Scorched Earth

A deadly drought has consumed America, forcing citizens to flee north toward water and survival. The story follows three characters: Benjamin Ellsworth, a father trying to protect his daughter; Luis Rivera, a government employee tracking water criminals; and Daisy Marino, a journalist uncovering water-related conspiracies. The narrative takes place in a near-future United States where water scarcity has transformed society and government. Water cards track individual consumption, armed guards protect water sources, and desperate people risk everything for access to dwindling supplies. The plot centers on these three characters' paths as they navigate a changing world where survival depends on access to water. Their stories intersect against a backdrop of social collapse, government control, and human desperation. The book examines themes of environmental catastrophe, parental love, and institutional power through a lens of scarcity and survival. It presents questions about human nature and societal structures when faced with resource depletion.

Readers describe this book as a tense, quick-paced read that keeps them guessing. Multiple reviews note the timeliness of the climate disaster and political themes. Positives from readers: - Character development, particularly the father-son relationship - Fast pace and short chapters maintain suspense - Clear, straightforward writing style - Realistic depiction of small-town America Common criticisms: - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Political elements felt heavy-handed to certain readers - Several mentioned wanting more depth in the apocalyptic elements Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (850+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (90+ ratings) "Couldn't put it down but wished for a stronger conclusion" appears in multiple reviews. Several readers compared it favorably to Don't Look Up and Leave the World Behind, while others found it less compelling than those works.

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🔥 Author Will Leitch is the founder of the influential sports website Deadspin and currently serves as a contributing editor for New York Magazine 📚 The book explores how college football's NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules have dramatically changed the landscape of collegiate athletics 🏈 Though fiction, the novel draws from real-world events like the University of Georgia's recent dominance in college football and the growing influence of big money in college sports 🌟 Leitch has written five other books, including "God Save the Fan" and "Are We Winning?: Fathers and Sons in the New Golden Age of Baseball" 🎯 The story takes place in Athens, Georgia, home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs, where Leitch himself lived while working as a film critic for The Athens Banner-Herald early in his career