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Thirsty Animals

Compelling and original - the book you can't put down

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About this listen

 The next audiobook from new, exciting writer Rachelle Atalla. 'Rachelle Atalla is a major talent and I can't wait to see where her mind goes next' Kirstin Innes, author of Scabby Queen

THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF WATER.

With supply in the Scottish cities drying up, Aida is forced back home to live with her mum at their rural farm. For now, they are safe with just enough to get by.

Yet at the border, tensions are close to breaking point as more and more southerners chase the delusion that Scotland is an eternal spring - while fewer and fewer are allowed through. The service station where Aida works grows emptier with every day. Then, when suspicious strangers arrive at the farm asking for help, Aida and her family face a terrible decision. How much water can they afford to share?

AND THEN THE TAPS ARE TURNED OFF.

Now they must survive long enough for the rain to come.

Completely compelling, devastating and thought-provoking, Thirsty Animals takes us on a captivating journey of survival and self-discovery.

(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2023 Rachelle Atalla Dystopian Psychological Science Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Survival

Critic reviews

Thirsty Animals is a hard-hitting speculative thriller, equal parts terrifying and compassionate. Beautifully written, vivid and unflinching, it confirms Atalla as a real talent
Original, timely, terrifying. Thirsty Animals takes a brutal yet deeply heartfelt look at survival, and kindness, and just how difficult it can be for the two to coexist at the extremes
Rachelle Atalla's second novel has shown her once again to be a master of slow-burning tension and unease. Thirsty Animals is terrifyingly believable, and functions both as a warning against overconsumption and division, while also providing a hopeful message about the redemptive possibilities of community. The pace of the story builds to an unputdownable conclusion, and the characters will stay with the reader for a long time
this is one seriously brilliant and thought-provoking read
This brilliant, profoundly unsettling second novel will secure Atalla's place as an extraordinary writer, and a poet of controlled bleakness
Atalla knows how to ramp up tension expertly, and Thirsty Animals comes to a dramatic, unexpected but satisfying conclusion
Compelling, unsettling and emotive, this is an exciting story of survival and self-discovery
A disturbing and compelling book
A prophetic book, offering the reader both a deeply unsettling glimpse into our possible future and a comforting reminder of how resilient humans can be. I was utterly captivated by the story, especially Atalla's characters who are richly drawn and incredibly relatable. Atalla has an uncanny knack of both revealing the best and the worst of humanity. She's quickly establishing herself as a writer for these unsettling times
Thirsty Animals is one of those perfect reads. Compulsive and profound in equal measure, it is both page-turning thriller and philosophical disquisition on what it means to be human rolled into one. A dystopian triumph that confirms Atalla as a major talent, this chilling and believable second novel is horrifyingly brilliant in the best possible way
Atalla writes with humanity and with such pace that at times, you find yourself gasping for breath. Even if you think apocalyptic fiction is not your bag, you might be surprised by Thirsty Animals. I was.
All stars
Most relevant
This is such a huge and small story. It’s focus is on a relatively short period of time and a small number of relationships, a microcosm of a far wider epidemic that we only get flashes of and which makes wondering what it would be like is all the more disquieting. A couple of plot points I found a bit difficult to take; in terms of believability but mostly I found this a brilliant read/listen; so emotional and intriguing, I was compelled to listen whenever I had the chance. Great narration too.

Compelling

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I absolutely loved the second book by Rachelle Atalla! The characters are written well and drive the plot forwards. I have binge listened to this as I was desperate to see what happened in the end. I can’t wait for her 3rd book to be released.

2nd book is a cracker

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Really enjoyed this audiobook. It was refreshing to hear a UK based account of civilisation collapse, the mundane everyday aspects made it far more realistic than American books in this genre which always descend into shootouts. I loved all the teenagers having an end of days party at the Premier Inn & the quiet male couple that ran the farm. There were a few missteps that didn’t make sense in the context of collapse & there was a sexual subplot that detracted from it towards the end & would have made for a tighter book if removed but otherwise recommend.

Interesting story of an everyday slide into civilisation collapse

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Shallow and uninteresting characters that are difficult to care about. The whole book feels like an introduction, like waiting for something to happen, but it never does.

Not for me

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Get stuck into this dystopian thriller and feel yourself sucked from chapter to chapter- the metaphorical page turner that it is. I find the best stories (especially thrillers) are those that are not too far out from our own reality. Aida and her family's farm are set in our reality, our world. How would you react if the water dried up?
Tension, love, grief and anger will wrap you up as you move through the story with Aida, enhancing the story and breaking your heart. Atalla creates tension and release brilliantly, and I felt as if I were finishing her sentences- only to be reminded I don't know everything.
If you like real tension, characters with depth, and loose ends being tied, this is definitely the book for you.
Brilliantly read by Gemma, truly thankful she took on the task of this book, and even more thankful for her hard work and bringing this book and the characters in it to life!

Brilliant story, brilliantly read

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