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Arid
It’s the distant future and the country is overtaken by wealthy moguls who dominate the water supply and sell it back to the public at ridiculous prices. After a drastic crime increase “indigents” who can’t afford water are stripped of their belongings and forced out of town by an army of brutes called Purifiers.
Life becomes harsh and ominous for the bright, ambitious Joshua Wyman and his group until they begin to occasionally receive food and other basic amenities from the Brutes. When a blatant abuse of Purifier power during a routine visit leaves them reeling Joshua and his friends reach their breaking point.
They devise a plan to steal the Purifiers’ vehicle during their next visit and find a place where water is affordable. Their journey across the uncharted wastelands filled with murderers and thieves proves to be far more than this civilized, benevolent crew bargained for. Growing tensions within the nearby towns may cause the two worlds to collide, creating an epic storm.
Life becomes harsh and ominous for the bright, ambitious Joshua Wyman and his group until they begin to occasionally receive food and other basic amenities from the Brutes. When a blatant abuse of Purifier power during a routine visit leaves them reeling Joshua and his friends reach their breaking point.
They devise a plan to steal the Purifiers’ vehicle during their next visit and find a place where water is affordable. Their journey across the uncharted wastelands filled with murderers and thieves proves to be far more than this civilized, benevolent crew bargained for. Growing tensions within the nearby towns may cause the two worlds to collide, creating an epic storm.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2018
22 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 28, 2020
Arid by Anne Joyce is a dystopian novel set in a post apocalyptic America. Joshua, Xiomara, Skylar, Blane, and others are outcasts in a world where water is controlled by the rich and the poor are dying of thirst. Thrown into the desert because they cannot afford the water tax, the group fights back against the Purifiers, a sort of water police who do the bidding of the rich, take whatever (and whoever) they want, and kill everyone who gets in their way.
This is a fast paced novel that throws you into the action right from page one. It moves quickly from one battle to another as the group fights for survival. The character development suffers slightly from this, as I didn't feel a strong connection to any character other than Xiomara, who was well developed. However, the author has written a prequel to this book called Parched, and we might get to connect to the characters more deeply in a less combative setting. Parched is available on the author's website, Annejoycewriter.com. The plot of Arid is very strong, and the premise is completely believable: The rich take over the country by stealing valuable resources, create a utopia for themselves, and throw everyone else out to die.
If you like dystopian novels with nonstop action, check this book out.
Three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I also picked it up on Kindle Unlimited. Kindle Unlimited members can get it for free.
This is a fast paced novel that throws you into the action right from page one. It moves quickly from one battle to another as the group fights for survival. The character development suffers slightly from this, as I didn't feel a strong connection to any character other than Xiomara, who was well developed. However, the author has written a prequel to this book called Parched, and we might get to connect to the characters more deeply in a less combative setting. Parched is available on the author's website, Annejoycewriter.com. The plot of Arid is very strong, and the premise is completely believable: The rich take over the country by stealing valuable resources, create a utopia for themselves, and throw everyone else out to die.
If you like dystopian novels with nonstop action, check this book out.
Three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I also picked it up on Kindle Unlimited. Kindle Unlimited members can get it for free.
August 14, 2019
Arid is a dystopian futuristic story where a group of moguls has created an unbearable living situation. Joshua, Xiomara, and others are all fighting to simply survive the situation and to provide vital resources, such as water.
The Purifiers who are the ones forced out of their towns due to not being able to afford the expensive water being sold to them have their own problems. The story picks up when Joshua decides that enough is enough.
The literature and its futuristic nature did not feel as though it was too far away from reality. Especially with the climate change and other political dilemmas we face today, things felt more like the near future to me.
I particularly enjoyed the connection, dialogue, and scenes where the characters were back and for-thing. The author does an admirable job creating strong personalities yet vulnerable towards specific scenarios, allowing the reader to bond with the crew characters.
I believe readers that enjoy dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories would appreciate this book.
The Purifiers who are the ones forced out of their towns due to not being able to afford the expensive water being sold to them have their own problems. The story picks up when Joshua decides that enough is enough.
The literature and its futuristic nature did not feel as though it was too far away from reality. Especially with the climate change and other political dilemmas we face today, things felt more like the near future to me.
I particularly enjoyed the connection, dialogue, and scenes where the characters were back and for-thing. The author does an admirable job creating strong personalities yet vulnerable towards specific scenarios, allowing the reader to bond with the crew characters.
I believe readers that enjoy dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories would appreciate this book.
February 16, 2019
Entertaing read
The story went rather fast but still decently paced. The characters were rounded out. I did not like that a promising and interesting character was killed off so quickly, I was totally bummed out about that.
The story went rather fast but still decently paced. The characters were rounded out. I did not like that a promising and interesting character was killed off so quickly, I was totally bummed out about that.
December 18, 2019
5 ⭐️ for this book!
Read this book in less than two days. Being an outcast in this book, your life means fighting for everything. Water, food, fresh air. Being rich keeps you far away from the desolate situation the poor people live in (if you can call it living). This could well be our future.
The MC's are clinging onto a shred of hope, to get to the next day, to avoid Purifiers, to avoid Looters. Only working together will get them somewhere, even though they might not make it all to their destination.
Read this book in less than two days. Being an outcast in this book, your life means fighting for everything. Water, food, fresh air. Being rich keeps you far away from the desolate situation the poor people live in (if you can call it living). This could well be our future.
The MC's are clinging onto a shred of hope, to get to the next day, to avoid Purifiers, to avoid Looters. Only working together will get them somewhere, even though they might not make it all to their destination.
July 19, 2019
The Review
The author has done a spectacular job of fully immersing the readers attention into the harsh setting of this post-apocalyptic world. With the affects of global warming and climate change becoming an all too real aspect of our daily lives, the world in which the characters find themselves seems all too plausible to believe, despite the apocalyptic setting of the narrative.
The character development is what shines the brightest in this novel, with a protagonist and supporting cast of characters that mesh well together and showcase the power of family, even a makeshift family created in the cruel desert sun of an apocalyptic America. The story was evenly paced and did a marvelous job of setting the tone of the narrative, giving the reader a realistic and edge of your seat feeling that only the world created in this novel could provide.
The Verdict
This is a must read novel for anyone who enjoys a good post-apocalyptic story. An adult outlook on the dangers of global warming and the possibility of water becoming a commodity, the story is engaging and keeps the readers invested with every chapter, and will quickly make any casual reader a fan of this amazing author. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of Arid by Anne Joyce today!
The author has done a spectacular job of fully immersing the readers attention into the harsh setting of this post-apocalyptic world. With the affects of global warming and climate change becoming an all too real aspect of our daily lives, the world in which the characters find themselves seems all too plausible to believe, despite the apocalyptic setting of the narrative.
The character development is what shines the brightest in this novel, with a protagonist and supporting cast of characters that mesh well together and showcase the power of family, even a makeshift family created in the cruel desert sun of an apocalyptic America. The story was evenly paced and did a marvelous job of setting the tone of the narrative, giving the reader a realistic and edge of your seat feeling that only the world created in this novel could provide.
The Verdict
This is a must read novel for anyone who enjoys a good post-apocalyptic story. An adult outlook on the dangers of global warming and the possibility of water becoming a commodity, the story is engaging and keeps the readers invested with every chapter, and will quickly make any casual reader a fan of this amazing author. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of Arid by Anne Joyce today!
March 19, 2022
Arid by Anne Joyce is a great read! It is well-written and I found the story engaging with a lightning pace which keeps you on the edge of your seat. The setting and characters really come to life in this book. If you like post apocalyptic or dystopian titles, then you should definitely check this one out! Five stars.
March 22, 2020
Fast paced book with relatable characters. Very much enjoyed this story.
January 12, 2026
Arid follows Joshua and a dwindling band of survivors who struggle to stay alive in a scorched wasteland where water is nearly gone, and hope feels just as scarce. The story opens with violence and fear and then tumbles into a tense rhythm of hunger, grief, and desperate choices. What begins as simple survival slowly grows into a harsh portrait of a world ruined by greed and war. The plot moves fast. The danger grows even faster. Every chapter places the characters on thinner ice, or really, thinner sand.
I was pulled into the raw emotion of the group. The writing surprised me with how blunt it was. It hits hard without dressing anything up, and it carries this grim honesty that kept me hooked. The world feels brutal and close. I caught myself clenching my jaw as the characters scraped by on scraps and bad luck. The book plays with fear and loyalty in a way that feels relatable. Even when the dialogue gets sharp or rough, it has this realness that fits people who have nothing left to lose.
I had mixed feelings about the pacing at times. Moments of danger slammed into moments of tenderness so fast that I felt a little off balance, but in a strange way, it worked. Life in a dying world would probably feel exactly like that. What I appreciated most was how the story leaned into relationships. Watching Joshua push himself past exhaustion made me feel for him in a deep way. The book never lets you forget how fragile everyone is. It never lets you relax, either. I liked that, even though it made me anxious along the way.
Arid feels like a story for readers who enjoy emotional survival tales that stay raw and gritty. It suits anyone who wants characters who fight with heart, make mistakes, and keep going even when the world seems determined to crush them. Arid reminded me a bit of The Road because both stories paint survival as a harsh grind, yet Arid feels more like watching a tight-knit group unravel, while The Road follows a quieter and more intimate struggle. If you like dystopian fiction that leans into both hope and heartbreak, this book will be a good fit.
I was pulled into the raw emotion of the group. The writing surprised me with how blunt it was. It hits hard without dressing anything up, and it carries this grim honesty that kept me hooked. The world feels brutal and close. I caught myself clenching my jaw as the characters scraped by on scraps and bad luck. The book plays with fear and loyalty in a way that feels relatable. Even when the dialogue gets sharp or rough, it has this realness that fits people who have nothing left to lose.
I had mixed feelings about the pacing at times. Moments of danger slammed into moments of tenderness so fast that I felt a little off balance, but in a strange way, it worked. Life in a dying world would probably feel exactly like that. What I appreciated most was how the story leaned into relationships. Watching Joshua push himself past exhaustion made me feel for him in a deep way. The book never lets you forget how fragile everyone is. It never lets you relax, either. I liked that, even though it made me anxious along the way.
Arid feels like a story for readers who enjoy emotional survival tales that stay raw and gritty. It suits anyone who wants characters who fight with heart, make mistakes, and keep going even when the world seems determined to crush them. Arid reminded me a bit of The Road because both stories paint survival as a harsh grind, yet Arid feels more like watching a tight-knit group unravel, while The Road follows a quieter and more intimate struggle. If you like dystopian fiction that leans into both hope and heartbreak, this book will be a good fit.
August 8, 2023
Rasico’s novel has water barons who control the water supply and sell it back to the public for exorbitant prices. Those who can’t pay are robbed of their possessions and run out of town by the water barons’ henchmen, the Purifiers. Joshua Wyman and his group live on rationed food and water left by the Purifiers.
The Purifiers abuse their power, changing the group’s lives for the worse. The group formulates a plan to escape the grasp of the Purifiers, which ultimately leads to an uprising against the water barons and their brutes.
The group’s journey across the wastelands until the end of the story had me terrified for their safety. They are empathetic characters, and the post-Apocalyptic world building is intensely visual and scary as hell. The entire book read is so visual, it seemed like I was watching a movie.
This book is relevant today, as we are living with intense heat, fire, flooding, and water shortage resulting from climate change. I will think about Anne Rasico’s novel, “Arid: A Sci-Fi Dystopian Thriller (A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series (The Wastelands) Book 2)” for a long time. It has my Highest Recommendation.
The Purifiers abuse their power, changing the group’s lives for the worse. The group formulates a plan to escape the grasp of the Purifiers, which ultimately leads to an uprising against the water barons and their brutes.
The group’s journey across the wastelands until the end of the story had me terrified for their safety. They are empathetic characters, and the post-Apocalyptic world building is intensely visual and scary as hell. The entire book read is so visual, it seemed like I was watching a movie.
This book is relevant today, as we are living with intense heat, fire, flooding, and water shortage resulting from climate change. I will think about Anne Rasico’s novel, “Arid: A Sci-Fi Dystopian Thriller (A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series (The Wastelands) Book 2)” for a long time. It has my Highest Recommendation.
July 7, 2020
Post Apocalyptic Thriller
Arid is a post apocalyptic dystopian story based on the lack of water in the world. Rich barons control the supply of water and only some of the population can afford it. The rest are left to survive or die in the dry wilderness. Joyce combines desperation, horror and the willingness to do what it takes to survive in this desert like world with ease, pulling the reader deep into the story.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy post apocalyptic books such as Cormac Mcarthy'sThe Road, The Last Man, by Mary Shelley, The Stand, by Stephen King and I am Legend, by Richard Matheson.
Arid is a post apocalyptic dystopian story based on the lack of water in the world. Rich barons control the supply of water and only some of the population can afford it. The rest are left to survive or die in the dry wilderness. Joyce combines desperation, horror and the willingness to do what it takes to survive in this desert like world with ease, pulling the reader deep into the story.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy post apocalyptic books such as Cormac Mcarthy'sThe Road, The Last Man, by Mary Shelley, The Stand, by Stephen King and I am Legend, by Richard Matheson.
September 25, 2019
Interesting
Joyce pens a great post-apocalyptic story in Arid. The pace of the story was pretty fast, but it fit with the story. The setting of the story played a big part in the story, and how the characters work together, and even against each other in the war-torn, struggle-driven broken America. It was an interesting story with developed characters. This reader could feel the struggling characters, looking to survive. It was a great story to read. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Joyce pens a great post-apocalyptic story in Arid. The pace of the story was pretty fast, but it fit with the story. The setting of the story played a big part in the story, and how the characters work together, and even against each other in the war-torn, struggle-driven broken America. It was an interesting story with developed characters. This reader could feel the struggling characters, looking to survive. It was a great story to read. I look forward to reading more by this author.
November 18, 2022
Arid by Anne Joyce is a tense dystopian novel set in the US where water is scarce but dehydration isn’t the only thing to fear out in the wastelands.
Set in the United States after a nuclear war has occurred in 2040, this camp of people are desperately trying to survive. They are given rations from the people who hold power over them, called the Purifiers. But it’s not nearly enough. This group has ways of trying to gather water themselves and they hunt anything they can safely eat, but it’s still hardly enough to keep them all going.
After a visit from the Purifiers goes sideways, the turmoil begins to rise.
If you enjoy dystopian novels with a lot of terror and bloodshed, but also plenty of heart and sheer determination, then this is a great pick for you!
Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Set in the United States after a nuclear war has occurred in 2040, this camp of people are desperately trying to survive. They are given rations from the people who hold power over them, called the Purifiers. But it’s not nearly enough. This group has ways of trying to gather water themselves and they hunt anything they can safely eat, but it’s still hardly enough to keep them all going.
After a visit from the Purifiers goes sideways, the turmoil begins to rise.
If you enjoy dystopian novels with a lot of terror and bloodshed, but also plenty of heart and sheer determination, then this is a great pick for you!
Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
January 1, 2023
Anne Joyce has put down a tremendous dystopian novel with good character-building. I loved the roles the characters played to ensure their survival during a hard time. The eloquent flow of actions and the settings of the book tends to expose the corrupt and bad omen of our leaders in taking advantage of certain situations, regardless of how it affects the poor masses. I enjoyed every line of the book.
February 23, 2022
I have always been a fan of books set in the apocalyptic world, I find it interesting to see where the story can go and the author has done a great job of keeping the suspense high throughout this read. The character development is great, the story is creative yet realistic (to an extent) and I certainly recommend this book to others
August 24, 2023
like any good American I agree with the water barons. the imperialist swine intent on gouging the rest of the continent are my kinda people! Joshua and Maria can kick rocks. Terry Pritchard is a National Treasure.
April 6, 2025
A disturbing, well written novel
March 18, 2019
Arid is a dystopian thriller set in an America torn apart by war and the rise of the corrupt Water Barons. Banished to the desert wastelands a small group of people form a new family and together decide to fight back against their fate.
Whilst this was an enjoyable, well written read, with a host of likeable characters to root for, it didn't offer any particular surprises in the plot. This may not be a drawback if this is your type of genre.
Whilst this was an enjoyable, well written read, with a host of likeable characters to root for, it didn't offer any particular surprises in the plot. This may not be a drawback if this is your type of genre.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews