Delaney "Lane" McEvoy just wants to get a peek of what lies just beyond the wall in the Feral Zone... not to actually explore it! She's grown up hearing the textbook stories of the plague that decimated America and left Titan Corporation in charge of guarding the quarantine line. Unfortunately, the girl taught to fear even the slightest germ is going to have to plunge into the heart of the Feral Zone if she wants to save her father.

Kat Falls excels at world building and INHUMAN may be her best world crafted yet! The creativity of the world is stunning, both in its vibrancy as well as its vastness. The descriptions bring the world to vivid life, making me almost believe the Feral Zone exists in some hidden corner of the world. I particularly love the way Kat Falls develops her own mythology, from creatures such as the chimpacabra to the hyboar. Deeper issues such as prejudice and slavery are incorporated into the world through the fear that exists between some humans and ferals (humans infected by animal DNA). Both sides of extremism- complete lawlessness to strict governmental control- contrast sharply with the innocence of youth.

Lane is a refreshing teenage character, nosey enough to get into trouble but smart enough to admit when she's made a mistake. However, it is her empathy and her heart that make her such a good heroine. She's gutsy despite her own misgivings, and always willing to jump in to save another. Her heart is torn between two teenage boys. I like that Kat Falls didn't create a stereotypical love triangle but instead showed three characters who learn that they can be courageous, even if it means sacrificing everything.

INHUMAN is one of the best books I've read this year! Kat Falls crafts a tale that is chock full of adventure, action, and character. My only regret finishing it so quickly (and yes, I had trouble putting it down for even one minute) is that I now have to wait so long for the sequel.

Book Summary

Never let them tame you.

In the wake of a devastating biological disaster, the United States east of the Mississippi has been abandoned. Now called the Feral Zone, a reference to the virus that turned millions of people into bloodthirsty savages, the entire area is off-limits. The punishment for violating the border is death.

Lane McEvoy can't imagine why anyone would risk it. She's grown up in the shadow of the great wall separating east from west, and she's curious about what's on the other side - but not that curious. Life in the west is safe and comfortable . . . just how she likes it.

But Lane gets the shock of her life when she learns that someone close to her has crossed into the Feral Zone. And she has little choice but to follow. Lane travels east, completely unprepared for what she finds in the ruins of civilization . . . and afraid to learn whether her humanity will prove her greatest strength or a fatal weakness.

Kat Falls brings you to the very edge of civilization and dares you to jump.