the system is supposed to be mutually beneficially, and for some characters, it was. The reader is shown alternative perspectives of the IS system through secondary characters such as Dr. B and Gideon.
The second reason people enter IS is because they were convicted of a minor crime such as theft, and forced into service. The length of service is dependent on the crime and legal ruling. Convicted IS are seen as ‘lesser than’ even more so than voluntary IS. However, in general, all IS are looked down upon within society. They are quite literally legal property where ‘ownership’ is handled in the courts via lawyers and contracts.
This is the world our MCs find themselves in. The novels are told from two POVs with differing timelines. There’s Josiah who narrates the present as it unfolds, and Alex who narrates events in the past leading up to the present. The chapters alternate one after another throughout the books (Past, Present, Past, etc.). Each book picks up immediately where the last left off within the respective timelines. Normally, I don’t like when books use this format. I typically find it jarring and disconnects me from the story. The author, however, does a remarkable job of weaving the past narration into the present, and it delivers the intended emotional effect. The reader in essence sees the present day, experiences how characters are struggling with what occurred though not knowing exactly what has happened. It creates a sense of foreboding as the reader first learns the cruel depravity of Alex’s life. Then, it just creates dread, disgust and anguish because the readers know what is going to happen but are helpless to stop it. These books are physically painful to read at times. There were points where my stomach and chest physically hurt because I was so overwhelmed with what was happening to Alex.
We start off in the present. Josiah, a homicide investigator, is called to the murder scene of a famous photographer, Dacre. He is prior military and still grieving the loss of his husband who was murdered seven years earlier. He is well respected by his colleagues as an efficient and capable investigator, though very closed off and isolated in his grief. We learned that Dacre owns Alex’s IS contract. Alex is immediately arrested for suspicion of murder.
The second chapter propels us back in time several years earlier to when Alex is a young college student. As first impressions go, Alex is seen as a self-centered playboy living off his father’s money and privilege, and overall is not very likable. The reader is initially led to believe Alex has very little, if any, redeeming qualities. His grandfather pioneered a technology paramount to the country’s survival after the collapse, which allowed the family to become quite wealthy. Alex gained notoriety in the media when he was blamed for the crash killing his mother and crippling his older brother Charles, a beloved Olympic gold medalist. Although he doesn’t seem to recognize it himself, Alex clearly struggles with guilt and lack of self-worth, and copes with sex and a mildly addictive euphoric drug called Croc. I focus primarily on Alex because it really is HIS story. Alex is what kept me invested. We learn more about Josiah’s past in the military, his marriage to Peter and his life following Peter’s murder. This helps us understand Josiah more, as he undoubtedly plays a huge role in Alex’s life, but everything centers around Alex.
In the beginning, Alex is shown as a young, immature kid rebelling against his father’s rules and essentially ignorant and naive to way of the world, likely in large part to his privileged upbringing. He makes several mistakes which seem rather irredeemable. The pivotal mistake being when he stole money from his father’s company, was arrested, convicted and ultimately sentenced to Indentured Servitude for life. As the story progresses, we learn more details about the pivotal points in Alex’s life. It’s all the more heartbreaking to discover how he was manipulated. Alex made bad choices and mistakes. That is true, and Alex himself never tries to shift the blame. He holds himself accountable even feeling he deserves the punishment. But, it’s also important to consider how he, a naive college kid, was maneuvered and manipulated by someone twice his age. Alex should have faced appropriate legal punishment for his crimes, but that’s not what happens.
Throughout the course of the books, we learn that Gregory Tyler, a lifelong rival of Alex’s father both within the professional realm and personal, engineered the events to trap Alex into servitude. Tyler did this purely out of revenge, hating and blaming Alex for the crash that killed his mother whom Tyler was having an affair with and professed to love. This was part of it, but I also think the history with his father and Alex’s plays a huge role in motivating Tyler’s actions though it’s not as heavily focused on.
Once Tyler is in possession of Alex’s IS contract, Alex is subjected to years of physical, mental and emotional abuse and humiliation. Tyler routinely prostitutes Alex and other IS including Alex’s friend Solange out to wealthy men and women, recording the events for blackmail to further his company and bolster his own power. He gives Alex to other men to be raped, beaten and humiliated. (I want to reiterate that these scenes are explicitly show on page. They are very difficult to read.) This is all done for the purpose of ‘breaking’ him, as Tyler constantly tells him. The abuse continues to escalate as Tyler is essentially left unchecked by the law. This is reinforced when Tyler engineers a scenario of a sympathetic guard allowing Alex to call social services. However, it is revealed that the social worker is corrupt, and turns a blind eye. Alex’s tries to escape but is eventually caught, and almost beaten to death by Tyler. Solange is killed by Tyler when she tries to stop him from killing Alex.
Her death has a profound effect on Alex, who later accepts that his purpose in life, his sole reason for living, is to bring her justice. It is at this point that Tyler sends Alex away to an exclusive ‘training facility’ which is essentially brain-washing to manufacture the perfect IS. This marks a change in Alex’s behavior as he stops fighting back all together. He adopts the facade of being a compliant, perfectly submissive IS in hopes of surviving long enough to fulfill his promise to Solange. He gives into Tyler’s demands of wanting Alex to willing submit to him sexually, to achieve the ultimate act of control over him. Tyler gradually becomes more and more obsessive over Alex; his obsession morphing into a violent delusion of love. Alex slowly loses more and more of himself as he struggles to endure. Subsequent events ultimately lead to Alex being sold to Dacre, the photographer murdered at the beginning of the story.
As for the present timeline, Josiah continues the Dacre murder investigation. Alex is cleared of suspicion, and Josiah’s agency gains legal, temporary custody of Alex’s contract. We, alongside Josiah, continue to learn more about Alex’s past. More secrets are revealed as Alex and Josiah begin to trust one another. It cumulates in a criminal case being brought against Tyler for Solange’s murder and his illegal mistreatment of his servants. Tyler is eventually convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter. I can honestly say I’m relieved the book concludes that plot line as such. Given the stark realities we were exposed to during the series, I would not have been surprised if Tyler got off and made appeals to gain custody of Alex again. Thankfully, that didn’t happen, because while it would have portrayed a reality that happens all too often in life, it would have been unbearable.
Role of Media- I think an important aspect of this series is the role of the media, and the affect it can have on peoples’ lives; not only the direct impact on the people involved but also the influence it has over others. We see this in various ways. Most notably, of course, is Alex who is villainized by the media ever since he was just 17 years old. Even if Alex had been responsible for the crash, he was a traumatized minor who lost his mother. It’s one thing to report the story. It’s quite another to demonize a child for what they viewed as destroying a national treasure, i.e. Charles. Would the media have made such commotion if Charles wasn’t a beloved figure? No. It’s especially ironic because Charles in reality wasn’t such as a golden boy. He wasn’t an inspiration who worked hard to win the country’s first gold medal since the collapse. He cheated. He lied. He used drugs. He had no qualms about his mother, and later his underage brother, using sex to help he get away with it. And yet, even when the truth is ultimately revealed, the media backlash he got still paled in comparison to Alex. The media’s portrayal of Alex is something that follows him throughout his whole life. From making him a target for predators during his IS to influencing his trial, and later towards his own thoughts and feelings about his wedding (spoiler from the novella). It was jarring to read how little sympathy people felt towards Alex, even knowing what he endured, simply because they felt he “deserved” it. Then there’s Josiah, the rather infamous ‘indie hunter’, “indie” being slang for indentured servant. The media portrays him as a vicious hater of IS who will track them down and prosecute them when in reality Josiah helped operate an illegal network to help IS escape abusive contracts and flee the country. Josiah himself said, “I’ve never once given an interview or said anything to that effect. Until now, only the people in my life have had any idea what I think or believe. This speaks to a wider truth: none of us really knows public figures, even if we think we do. The media painted a picture of me that bears only the smallest relation to my reality…I’ve also arrested dozens of people who aren’t indentured servants, but the media is less interested in that” (Book 4, Ch 17). And isn’t that the ugly truth of it all? The media too often presents a very ugly image of a misconstrued reality. Truth be damned. These books clearly demonstrate the insidious side of media.
Charles- I struggled with the relationship between Alex and his brother. By large Charles is seen as kind, hardworking, loyal and loving, whereas Alex is selfish, egotistical, entitled, and lacking loyalty. In reality, it’s the complete and utter opposite. Let’s give Charles the benefit of the doubt and say he acted out of panic instead of selfishness when he asked his younger brother to take the blame for the crash. Ok, fine. But then he just roles with it. Despite the media backlash against Alex, Charles decides to compete in the para Olympics even knowing it will invigorate the hate against Alex. But, what does he care? He “needs”this, and Alex is seen as the bad guy because he’s scared and lashes out. Again, let’s give Charles the benefit of the doubt. He was crippled in the accident, and that is not without its challenges. However, what I found utterly reprehensible and unforgivable is his behavior following Alex’s IS. The media’s longterm condemnation of Alex did influence his sentencing, however, coming clean about the accident wouldn’t have done anything. Yet, Charles never followed up with Alex after his IS, never even attempted to buy his contract despite promising Alex he would. Hell, he didn’t even know when the 7 year embargo period ended. He just completely cut him out of his life. On the other hand, Alex maintains his promise to Charles despite knowing it was the catalyst and cause for his suffering. I understand relationship with family can be complicated, and there are many things one can forgive of family that they otherwise wouldn’t. That being said, I think most people, myself included, would find it incredibly difficult to forgive Charles and not blame him for his actions.
In conclusion, this series is not a romance. I don’t care what labels or genres are attached in the description. There is a minor subplot of romance between Alex and Josiah which I think was handled well in terms of the circumstances surrounding its conception and later development. Alex imprinted on Josiah during a traumatic event and spent years viewing his as a savior. Having been forced to use sex as a survival mechanism for so long, it became part of Alex, and whether he realized it or not, that played a role in their relationship. I think they made the right decision to end their relationship so Alex could prioritize his recovery. I also think it was the right decision to not start a new relationship while either was an IS. In the end, they do come together again and ultimately get married (The series ends with their engagement. Marriage comes in the novella). However, as I said before, it is not a romance. Do not go into this book believing it to be or expecting a romance. In my opinion, this novel is more a portrayal/commentary on modern day slavery and the systems that enable it by depicting the brutal reality of sex trafficking and corruption of power/influence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2025
This was another rollercoaster read that had me wanting to throw my Kindle and glue it to my eyeballs at the same time. I have some mixed feelings about this instalment, but overall, it was a great end to a fantastic series.
The Quarterlands follows George Tyler’s manslaughter trial in agonising detail, while also showing the breakdown of Tyler and Alex’s relationship years earlier, his transfer to Elliot Dacre, and Elliot’s murder in book one. The past/present timelines align perfectly, bringing us full circle to the ‘first’ meeting between Alex and Josiah in Crocodile Tears and the events that kicked off the series. It’s incredible to look back and see how much the characters have evolved since then.
Alex’s development in particular has been remarkable, transforming him from the bratty rich kid of book one into a selfless, disciplined, fiercely loyal man. I think this version of him was always there, slowly revealed by everything he’s endured. Every flashback has handed us another puzzle piece to the enigma, which has been as much of a mystery as the murder of Elliot Dacre at times. I think Josiah himself sums it up perfectly:
Because there’s something elusive and unknowable about Alex that draws you in, but at his core he’s deeply human and protective of that humanity. He’s one of the most chronically mistreated yet strongest characters I’ve ever read, and for that, the most admirable.
However, I didn’t love the reveal of Alex’s secret. I respected him for doing something terrible and atoning for it, and I felt he’d already redeemed himself many times. Being absolved of it at the last minute diminished his arc slightly for me, even if it tied into the resolution of the story.
Josiah has also grown significantly from a man in self-imposed emotional exile to someone with his own support network and a life without Peter. He’s carried Alex through his lowest moments, but I wish their relationship had been explored more in this final book. At times, Tyler and Alex had more on-page development and chemistry, despite being an incredibly toxic couple.
Overall, this was a satisfying conclusion to an amazing series. I’d have liked a stronger HEA and more romantic development, but I liked the open-ended, hopeful finish, and really loved Xanthe’s writing as always.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Quarterlands follows George Tyler’s manslaughter trial in agonising detail, while also showing the breakdown of Tyler and Alex’s relationship years earlier, his transfer to Elliot Dacre, and Elliot’s murder in book one. The past/present timelines align perfectly, bringing us full circle to the ‘first’ meeting between Alex and Josiah in Crocodile Tears and the events that kicked off the series. It’s incredible to look back and see how much the characters have evolved since then.
Alex’s development in particular has been remarkable, transforming him from the bratty rich kid of book one into a selfless, disciplined, fiercely loyal man. I think this version of him was always there, slowly revealed by everything he’s endured. Every flashback has handed us another puzzle piece to the enigma, which has been as much of a mystery as the murder of Elliot Dacre at times. I think Josiah himself sums it up perfectly:
‘Josiah wished he understood. He viewed himself as a simple, direct kind of man, but Alex was the opposite. Would he ever understand him? It was possible, of course, that this was part of the attraction.’
Because there’s something elusive and unknowable about Alex that draws you in, but at his core he’s deeply human and protective of that humanity. He’s one of the most chronically mistreated yet strongest characters I’ve ever read, and for that, the most admirable.
However, I didn’t love the reveal of Alex’s secret. I respected him for doing something terrible and atoning for it, and I felt he’d already redeemed himself many times. Being absolved of it at the last minute diminished his arc slightly for me, even if it tied into the resolution of the story.
Josiah has also grown significantly from a man in self-imposed emotional exile to someone with his own support network and a life without Peter. He’s carried Alex through his lowest moments, but I wish their relationship had been explored more in this final book. At times, Tyler and Alex had more on-page development and chemistry, despite being an incredibly toxic couple.
Overall, this was a satisfying conclusion to an amazing series. I’d have liked a stronger HEA and more romantic development, but I liked the open-ended, hopeful finish, and really loved Xanthe’s writing as always.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 21, 2025
With this last installment of the Dark Water series, Xanthe Walter takes us back to her dark dystopian world one last time.
It’s hard to give a spoiler-free review of the last book of a series, so I will keep myself relatively short. The Quarterlands was a worthy conclusion to the best series I read this year. All loose threads were brought together masterfully and the character arcs were well-rounded at the end. I loved how the past and present timelines met and brought the story full circle.
All in all, this series wasn‘t for the faint-hearted. It was dark and thought-provoking; at times, I wanted to rage against the unfairness of it all and at times, I cried ugly tears, but in the end, it was all worth it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It’s hard to give a spoiler-free review of the last book of a series, so I will keep myself relatively short. The Quarterlands was a worthy conclusion to the best series I read this year. All loose threads were brought together masterfully and the character arcs were well-rounded at the end. I loved how the past and present timelines met and brought the story full circle.
All in all, this series wasn‘t for the faint-hearted. It was dark and thought-provoking; at times, I wanted to rage against the unfairness of it all and at times, I cried ugly tears, but in the end, it was all worth it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 18, 2025
I devoured this four-book series. The story is a dark, gripping M/M romance set in a dystopian future. The world-building was brutal and beautiful, and the characters are complex and unforgettable. And wow, the emotional tension was intense that I had to put the book down and take a few breaks!! But it was all worth it in the end!
September 14, 2025
By the time I realized that the sexual violence was literally going to last all 4 books I had already become invested in the mystery and needed to see the happy ending, so we powered through. Torn on the review because I did genuinely enjoy the unique plot and it was an enthralling experience, but whew I felt nauseous the entire time. It stopped being enjoyable somewhere along the way. 2.5 rounded down for doing Alex so dirty for so long.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2025
I wrote a review on Audible but it didn't save it and now 4 months later I am here and don't have an individual review for each book. I can say that I absolutely love them and once I revisit the story again I will write an individual review. This was a general review that Audible allowed me to write for the 4th and final book. I 100% percent recommend this series.
I love this series. There is so much thought into how the future world is and it's not the run of the mill scenario.
Alex has to be one of the most complex characters I've ever read about. The struggles he goes through from a young age to adulthood are heart wrenching. He endures so much and never gives up. Not many people could do this. His devotion to his brother is astounding, even though Charles doesn't deserve it. His reason for living to give Solange justice is remarkable. Always wanting his mother but just out of reach, His fathers love. Josiah's love. He's the most hated man but it's all a lie and the pain and suffering he goes through because of the lie is so sad. Tyler is an awful human being who exploited everyone around him but most of all Alex.
Josiah is strong, confident, sexy, driven but also lonely and in pain for the loss of his late husband. He is driven for justice and then Alex falls into his lap and he finds a purpose, finally, after Peter's death to start living again. Josiah is such a big character with strong morals but then will break them for his code of conduct. He is very honorable.
The whole IS system is an interesting idea, Floating cities. Ducks for vehicles. Very creative on the authors part.
Josiah and Alex do get a happy ending and I am so giddy for that. They are so good together. Josiah was the first man to want nothing from Alex. They both gave so much to each other and helped heal old wounds.
This is not always a happy story and there are some heavy parts to it. With all the cruelty and sadness it was still worth all the hours put into listening to all 4 books. There are happy moments too and they shine the brightest. Now if your looking for smexy scenes there are some. Some not so good but Josiah and Alex together = chefs kiss.
Matt Addis is a new to me narrator and he did a phenomenal job.
I received the first two and forth audios from the author. I am grateful for the author's generosity. This story will live rent free in my brain for a long time and I will defiantly be doing a re-listen.
I love this series. There is so much thought into how the future world is and it's not the run of the mill scenario.
Alex has to be one of the most complex characters I've ever read about. The struggles he goes through from a young age to adulthood are heart wrenching. He endures so much and never gives up. Not many people could do this. His devotion to his brother is astounding, even though Charles doesn't deserve it. His reason for living to give Solange justice is remarkable. Always wanting his mother but just out of reach, His fathers love. Josiah's love. He's the most hated man but it's all a lie and the pain and suffering he goes through because of the lie is so sad. Tyler is an awful human being who exploited everyone around him but most of all Alex.
Josiah is strong, confident, sexy, driven but also lonely and in pain for the loss of his late husband. He is driven for justice and then Alex falls into his lap and he finds a purpose, finally, after Peter's death to start living again. Josiah is such a big character with strong morals but then will break them for his code of conduct. He is very honorable.
The whole IS system is an interesting idea, Floating cities. Ducks for vehicles. Very creative on the authors part.
Josiah and Alex do get a happy ending and I am so giddy for that. They are so good together. Josiah was the first man to want nothing from Alex. They both gave so much to each other and helped heal old wounds.
This is not always a happy story and there are some heavy parts to it. With all the cruelty and sadness it was still worth all the hours put into listening to all 4 books. There are happy moments too and they shine the brightest. Now if your looking for smexy scenes there are some. Some not so good but Josiah and Alex together = chefs kiss.
Matt Addis is a new to me narrator and he did a phenomenal job.
I received the first two and forth audios from the author. I am grateful for the author's generosity. This story will live rent free in my brain for a long time and I will defiantly be doing a re-listen.
August 20, 2025
Did I cry for like half of this book? Yes. Would I do this to myself again? Also yes. This series will stay in my mind for a long time, the impact it could have is beyond reach. This book forces you to feel every ache, every shred of hope, and every moment of healing. What struck me most was how the book balanced pain with resilience—it wasn’t suffering for the sake of suffering, but a journey toward freedom and love. That made every tear worthwhile.
I absolutely adore Alex, the amount of torture he went through is more than anyone should ever have to deal with, but he came out of it strong and free. He never changed, he might have lost himself, even when he did not know who he was he stayed kind and selfless. After reading this book, it is obvious that the only thing he wanted was to be loved, and he did not feel that for a long time.
Josiah, the man that he is. The way he handled this relationship is the best way that he could have; he did everything in his power to free someone he truly loved. He was the anchor Alex needed, he gave support and a safe space to explore.
Their relationship is very complex and a bit of a back-and-forth in a way but the way they stayed true to themselves is perfect.
I’m happy their story reached its end, but I can’t help wishing for just one more book—one where Josiah solves crimes, Alex changes the system, and they live the happy life they both deserve. That is the one thing that was missing in this book, but it's okay, because we did get an amazing story with impeccable writing and storytelling, great characters and a villain that became one for no reason. I love that he did not get a redemption arc; he did not deserve one.
The world-building also deserves praise: it never overwhelmed the characters but instead amplified their struggles, making Alex and Josiah’s choices all the more powerful. The themes of identity, survival, justice, and love were woven so seamlessly that you can’t help but reflect on them long after closing the book.
I absolutely adore Alex, the amount of torture he went through is more than anyone should ever have to deal with, but he came out of it strong and free. He never changed, he might have lost himself, even when he did not know who he was he stayed kind and selfless. After reading this book, it is obvious that the only thing he wanted was to be loved, and he did not feel that for a long time.
Josiah, the man that he is. The way he handled this relationship is the best way that he could have; he did everything in his power to free someone he truly loved. He was the anchor Alex needed, he gave support and a safe space to explore.
Their relationship is very complex and a bit of a back-and-forth in a way but the way they stayed true to themselves is perfect.
I’m happy their story reached its end, but I can’t help wishing for just one more book—one where Josiah solves crimes, Alex changes the system, and they live the happy life they both deserve. That is the one thing that was missing in this book, but it's okay, because we did get an amazing story with impeccable writing and storytelling, great characters and a villain that became one for no reason. I love that he did not get a redemption arc; he did not deserve one.
The world-building also deserves praise: it never overwhelmed the characters but instead amplified their struggles, making Alex and Josiah’s choices all the more powerful. The themes of identity, survival, justice, and love were woven so seamlessly that you can’t help but reflect on them long after closing the book.
September 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
Damn. This series took me for a RIDE. I read all four books back-to-back as ARCs, and I’m not surprised the ones already published are blowing up—because wow. The Quarterlands is the explosive, gut-wrenching finale the Dark Water series deserved.
From page one, this book had me by the throat. Xanthe Walter ties every thread, every timeline, every breadcrumb together into something that feels both inevitable and shocking. The dual timelines finally snap into place, bringing us full circle to Josiah and Alex’s “first” meeting—but this time through Alex’s eyes. And Alex’s secret? I’d guessed the what, but the how and why wrecked me. My heart broke for him over and over again. He’s been so misunderstood, so judged, and yet he’s endured—broken but strong, deeply flawed, deeply human. Watching his growth across this series—from lost and traumatized to self-aware and compassionate—was brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable.
This isn’t a light read. It’s dark, it’s intense, and it will chew you up emotionally before it ever spits you out. There are moments that are depraved, heartbreaking, and hard to sit with. But there are also moments of staggering beauty, love, and hard-won redemption. Did I cry for half this book? Absolutely. Do I wish the ending was a little more unshakable? Maybe. But honestly, the ride itself was so wild and powerful that I’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time.
If you dive into this series, don’t expect standalones. Don’t expect easy. But if you’re willing to go deep into the darkness with Josiah and Alex, you’ll come out with one of the most powerful, unforgettable love stories I’ve ever read.
Tropes: enemies to lovers · slow burn · hurt/comfort · forced proximity · dystopian survival · touch-starved awakening
Content Warnings: past abuse, violence, captivity, trauma, manipulative relationships, intense emotional distress
Damn. This series took me for a RIDE. I read all four books back-to-back as ARCs, and I’m not surprised the ones already published are blowing up—because wow. The Quarterlands is the explosive, gut-wrenching finale the Dark Water series deserved.
From page one, this book had me by the throat. Xanthe Walter ties every thread, every timeline, every breadcrumb together into something that feels both inevitable and shocking. The dual timelines finally snap into place, bringing us full circle to Josiah and Alex’s “first” meeting—but this time through Alex’s eyes. And Alex’s secret? I’d guessed the what, but the how and why wrecked me. My heart broke for him over and over again. He’s been so misunderstood, so judged, and yet he’s endured—broken but strong, deeply flawed, deeply human. Watching his growth across this series—from lost and traumatized to self-aware and compassionate—was brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable.
This isn’t a light read. It’s dark, it’s intense, and it will chew you up emotionally before it ever spits you out. There are moments that are depraved, heartbreaking, and hard to sit with. But there are also moments of staggering beauty, love, and hard-won redemption. Did I cry for half this book? Absolutely. Do I wish the ending was a little more unshakable? Maybe. But honestly, the ride itself was so wild and powerful that I’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time.
If you dive into this series, don’t expect standalones. Don’t expect easy. But if you’re willing to go deep into the darkness with Josiah and Alex, you’ll come out with one of the most powerful, unforgettable love stories I’ve ever read.
Tropes: enemies to lovers · slow burn · hurt/comfort · forced proximity · dystopian survival · touch-starved awakening
Content Warnings: past abuse, violence, captivity, trauma, manipulative relationships, intense emotional distress
August 7, 2025
What a freaking ride! I was so pumped for this final installment and now I'm irrationally upset that it's over.
This was the perfect end for this saga. The page count is long, but it is paced so well and I didn't even notice how long it was, and to be honest I even wish it was longer!
The book was a ton of wrap up because well....there's a ton to wrap up and everyone, and I mean everyone, gets thier perfectr ending. At 25% we get to see the Dacre case solved, at 50% we get to George Tyler's trial. Some of the way the court proceedings worked seemed a little off to me but I work in the US criminal justice system so it was easily dismissed. There are definitely a few "convienient" things that happen but they worked with the story so I have no complaints. I loved everything about the trial. Nothing in this book felt tired and like the previous three books there are still a lot of OMG moments that kept me hooked!
Alex deserves all the damn hugs. I wasn't his biggest fan in Crocodile Tears (my lowest rated book of the series) but just seeing his full arc come to its close....I was a little emotional not gonna lie. The ending was poetic and just honestly perfect. No complaints.
George. Fucking. Tyler. I loved how even at the very end of the book I was on my toes wondering how things were going to truly end up. She kept me hanging on to the last second and I was a little stressed!
I loved how Alex and Josiah's relationship was resolved. It felt right, and I know some people will have some complaints about the end but it was perfect for thier characters and I will stand by that!
LOVE LOVE LOVED this entire series, and reading the author note about how she didn't even have a plan for this.... insane.
Im sad, i'm happy, ahh I miss it already!!
I received a copy of this book for free and this is my honest review.
This was the perfect end for this saga. The page count is long, but it is paced so well and I didn't even notice how long it was, and to be honest I even wish it was longer!
The book was a ton of wrap up because well....there's a ton to wrap up and everyone, and I mean everyone, gets thier perfectr ending. At 25% we get to see the Dacre case solved, at 50% we get to George Tyler's trial. Some of the way the court proceedings worked seemed a little off to me but I work in the US criminal justice system so it was easily dismissed. There are definitely a few "convienient" things that happen but they worked with the story so I have no complaints. I loved everything about the trial. Nothing in this book felt tired and like the previous three books there are still a lot of OMG moments that kept me hooked!
Alex deserves all the damn hugs. I wasn't his biggest fan in Crocodile Tears (my lowest rated book of the series) but just seeing his full arc come to its close....I was a little emotional not gonna lie. The ending was poetic and just honestly perfect. No complaints.
George. Fucking. Tyler. I loved how even at the very end of the book I was on my toes wondering how things were going to truly end up. She kept me hanging on to the last second and I was a little stressed!
I loved how Alex and Josiah's relationship was resolved. It felt right, and I know some people will have some complaints about the end but it was perfect for thier characters and I will stand by that!
LOVE LOVE LOVED this entire series, and reading the author note about how she didn't even have a plan for this.... insane.
Im sad, i'm happy, ahh I miss it already!!
I received a copy of this book for free and this is my honest review.
September 14, 2025
“Beautifully Written, Deeply Moving, Impossible to Forget”
The Quarterlands is a series that will remain etched in my heart and memory forever. It is nothing short of extraordinary—an epic tale woven with such care, depth, and emotion that it lingers long after the final page is turned. From the very beginning, I was drawn into its world, but it was the fourth and final book that truly overwhelmed me. I found myself crying again and again—sometimes with empathy, sometimes with sorrow, and sometimes with joy so profound that it spilt over into tears. It has been years since a book moved me in such a powerful way.
Xanthe Walter’s gift as a storyteller shines brilliantly throughout the series. She crafts characters who feel so real, so complex, and so achingly human that their struggles and triumphs become deeply personal. Her writing is both lyrical and immersive, carrying the reader effortlessly through breathtaking landscapes, heart-wrenching conflicts, and moments of quiet beauty that leave you breathless.
What makes this finale so remarkable is the way it ties together everything that came before, with a resonance that is both satisfying and bittersweet. I didn’t want it to end—partly because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters who had become like companions, and partly because I know this is the last chapter in a truly unforgettable journey.
Finishing the series left me with that rare mixture of grief and gratitude: grief that there isn’t more to read, and gratitude for the immense talent and vision of Xanthe Walter. The Quarterlands is the kind of series that doesn’t just entertain; it transforms the reader, leaving behind echoes of its wisdom and beauty. I am hungry for more from this remarkable writer, and I know I will return to these books again and again.
The Quarterlands is a series that will remain etched in my heart and memory forever. It is nothing short of extraordinary—an epic tale woven with such care, depth, and emotion that it lingers long after the final page is turned. From the very beginning, I was drawn into its world, but it was the fourth and final book that truly overwhelmed me. I found myself crying again and again—sometimes with empathy, sometimes with sorrow, and sometimes with joy so profound that it spilt over into tears. It has been years since a book moved me in such a powerful way.
Xanthe Walter’s gift as a storyteller shines brilliantly throughout the series. She crafts characters who feel so real, so complex, and so achingly human that their struggles and triumphs become deeply personal. Her writing is both lyrical and immersive, carrying the reader effortlessly through breathtaking landscapes, heart-wrenching conflicts, and moments of quiet beauty that leave you breathless.
What makes this finale so remarkable is the way it ties together everything that came before, with a resonance that is both satisfying and bittersweet. I didn’t want it to end—partly because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters who had become like companions, and partly because I know this is the last chapter in a truly unforgettable journey.
Finishing the series left me with that rare mixture of grief and gratitude: grief that there isn’t more to read, and gratitude for the immense talent and vision of Xanthe Walter. The Quarterlands is the kind of series that doesn’t just entertain; it transforms the reader, leaving behind echoes of its wisdom and beauty. I am hungry for more from this remarkable writer, and I know I will return to these books again and again.
September 24, 2025
I started this series for the romance, but that’s not why I finished it. All in all, I’d say the romance is secondary to the plot and the journey of justice. The series as a whole really sucked me in and brought out all the emotions. I admit it was hard to read at times when it was a chapter where Alex was with Tyler, because you just knew it would be painful and you so badly wanted to continue with present times, but it was so necessary to understand what to me was the main point: Alex’s experience and the understanding behind his bid against Tyler, as well as the righting of a wrong. And as hard as it was to read some of the scenes with Tyler, there were flashbacks I looked forward to, such as Belvedere. And you have to read the scenes with Tyler to truly appreciate everything that came after. The characters are complex, and I really enjoyed that aspect. I felt with them. It was a marathon and I feel a bit like I went through the wringer, but it was a beautifully told story, not at all what I expected going in, but am so glad for it, because this wouldn’t have worked out if it were lighter or if romance took top place. Do I wish I could have seen a couple more scenes of Joe and Alex near the end? Yes but that’s probably one of my only complaints. Otherwise it feels like the last 5 percent or so was rushed. But only here, as focusing more on the romance earlier on in the book would have felt like a disservice. I do wish it got out that Elliot wasn’t a great houder either, even if he was better, and even if Alex didn’t think he deserved death it would have been nice for his own wrongs against Alex to be acknowledged out loud. This is long, and not a lighthearted or even dark romance, but a chronicle of two people who lived complex lives and come out the other side together.
September 10, 2025
I can’t believe it’s over😭
When I first started this series, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t sure if I liked it. It took a few chapters to get the hang of it but once I did I couldn’t put it down!
Alexander, Josiah and Tyler became part of my life as if they were real. My love for Alex and Joe grew stronger the more the story went on. The way their fates intertwined from the beginning was exceptionally well written. I normally don’t like too many flashbacks but Xanthe did it in such a way that it was seamlessly executed.
I HATE Tyler! I think he got off too easily after he everything he did to Alex. My only consolation is that in the end he fell head over heels for Alex and was never reciprocated. That makes me happy😆
Alexander must be the strongest character I’ve ever read. I still can’t fathom he was able to live through all the abuse and trauma he went through. To be honest, I’d have given up the moment he saw Tyler’s true colors.
Alex was such a complexed character yet Xanthe wrote him as such a relatable person. One with many flaws and virtues. He was too good for his own good and eventually that was his downfall.
Josiah was just as complex but at least he knew when to draw the line. He wanted justice for Alex and went to the extreme to get it even when it caused a drift between them.
Ultimately, his love for Alex was greater than his promise to his father. He did what he needed to do to make sure Alex was free and that he became his own person.
It might have taken the universe to bring them together and then take them apart, but in the end their love was stronger. Joe was the only person who could make Alex really love somebody.
I’m gonna have serious withdrawals from this series. Such a fantastic conclusion.
When I first started this series, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t sure if I liked it. It took a few chapters to get the hang of it but once I did I couldn’t put it down!
Alexander, Josiah and Tyler became part of my life as if they were real. My love for Alex and Joe grew stronger the more the story went on. The way their fates intertwined from the beginning was exceptionally well written. I normally don’t like too many flashbacks but Xanthe did it in such a way that it was seamlessly executed.
I HATE Tyler! I think he got off too easily after he everything he did to Alex. My only consolation is that in the end he fell head over heels for Alex and was never reciprocated. That makes me happy😆
Alexander must be the strongest character I’ve ever read. I still can’t fathom he was able to live through all the abuse and trauma he went through. To be honest, I’d have given up the moment he saw Tyler’s true colors.
Alex was such a complexed character yet Xanthe wrote him as such a relatable person. One with many flaws and virtues. He was too good for his own good and eventually that was his downfall.
Josiah was just as complex but at least he knew when to draw the line. He wanted justice for Alex and went to the extreme to get it even when it caused a drift between them.
Ultimately, his love for Alex was greater than his promise to his father. He did what he needed to do to make sure Alex was free and that he became his own person.
It might have taken the universe to bring them together and then take them apart, but in the end their love was stronger. Joe was the only person who could make Alex really love somebody.
I’m gonna have serious withdrawals from this series. Such a fantastic conclusion.
September 10, 2025
Quarterlands SERIES has been living in my head for weeks
I listened to the first three books - amazing - and read the last one as soon as it came out.
Alex and Josiah and their people have been living in my head since I started the first book with me constantly trying to work out what had and might happen while loving how this amazing story was written.
I need to get attached to characters quickly - and I did. Alex obviously was a bit of a ratbag at first but I knew he had a long and involved story, and Josiah was a straight-laced serious person who presented a solid serious front but has such a big heart.
This story is cleverly written from both Alex and Josiah’s past as well as their current path and it was full of twists and turns, sad - so very sad - events and amazing love between friends, lovers, even enemies in some ways.
The characters all had depth - the bad guys weren’t completely bad, the good guys weren’t completely good and the rest as well as the bad and good guys were a mixture of their upbringing, life events and people who influenced them in some way. You both loved and hated some characters and felt the heart break at times for others.
If I could give this series more than 5 stars, I would. I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
I listened to the first three books - amazing - and read the last one as soon as it came out.
Alex and Josiah and their people have been living in my head since I started the first book with me constantly trying to work out what had and might happen while loving how this amazing story was written.
I need to get attached to characters quickly - and I did. Alex obviously was a bit of a ratbag at first but I knew he had a long and involved story, and Josiah was a straight-laced serious person who presented a solid serious front but has such a big heart.
This story is cleverly written from both Alex and Josiah’s past as well as their current path and it was full of twists and turns, sad - so very sad - events and amazing love between friends, lovers, even enemies in some ways.
The characters all had depth - the bad guys weren’t completely bad, the good guys weren’t completely good and the rest as well as the bad and good guys were a mixture of their upbringing, life events and people who influenced them in some way. You both loved and hated some characters and felt the heart break at times for others.
If I could give this series more than 5 stars, I would. I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
August 31, 2025
(This is taken from my review of a previous book in the series…“when someone is said to shed crocodile tears, it refers to a show of pretended sorrow usually by someone who has done something cruel”. Crocodile tears is also the name of a feel good drug. The Rising had changed the world. Water covered most of the major cities, forcing people into servitude just to survive, creating an extreme have/have not society.)
Josiah is still searching for Alex’s last secret, the one he hopes won’t permanently sever his bond with Alex. As the trial against Tyler looms, the men start to question whether they will come out the otherside intact.
The author used the mens past to shape their present. I thought the use of a past, then present chapter, worked well together to bring them to their ultimate truths.
This book surprised me more than once. I had mapped out what I thought was going to happen but I was way off. My view of this book is definitely positive. However…I thought the ending was wrapped up in an almost fairytale aspect that didn’t quite fit with dark society the author so effectively created.
I believe this series is one of the best I’ve read.
I received an arc of this book.
December 7, 2025
That one is difficult to rate for me. I chose to review the series instead of each individual ones.
The books are just one story divided in 4 books.
First of all, the world building was very good ! The way society survived The Rising is so well done ! I really enjoyed this dystopian world descriptions !
I hesitated to give 4 stars but there were some details that made me give 3 stars.
1- The pacing was very slow and I got impatient at times. For example, the time spent in The Belvedere Academy took forever and could have been shortened a bit.
2- The repetitive plot got to me too. We have to read too many times how Alex was raped or when he was arrested by Josiah or Alex's accident when his mother died.
3- The back and forth between the past and the present gave me whiplash. It is a succession of chapters in the past, then the present, and so on and on. And it was in the four books !! It got me out of the story because each chapter was very long. So, when you finish a chapter, you have to remember where you were. It's exhausting !
4- Finally, the end was way too perfect and it was disappointing in its "cheesyness".
I still recommend this serie because it was original and very good as a whole !!
The books are just one story divided in 4 books.
First of all, the world building was very good ! The way society survived The Rising is so well done ! I really enjoyed this dystopian world descriptions !
I hesitated to give 4 stars but there were some details that made me give 3 stars.
1- The pacing was very slow and I got impatient at times. For example, the time spent in The Belvedere Academy took forever and could have been shortened a bit.
2- The repetitive plot got to me too. We have to read too many times how Alex was raped or when he was arrested by Josiah or Alex's accident when his mother died.
3- The back and forth between the past and the present gave me whiplash. It is a succession of chapters in the past, then the present, and so on and on. And it was in the four books !! It got me out of the story because each chapter was very long. So, when you finish a chapter, you have to remember where you were. It's exhausting !
4- Finally, the end was way too perfect and it was disappointing in its "cheesyness".
I still recommend this serie because it was original and very good as a whole !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2025
This is the fourth book of the 'Dark Water' series. If you haven't read the other three then you should before reading this one.
I felt like I was losing good friends when I ended this book. Even with the promise of a possible follow-up, it was still hard to say goodbye to characters I have grown to love (and a few to despise). This is the perfect final chapter, however. Xanthe not only gives us a few new threads to follow (and come on, admit it when you find out that what you think you know is actually right!)
Xanthe Walter packs a lot of twists and turns in these stories, and there were times I was ready to hide under my bed.
I am trying NOT to give anything away, but it's so hard. I will tell you that I think you will be satisfied with the conclusion of the book for the most part. And that I am planning to go back and re-read the series from 'Crocodile Tears' to 'The Quarter Lands'. I seldom will go back and re-read a book. That should tell you how well-written these books are. I am wondering how many clues are in the first three books that I missed!
I felt like I was losing good friends when I ended this book. Even with the promise of a possible follow-up, it was still hard to say goodbye to characters I have grown to love (and a few to despise). This is the perfect final chapter, however. Xanthe not only gives us a few new threads to follow (and come on, admit it when you find out that what you think you know is actually right!)
Xanthe Walter packs a lot of twists and turns in these stories, and there were times I was ready to hide under my bed.
I am trying NOT to give anything away, but it's so hard. I will tell you that I think you will be satisfied with the conclusion of the book for the most part. And that I am planning to go back and re-read the series from 'Crocodile Tears' to 'The Quarter Lands'. I seldom will go back and re-read a book. That should tell you how well-written these books are. I am wondering how many clues are in the first three books that I missed!
August 19, 2025
This one was heavy. Really heavy. So much trauma, reconnecting, reconciling, overcoming, becoming someone you thought you could never be… I loved Josiah from the beginning, but in this one… just the fact that he wants Alex to feel loved even though they aren’t together… wow, just wow. He’s an amazing human being, and I loved him even more in this one. And Alex broke my heart all over again. Trying so hard to overcome all the hurdles in his way, without losing himself anymore. It is a heartbreaking book. Yes, suspenseful, intriguing, but the overarching story of redemption, reconciliation, new beginnings, and continuation as well is what makes this book such a powerful read. And the ending… it’s such a swoon worthy ending… I loved all the books, but this one was my favorite for sure. And as much as all the issues have been solved, I’m going to miss these characters. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 20, 2025
I think every reader knows the feeling, that when you read a book (or in my case the last book of a series) you feel happy, angy and empty at the same time? Yeahh.. this is me right now.
Although I finished the book last night cuddled up in bed, sobbing like i haven't in a long time, the feeling hasn't faded a bit.
The Quaterlands is the final book of the Dark Water Series by Xanthe Walter and if I could give the series infinit stars, I would. The rollercoaster, which Quarterlands definitly is (again), had me moved to the edge of my seat and I enjoyed it. The conclusion makes so much sense and is written beautifully.
I think the Dark Water Series is about to become one my comfort reads (although given the topics in these books it is hardly comforting at all) because the characters and the development they went through had me feeling for them throughout all the books. (And I secretly fell in love with Ester)
Thanks you for letting me be part of this journey and giving me these books, they have helped me heal parts of my own wounds.
Although I finished the book last night cuddled up in bed, sobbing like i haven't in a long time, the feeling hasn't faded a bit.
The Quaterlands is the final book of the Dark Water Series by Xanthe Walter and if I could give the series infinit stars, I would. The rollercoaster, which Quarterlands definitly is (again), had me moved to the edge of my seat and I enjoyed it. The conclusion makes so much sense and is written beautifully.
I think the Dark Water Series is about to become one my comfort reads (although given the topics in these books it is hardly comforting at all) because the characters and the development they went through had me feeling for them throughout all the books. (And I secretly fell in love with Ester)
Thanks you for letting me be part of this journey and giving me these books, they have helped me heal parts of my own wounds.
August 24, 2025
I can’t believe this story has finally come to an end—I’m honestly a little sad about it. It’s hard to even talk about without spoiling too much, but wow, this one really went deeper. We get more of Alex and Charles’s family life before, during and after the accident. The flashbacks make George Tyler’s toxic, obsessive grip on Alex even clearer. The way he treated him was just brutal.
Then out of nowhere, a ghost from the past comes back.
Alex’s big secret finally comes out. I remember thinking about it way back in the first book, but I pushed it aside because I was too busy trying to figure out if he was actually the murderer or not.
And then—George Tyler finally goes to trial.
We learn truth about Dacre’s death… I did not see that coming. Total jaw-drop moment.
Meanwhile, poor Josiah has some heartbreaking choices to make. Does he risk betraying Alex to save him? I was on edge the whole time.
Then out of nowhere, a ghost from the past comes back.
Alex’s big secret finally comes out. I remember thinking about it way back in the first book, but I pushed it aside because I was too busy trying to figure out if he was actually the murderer or not.
And then—George Tyler finally goes to trial.
We learn truth about Dacre’s death… I did not see that coming. Total jaw-drop moment.
Meanwhile, poor Josiah has some heartbreaking choices to make. Does he risk betraying Alex to save him? I was on edge the whole time.
September 15, 2025
I had some issues along to way but in fairness to all the emotions these books gave me, I have to go top marks. It really was an epic journey, not easy to read at all but I am glad I did it.
A fitting ending, even if it was hard getting there. Hight marks to Joe as I don't think I would have done what he did. But that's Joe, hard outside but with a gooey inside. And we finally get to understand Alex a bit more, when some things are revealed. I had an inkling from the beginning and I was proved right but when it's revealed it did not ruin the experience at all. In fact it validated all the time I had invested in his character, when I skipped a few parts of Joe's past flashbacks.
I truly loved the characters and the world building was great as well as I could actually imagine how it would look.
A fitting ending, even if it was hard getting there. Hight marks to Joe as I don't think I would have done what he did. But that's Joe, hard outside but with a gooey inside. And we finally get to understand Alex a bit more, when some things are revealed. I had an inkling from the beginning and I was proved right but when it's revealed it did not ruin the experience at all. In fact it validated all the time I had invested in his character, when I skipped a few parts of Joe's past flashbacks.
I truly loved the characters and the world building was great as well as I could actually imagine how it would look.
November 24, 2025
I don’t usually write reviews, but this series genuinely knocked the ground out from under me. I became completely obsessed from the very first book, “Crocodile Tears.” It’s a slow burn that hooks you and refuses to let go. The mix of police investigation and suspense keeps you anxious, nervous, and desperate to know what will happen next.
I absolutely love stories set in dystopian futures, so that was a huge plus for me. Alex’s journey is heartbreaking—watching everything he goes through is painful, but seeing him finally get the happy ending he deserves brought me so much peace. And Joe… Joe is perfect. The ultimate badass detective. I completely fell in love with him too.
And I have NEVER, EVER hated a villain as much as I hate George Tyler. The rage!!
For me, this series is a 5/5 stars. A brilliant, unforgettable piece of work.
I absolutely love stories set in dystopian futures, so that was a huge plus for me. Alex’s journey is heartbreaking—watching everything he goes through is painful, but seeing him finally get the happy ending he deserves brought me so much peace. And Joe… Joe is perfect. The ultimate badass detective. I completely fell in love with him too.
And I have NEVER, EVER hated a villain as much as I hate George Tyler. The rage!!
For me, this series is a 5/5 stars. A brilliant, unforgettable piece of work.
September 6, 2025
I think I just read the end to a series that is going to stay on the bestseller lists for a long time because it’s just that good. So many other people seem to like it too based on their reviews.
Xanthe Walter has taken us into the future, added in a lot of mystery and adventure and taken us to both the depths and heights of human behavior. The more things change, the more they stay the same is the perfect summation of what this series is all about. I could go on and on about how much I liked the books and how many nights I stayed up reading because I couldn’t stop, but I would rather have you read them yourself. I would give this series way more stars if I could because it’s magnificent. Bravo Ms Walter Bravo!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Xanthe Walter has taken us into the future, added in a lot of mystery and adventure and taken us to both the depths and heights of human behavior. The more things change, the more they stay the same is the perfect summation of what this series is all about. I could go on and on about how much I liked the books and how many nights I stayed up reading because I couldn’t stop, but I would rather have you read them yourself. I would give this series way more stars if I could because it’s magnificent. Bravo Ms Walter Bravo!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 10, 2025
WHAT A RIDE!!!
The way this story was woven together via duo timelines and POVs over the four books was PERFECTION. The author SHOWS you what happened, rather than tells you, and it so damn heart breaking and gut wrenching, with the most BEAUTIFUL ending! Poetic justice, for sure!!!
This series was so unique. I’ve never really read anything quite like it. The story was layered and complex, with multiple hidden plot points and twists. You feel so many deep emotions for the characters. I won’t lie, it’s hard to read at times, the themes are dark, and the heartache is real, but man that ending was worth it!!!
If you’ve stuck it out with Alex and Josiah all this time, you will NOT be disappointed by this final installment!
The way this story was woven together via duo timelines and POVs over the four books was PERFECTION. The author SHOWS you what happened, rather than tells you, and it so damn heart breaking and gut wrenching, with the most BEAUTIFUL ending! Poetic justice, for sure!!!
This series was so unique. I’ve never really read anything quite like it. The story was layered and complex, with multiple hidden plot points and twists. You feel so many deep emotions for the characters. I won’t lie, it’s hard to read at times, the themes are dark, and the heartache is real, but man that ending was worth it!!!
If you’ve stuck it out with Alex and Josiah all this time, you will NOT be disappointed by this final installment!
December 14, 2025
Wow
Wow!!! I'm not usually a fan of the dystopian genre but was hooked on this before I even read it,I'd seen a trailer for it on TicTok and dove straight in (excuse the pun) not knowing what to expect or anything about it really and I wasn't disappointed. This whole series is brilliantly done full of twists and turns and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. It flip flops between past and present with each chapter which takes some getting used to but doesn't distract from the story. It literally is an epic love story full of pain and torment but also full of love.. Go out and grab this series I can't recommend it enough just make sure you have a box of tissues handy
Wow!!! I'm not usually a fan of the dystopian genre but was hooked on this before I even read it,I'd seen a trailer for it on TicTok and dove straight in (excuse the pun) not knowing what to expect or anything about it really and I wasn't disappointed. This whole series is brilliantly done full of twists and turns and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. It flip flops between past and present with each chapter which takes some getting used to but doesn't distract from the story. It literally is an epic love story full of pain and torment but also full of love.. Go out and grab this series I can't recommend it enough just make sure you have a box of tissues handy
January 20, 2026
Overall 5 STAR
Performance 5 STAR
Story 5 STAR
Series 5 STAR
I just had to jump on here and give a shout out to Matt Adis for his incredible performance of this series and to Xanthe Walter for her incredible writing.
I have been captivated by the Dark Water series ever since I started listening to the first chapter of Crocodile Tears. Josiah and Alex have stayed with me. I am sad that it is over but wow what a ride! I am going to enjoy listening to this one again :)
All the missing pieces finally come together and all the secrets are unveiled for an epic conclusion.
For anyone with possible triggers Please check in with yourself before listening to this series as it is dark and covers heavy subject matter. Check the TW/CW before preceding.
Performance 5 STAR
Story 5 STAR
Series 5 STAR
I just had to jump on here and give a shout out to Matt Adis for his incredible performance of this series and to Xanthe Walter for her incredible writing.
I have been captivated by the Dark Water series ever since I started listening to the first chapter of Crocodile Tears. Josiah and Alex have stayed with me. I am sad that it is over but wow what a ride! I am going to enjoy listening to this one again :)
All the missing pieces finally come together and all the secrets are unveiled for an epic conclusion.
For anyone with possible triggers Please check in with yourself before listening to this series as it is dark and covers heavy subject matter. Check the TW/CW before preceding.
August 25, 2025
What a phenomenal finale to the Dark Water series! The Quarterlands ties up every thread with suspense, heartbreak, and hope, delivering a conclusion that feels both satisfying and unforgettable. Secrets come to light, loyalties are tested, and Josiah and Alex’s journey reaches its most intense, emotional peak.
This isn’t a standalone—you really need to read the first three books—but the payoff is absolutely worth it. A gripping blend of dystopia, thriller, and MM romance, this last installment cements the series as a must-read. Stunning from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This isn’t a standalone—you really need to read the first three books—but the payoff is absolutely worth it. A gripping blend of dystopia, thriller, and MM romance, this last installment cements the series as a must-read. Stunning from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2025
Now that Tyler's arrested, Josiah is still working on the mysteries surrounding Alex. Who really killed Dacre? Why didn't Alex's family help him? Josiah still works tirelessly to save Alex even though he won't claim him. Your heart still hurts for the trapped Alex with so much pain. Josiah is so deep and searching, brilliant and analytic, in love with Alex but noble and unselfish. In the long awaited conclusion, you can't read it fast enough to find all the answers. It ends perfectly, exactly as it should only leaving you wanting more. I received a copy of this and this is my voluntary opinion.
September 9, 2025
Wow that was so good, the twists weren’t predictable and I actually had no clue how this story would end. I read this start to finish in one sitting and I have the blues from finishing this series now. I really enjoyed the conclusion to this series and the ending felt satisfying and fully explained instead of just going from red to green all of a sudden which I always feel is pretty common in books with themes such as these. If you enjoyed the last 3 books, it’s most definitely worth seeing Alex and Josiah’s story to the end!
*I was kindly given an ARC of this book, my opinion is honest and solely mine*
*I was kindly given an ARC of this book, my opinion is honest and solely mine*
October 1, 2025
I am both thrilled to have a conclusion to saga and devastated that it's over!
There is nothing I can say to adequately expressed just how good this book (and indeed the entire series) is and lets be honest, if you're looking to read this one then already read the other three and don't need me to tell you what a rollercoaster of emotions is in store for you.
I hope there are more books or short stories set in this world, maybe tales of the army days? but will most definitely be keeping a close eye on any upcoming releases.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There is nothing I can say to adequately expressed just how good this book (and indeed the entire series) is and lets be honest, if you're looking to read this one then already read the other three and don't need me to tell you what a rollercoaster of emotions is in store for you.
I hope there are more books or short stories set in this world, maybe tales of the army days? but will most definitely be keeping a close eye on any upcoming releases.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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