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The Wolf and the Rain #2
The Thief and the Waste
The thrilling sequel to Th e Wolf and the Rain, the award-winning story of a missing girl in an anarchic city (IndieReader Discovery Award Winner, Wishing Shelf bronze medalist, Readers' Favorite Book Awards silver medalist, Whistler Independent Book Awards shortlistee, B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree and one of the Kirkus 'Great Indie Books Worth Discovering').
'A tense sequel that outpaces its predecessor in an emotionally stirring story that packs a punch and is impossible to put down[...] Samarra is arguably one of the most complicated, compelling, and deeply likeable protagonists in YA lit.' - IndieReader (5 star review)
‘A superbly plotted YA novel packed full of incredible characters.' - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (Finalist)
***
Girls are being snatched from the Barrow. Who has been buying them and why is unclear, but one thing is they are being taken south of the wall into Seira, the military state that Samarra escaped a year ago. The military state that wants her dead. After a tumultuous night that leaves one of their own murdered, Samarra and her friends manage to thwart this year's shipment. With the trafficker's cart in their possession, they have an opportunity—trick their way into Seira by masquerading as the kidnapped girls and their guards. It's a grandiose plan born out of grief and guilt and rage. A doomed mission, they all know, though the enemy they are moving toward is far more powerful than any of them could have imagined. But before they can take on the puppetmaster, they'll have to fight their way through the Waste. For Raina. For Anna. For all the girls that vanished in the night.
***
Book 2 of 4 (probably) PLEASE This work contains mature themes
'A tense sequel that outpaces its predecessor in an emotionally stirring story that packs a punch and is impossible to put down[...] Samarra is arguably one of the most complicated, compelling, and deeply likeable protagonists in YA lit.' - IndieReader (5 star review)
‘A superbly plotted YA novel packed full of incredible characters.' - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards (Finalist)
***
Girls are being snatched from the Barrow. Who has been buying them and why is unclear, but one thing is they are being taken south of the wall into Seira, the military state that Samarra escaped a year ago. The military state that wants her dead. After a tumultuous night that leaves one of their own murdered, Samarra and her friends manage to thwart this year's shipment. With the trafficker's cart in their possession, they have an opportunity—trick their way into Seira by masquerading as the kidnapped girls and their guards. It's a grandiose plan born out of grief and guilt and rage. A doomed mission, they all know, though the enemy they are moving toward is far more powerful than any of them could have imagined. But before they can take on the puppetmaster, they'll have to fight their way through the Waste. For Raina. For Anna. For all the girls that vanished in the night.
***
Book 2 of 4 (probably) PLEASE This work contains mature themes
332 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2020
7 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Lee
2 books7 followersThings I sometimes do: work in Africa; roll a D20; act; bench press my 25 lb tabby (kidding—we do squats); write dystopian novels
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 20, 2021
If life wasn't dreary enough and surviving wasn't outside, Samarra and friends discover why girls are going missing, and in such numbers, but to fight back they must first cross the Wasteland.
October 10, 2020
An excellent follow-up to The Wolf and the Rain! Middle books in trilogies get a bad rap, but I loved being with these characters again and learning more about Sam. The ending changed the stakes for the third book, so I'm excited for what will come!
Read my full review here: https://f-bom.com/2020/10/02/the-thie...
Read my full review here: https://f-bom.com/2020/10/02/the-thie...
August 16, 2020
First off, thanks so much to Ms Lee for providing me with a free early copy! This did not impact my review.
I was so excited to get back into this world, but also a little nervous--as I think most people are with sequels when the first book was so good. But I honestly think The Thief and the Waste is better than its predecessor, which is saying something! The twisty-turny plot from the first book picks right back up here, constantly surprising me and making me want to keep reading. But as usual, it's the characters that really draw me in and make me love a book, and every character in this novel shines, even the villains.
Our main girl Sam is badass but vulnerable, compassionate but slow to trust, deeply intelligent but deeply divided--basically, she's a perfect heroine without actually being perfect. That makes sense, right? I hope so. She's an incredible character, is what I'm getting at. And the supporting cast, just like in the first book, all get their chance in the spotlight. Every member of the core group of 9 characters traveling across the Waste has a compelling story and a distinct personality. I could not bring myself to dislike any of them, even when Charis was being...well, a bit much. I do wish we could have gotten a little more info on Dash aside from being part of his tribe, and although it makes sense that Shale would seclude herself as much as possible while dealing with her grief, I would have loved to see more of her before we were three-quarters of the way through the book. Also...maybe a spoiler so I'll hide it just in case:
One more specific thing I wanna mention because I feel it was done very well. This is also kind of a spoiler, not for the main plot but I'm hiding it because it doesn't really get addressed until towards the end of the book.
Okay! This is a very long review but this is a very good book that deserves more recognition. I can't wait to read the next one!
I was so excited to get back into this world, but also a little nervous--as I think most people are with sequels when the first book was so good. But I honestly think The Thief and the Waste is better than its predecessor, which is saying something! The twisty-turny plot from the first book picks right back up here, constantly surprising me and making me want to keep reading. But as usual, it's the characters that really draw me in and make me love a book, and every character in this novel shines, even the villains.
Our main girl Sam is badass but vulnerable, compassionate but slow to trust, deeply intelligent but deeply divided--basically, she's a perfect heroine without actually being perfect. That makes sense, right? I hope so. She's an incredible character, is what I'm getting at. And the supporting cast, just like in the first book, all get their chance in the spotlight. Every member of the core group of 9 characters traveling across the Waste has a compelling story and a distinct personality. I could not bring myself to dislike any of them, even when Charis was being...well, a bit much. I do wish we could have gotten a little more info on Dash aside from being part of his tribe, and although it makes sense that Shale would seclude herself as much as possible while dealing with her grief, I would have loved to see more of her before we were three-quarters of the way through the book. Also...maybe a spoiler so I'll hide it just in case:
One more specific thing I wanna mention because I feel it was done very well. This is also kind of a spoiler, not for the main plot but I'm hiding it because it doesn't really get addressed until towards the end of the book.
Okay! This is a very long review but this is a very good book that deserves more recognition. I can't wait to read the next one!
July 12, 2020
(From my review of the first book:
Sam lives in a world broken by global warming.
I the North, in the city of Barrow, The Vauns rule, and everyone else survives outside the walls, amid gangs, garbage, horror, and chaos.
In the South, a totalitarian autocratic hierarchy rules, and obeyance is institutionalized.)
This book picks up where «The Wolf and the Rain» stops.
Sam and her friends have escaped the Vauns, and have set off Southward with a half baked plan to save the missing girls.
It’s awesome.
I was sent this book a little after 23.00 local time, and at 04.15 I had read the whole thing while my dog slept.
I just got sucked in.
You should read it.
(But don’t start it late at night unless you don’t mind not sleeping.)
It’s great.
My favourite thing in this series is the worldbuilding.
The harsh lines between the world of the south and of the north, between the past and the present, and between safety and freedom of choice, enhances the dichotomy of her personality. Like the border wall between the south and the north, time has set up a wall between who she was and who she is now.
This, I feel, is just a superb way of using worldbuilding to tell some of the story for you, without having to spell it out to the reader.
The end of the book makes it clear that there will be a third book in the series, and I can’t wait to see what happens when she brings the north and the south in herself together.
Oh, and we get to see Sam in love. It’s nice :)
The parts that takes place in the South are the best in this instalment, in my opinion. They’re essential to our understanding of the world of the story, and our understanding of Sam.
That means that I don’t like the chapters that takes place in «the North», or in the desert as well. Sometimes you can feel a little «second instalment-ness» in them.
I still loved the book though, and if you like gritty dystopias, I think you will too :)
Go buy it !
(I recieved an advance reader copy of this book, and in return I am giving an honest review, as I do with all the free books I read :) )
Sam lives in a world broken by global warming.
I the North, in the city of Barrow, The Vauns rule, and everyone else survives outside the walls, amid gangs, garbage, horror, and chaos.
In the South, a totalitarian autocratic hierarchy rules, and obeyance is institutionalized.)
This book picks up where «The Wolf and the Rain» stops.
Sam and her friends have escaped the Vauns, and have set off Southward with a half baked plan to save the missing girls.
It’s awesome.
I was sent this book a little after 23.00 local time, and at 04.15 I had read the whole thing while my dog slept.
I just got sucked in.
You should read it.
(But don’t start it late at night unless you don’t mind not sleeping.)
It’s great.
My favourite thing in this series is the worldbuilding.
The harsh lines between the world of the south and of the north, between the past and the present, and between safety and freedom of choice, enhances the dichotomy of her personality. Like the border wall between the south and the north, time has set up a wall between who she was and who she is now.
This, I feel, is just a superb way of using worldbuilding to tell some of the story for you, without having to spell it out to the reader.
The end of the book makes it clear that there will be a third book in the series, and I can’t wait to see what happens when she brings the north and the south in herself together.
Oh, and we get to see Sam in love. It’s nice :)
The parts that takes place in the South are the best in this instalment, in my opinion. They’re essential to our understanding of the world of the story, and our understanding of Sam.
That means that I don’t like the chapters that takes place in «the North», or in the desert as well. Sometimes you can feel a little «second instalment-ness» in them.
I still loved the book though, and if you like gritty dystopias, I think you will too :)
Go buy it !
(I recieved an advance reader copy of this book, and in return I am giving an honest review, as I do with all the free books I read :) )
September 7, 2021
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Thief and the Waste (The Wolf and the Rain Trilogy Book 2)
Author: Tanya Lee
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 16 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Wow! Mega-cool story. Loved Samarra, loved the way the characters interacted, loved the gritty setting – I even loved the artwork on the cover! I will be reading book three” Girl reader, aged 15
“I like post-apocalyptic books so this was sort of my thing. At first, I didn’t get that it was the second book, so I stopped reading it and went back and read the first called The Wolf and the Rain. That’s also a fab novel! Anyway, back to book two, it’s a gripping read as the characters led by Samarra try to save the kidnapped women. I thought the author’s strongest skill was pacing; she knows when to keep things moving and when to slow things down.” Boy reader, aged 16
“There are quite a few central characters in this story but I felt the author made them all individual and different. I like the setting, and the plot of the girls being snatched was interesting to follow. If there's a third book, I'll be reading it.” Boy reader, aged 15
“I like this set of books a lot. In fact, I think this book is better than the first. It is a strong adventure and I enjoyed the way the characters worked together. Samarra is the best character of all and reminds me of Katniss Everdeen - she's strong but vulnerable too.” Female reader, aged 17
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly plotted YA novel packed full of incredible characters and a memorable protagonist. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Thief and the Waste (The Wolf and the Rain Trilogy Book 2)
Author: Tanya Lee
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 16 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Wow! Mega-cool story. Loved Samarra, loved the way the characters interacted, loved the gritty setting – I even loved the artwork on the cover! I will be reading book three” Girl reader, aged 15
“I like post-apocalyptic books so this was sort of my thing. At first, I didn’t get that it was the second book, so I stopped reading it and went back and read the first called The Wolf and the Rain. That’s also a fab novel! Anyway, back to book two, it’s a gripping read as the characters led by Samarra try to save the kidnapped women. I thought the author’s strongest skill was pacing; she knows when to keep things moving and when to slow things down.” Boy reader, aged 16
“There are quite a few central characters in this story but I felt the author made them all individual and different. I like the setting, and the plot of the girls being snatched was interesting to follow. If there's a third book, I'll be reading it.” Boy reader, aged 15
“I like this set of books a lot. In fact, I think this book is better than the first. It is a strong adventure and I enjoyed the way the characters worked together. Samarra is the best character of all and reminds me of Katniss Everdeen - she's strong but vulnerable too.” Female reader, aged 17
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly plotted YA novel packed full of incredible characters and a memorable protagonist. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
March 7, 2023
For more YA reviews, visit my blog –
Unsupervised in a Bookstore
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We're back in the post-collapse world of the The Wolf and the Rain, this time following Samarra and her friends as they set out from the Barrow, following the trail of the missing women. In the parallel narrative, we learn more about life in the South, and the connection between the two stories becomes clear. Understanding the stakes makes this book even more addictive than the first in the series, as Samarra and her team attempt to cross the dangerous wasteland that divides the Barrow from the walled cities of the South, and the children in the South graduate from their training and begin their adult lives.
Once again, the settings are beautifully drawn, pulling the reader into the story. The characters and their relationships develop as they navigate the dangers of the Waste, and the adult responsibilities of the South. There's a constant sense of danger as the plot draws the two worlds together, and a spectacular reveal at the end that sets up an exciting story for the next book.
It's not out yet, but I can't wait. Tanya – we need the next installment!
We're back in the post-collapse world of the The Wolf and the Rain, this time following Samarra and her friends as they set out from the Barrow, following the trail of the missing women. In the parallel narrative, we learn more about life in the South, and the connection between the two stories becomes clear. Understanding the stakes makes this book even more addictive than the first in the series, as Samarra and her team attempt to cross the dangerous wasteland that divides the Barrow from the walled cities of the South, and the children in the South graduate from their training and begin their adult lives.
Once again, the settings are beautifully drawn, pulling the reader into the story. The characters and their relationships develop as they navigate the dangers of the Waste, and the adult responsibilities of the South. There's a constant sense of danger as the plot draws the two worlds together, and a spectacular reveal at the end that sets up an exciting story for the next book.
It's not out yet, but I can't wait. Tanya – we need the next installment!
July 3, 2021
Enjoyable, thought-provoking speculative sci-fi. Utilising the common scenario of ecological collapse, Tanya Lee places her protaganist in contrasting societies - one of extreme social and technological engineering in the south vs loose anarchistic tribal groups in the north. Despite a mostly predictable plot, this 2nd book in the series is well-written with enough unique plot turns and complex main character, to make it worthwhile. I look forward to more in this series.
January 17, 2022
I read the second book because the first one sucked just enough to make me wanna quit but finally made a bit of sense in the last two chapters to make me curious as to how this author is going to end it. Well guess I’ll never know because it ends in a cliffhanger. Any other book I’d be all bothered by it and anticipating the next one book deuces to this one
July 30, 2023
Pretty well done, up to the very end - which ties up plotlines in a predictable but less than satisfying way.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews