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Exiles : A stunning YA dystopian novel.
In a distant galaxy, Bethany Kane has cheated death.
Now, she has to fight for life.
In an escape pod launched from a great starship, 15-year-old ChapterSister Bethany Aurelia Kane, believer in the Great Power, makes landfall on a windswept world known as The Edge – a planet light years from civilisation.
Battered and shaken, Beth soon finds she is not alone. The Edge is a penal colony where, under the leadership of Zachary Tal, fifty juvenile criminals and reprobates have pulled together a kind of society. They are living and working together in Town, a converted scientific base in the shadow of their crashed spaceship. They have crops, fresh water and electrical power – and are assisted by a contingent of mechanised Drones.
Storms, power failure, illness and death are just a few of the challenges the teenage exiles battle. As Beth accustoms herself to her new life on The Edge, she has to overcome her fears, learn new skills and earn the respect of leader Zach, the arrogant Colm, the resentful Mia and the others. But when a terrible, violent event shatters the colony’s existence, it seems nothing will ever be the same. Who among them is a killer? And just how isolated are they really?...
As the clock ticks towards a final revelation, Beth needs all her new skills and resourcefulness to stop The Edge from plunging into anarchy. And she has her own secret too – one which will prove decisive in the battle for survival…
Now, she has to fight for life.
In an escape pod launched from a great starship, 15-year-old ChapterSister Bethany Aurelia Kane, believer in the Great Power, makes landfall on a windswept world known as The Edge – a planet light years from civilisation.
Battered and shaken, Beth soon finds she is not alone. The Edge is a penal colony where, under the leadership of Zachary Tal, fifty juvenile criminals and reprobates have pulled together a kind of society. They are living and working together in Town, a converted scientific base in the shadow of their crashed spaceship. They have crops, fresh water and electrical power – and are assisted by a contingent of mechanised Drones.
Storms, power failure, illness and death are just a few of the challenges the teenage exiles battle. As Beth accustoms herself to her new life on The Edge, she has to overcome her fears, learn new skills and earn the respect of leader Zach, the arrogant Colm, the resentful Mia and the others. But when a terrible, violent event shatters the colony’s existence, it seems nothing will ever be the same. Who among them is a killer? And just how isolated are they really?...
As the clock ticks towards a final revelation, Beth needs all her new skills and resourcefulness to stop The Edge from plunging into anarchy. And she has her own secret too – one which will prove decisive in the battle for survival…
494 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2022
About the author
Daniel Blythe
88 books32 followersDaniel Blythe was born in Maidstone and educated at Maidstone Grammar School and St John’s College, Oxford. He is the author of three Doctor Who novels including Autonomy, as well as the novels The Cut, Losing Faith and This Is The Day. He has also written the non-fiction books The Encyclopaedia Of Classic 80s Pop, I Hate Christmas: A Manifesto for the Modern-Day Scrooge, Dadlands: The Alternative Handbook For New Fathers, the irreverent politics primer X Marks The Box and the collectors' guide Collecting Gadgets and Games from the 1950s-90s. In 2012, Chicken House published his book for younger readers, Shadow Runners. His Emerald Greene books for younger readers are also out now. Daniel now lives in Yorkshire, on the edge of the Peak District, with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
July 30, 2026
Exiles is a gripping YA dystopian adventure that combines survival, mystery, and science fiction into an intense story about courage, identity, and finding humanity in the most unlikely places. Daniel Blythe creates a fascinating world where young survivors must build a new society while facing dangers from both their environment and each other.
What stood out most is Bethany Kane’s journey. Arriving on The Edge frightened and uncertain, Beth is forced to adapt quickly, develop new skills, and discover inner strength she never knew she possessed. Her transformation from a survivor struggling to understand her surroundings into someone capable of making difficult choices gives the story strong emotional depth.
The setting is another major strength. A distant penal colony filled with abandoned technology, damaged infrastructure, mysterious Drones, and a group of young exiles trying to survive creates an atmosphere of constant tension. The challenges facing the colony from storms and illness to betrayal and violence keep the suspense high throughout the novel.
The mystery element adds another layer of intrigue as the characters question who they can trust after a devastating event threatens everything they have built. The themes of survival, leadership, loyalty, and hidden secrets make the story more than just a futuristic adventure.
Exiles is a compelling read for fans of YA dystopian fiction, survival stories, and science fiction adventures featuring strong young protagonists, dangerous worlds, and unforgettable journeys.
What stood out most is Bethany Kane’s journey. Arriving on The Edge frightened and uncertain, Beth is forced to adapt quickly, develop new skills, and discover inner strength she never knew she possessed. Her transformation from a survivor struggling to understand her surroundings into someone capable of making difficult choices gives the story strong emotional depth.
The setting is another major strength. A distant penal colony filled with abandoned technology, damaged infrastructure, mysterious Drones, and a group of young exiles trying to survive creates an atmosphere of constant tension. The challenges facing the colony from storms and illness to betrayal and violence keep the suspense high throughout the novel.
The mystery element adds another layer of intrigue as the characters question who they can trust after a devastating event threatens everything they have built. The themes of survival, leadership, loyalty, and hidden secrets make the story more than just a futuristic adventure.
Exiles is a compelling read for fans of YA dystopian fiction, survival stories, and science fiction adventures featuring strong young protagonists, dangerous worlds, and unforgettable journeys.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review