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Thirst Duology #1
THIRST
A waterborne disease has sprung up in every corner of the globe, decimating the human race. Seventeen-year-old Eli McShane and his friends flee the chaos and violence in Phoenix and journey north toward the rumored location of a safe water source. They add several to their number, including a mysterious girl named Hannah, who, unknown to Eli, is being hunted by a dangerous man. Desperation brings out the worst in many of the travelers, infecting even those closest to Eli. When division comes, will he be able to hold his group together or will each fall victim to their own thirst for survival?
270 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2019
20 people are currently reading
2192 people want to read
About the author
Jill Williamson
68 books1,635 followersJill Williamson is a multi-passionate creative who loves the arts. She’s written over thirty books for readers of all ages and is best known for her Blood of Kings fantasy series, two of which won Christy Awards and made VOYA magazine’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. She produces films with her husband and teaches about writing at conferences. Visit her at www.jillwilliamson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 24, 2021
Phew, this was a wildly fun ride! What I'm going to do is just break it down with my thoughts on what I found to be the most important parts of the book, since I never know what to write in these reviews. ;) Let's do this!
CHARACTERS:
This was probably the best part of the book!! Seriously, y'all, the characters were just so fun to hang with. They were fresh and new (and if y'all know me, I love it when characters are unique!) and just overall really, well, real! Eli was my favorite. He had real struggles and a fabulously done character arc. *chef's kiss* I was rooting for him every second, and like literally eVeRy TiMe he got frustrated with someone else or was scared I WAS THE SAME WAY TOO!!!!! And the side characters were well-fleshed out and uniquely developed. And outside of Jaylee (I'm sorry but she just annoyed me ALL DA TIME!!!), all the characters were just people I'd wanna hang out with! You know, if I ever found a way to get into the book...
IDEA:
Okay, so an idea doesn't make a story great and all, BUT can't we just take a minute to squeal about how unique and creative of an idea it was??? AND how it was done. I mean, it's practically the end of the world with this waterborne disease and over half of the population dying. I don't know if y'all have ever seen it done in books, but I NEVER would've thought of a story like that! And while I don't typically read apocalyptic fiction, I really really REALLY enjoyed this book, the idea, and how it was done. Williamson just shows that she is a master at this storytelling stuff, y'all!
PACING/PLOT:
So at first, I had a hard time getting into it, but like after the first couple of chapters, y'all, you're gonna just be wishing you were back at the slow beginning. I'm serious, the book took a span of three days and since it has over two hundred pages, you better believe stuff was happening. And it was happening all the time!!! There was conflict after conflict, problem after problem. I have no idea how the characters (or even me for that matter) survived the three days, but WE MADE IT!!!!
CHRISTIAN ELEMENTS:
Oh, this may have been my favorite part actually. So the whole Christian message weaved throughout this book was really inspiring to me, and I thought Williamson did it perfectly! Eli didn't have a strong faith and was constantly doubting God and even getting angry with Him throughout the story. His struggles were real, and while Christianity wasn't focused on as much as it is in other Christian fiction that I read, I found that actually made Eli's struggles more realistic. It made sense that he didn't focus on God a lot because he was constantly doubting Him and when Eli did, his questions just felt so human. Like, though I wouldn't wanna admit it, if I was in his shoes, I might've even been reacting the same way. So I was really able to connect with him, which took the message to a deeper level this way. (Plus, bonus points for mentioning two of my all-time FAVORITE songs, "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective and "Just Be Held" by Casting Crowns. AND when Eli was talking about how the lyrics to the latter song really spoke to him, I may have just lost it in happiness, cuz that is ALWAYS how I am when I listen to Christian contemporary music!!!!)
DISLIKES?
Uh... It ended?? Yeah, that's all I got. ;)
OVERALL:
GO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!! You won't regret it!!
CHARACTERS:
This was probably the best part of the book!! Seriously, y'all, the characters were just so fun to hang with. They were fresh and new (and if y'all know me, I love it when characters are unique!) and just overall really, well, real! Eli was my favorite. He had real struggles and a fabulously done character arc. *chef's kiss* I was rooting for him every second, and like literally eVeRy TiMe he got frustrated with someone else or was scared I WAS THE SAME WAY TOO!!!!! And the side characters were well-fleshed out and uniquely developed. And outside of Jaylee (I'm sorry but she just annoyed me ALL DA TIME!!!), all the characters were just people I'd wanna hang out with! You know, if I ever found a way to get into the book...
IDEA:
Okay, so an idea doesn't make a story great and all, BUT can't we just take a minute to squeal about how unique and creative of an idea it was??? AND how it was done. I mean, it's practically the end of the world with this waterborne disease and over half of the population dying. I don't know if y'all have ever seen it done in books, but I NEVER would've thought of a story like that! And while I don't typically read apocalyptic fiction, I really really REALLY enjoyed this book, the idea, and how it was done. Williamson just shows that she is a master at this storytelling stuff, y'all!
PACING/PLOT:
So at first, I had a hard time getting into it, but like after the first couple of chapters, y'all, you're gonna just be wishing you were back at the slow beginning. I'm serious, the book took a span of three days and since it has over two hundred pages, you better believe stuff was happening. And it was happening all the time!!! There was conflict after conflict, problem after problem. I have no idea how the characters (or even me for that matter) survived the three days, but WE MADE IT!!!!
CHRISTIAN ELEMENTS:
Oh, this may have been my favorite part actually. So the whole Christian message weaved throughout this book was really inspiring to me, and I thought Williamson did it perfectly! Eli didn't have a strong faith and was constantly doubting God and even getting angry with Him throughout the story. His struggles were real, and while Christianity wasn't focused on as much as it is in other Christian fiction that I read, I found that actually made Eli's struggles more realistic. It made sense that he didn't focus on God a lot because he was constantly doubting Him and when Eli did, his questions just felt so human. Like, though I wouldn't wanna admit it, if I was in his shoes, I might've even been reacting the same way. So I was really able to connect with him, which took the message to a deeper level this way. (Plus, bonus points for mentioning two of my all-time FAVORITE songs, "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective and "Just Be Held" by Casting Crowns. AND when Eli was talking about how the lyrics to the latter song really spoke to him, I may have just lost it in happiness, cuz that is ALWAYS how I am when I listen to Christian contemporary music!!!!)
DISLIKES?
Uh... It ended?? Yeah, that's all I got. ;)
OVERALL:
GO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!! You won't regret it!!
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April 10, 2021The Thirst Duology is complete!
Learn more about book two, Hunger, here:
Learn more about book two, Hunger, here:
March 3, 2020
I haven’t read a dystopian that captured my attention in a LONG time, but this story immediately grabbed me. It has plenty of humor to lighten the gravity of these characters’ situation, but my palms were sweating during several scenes, imagining myself in their shoes. It’s a wild ride, and I loved this story!!
June 21, 2021
I don’t always drink water, but when I do, it better not be because it’s the end of the world.
Get this guy a bottled water ice pack, Eli took a bruising in this one. Gotta prepare for the next stage of the apocalypse.
Get this guy a bottled water ice pack, Eli took a bruising in this one. Gotta prepare for the next stage of the apocalypse.
November 25, 2019
This is such an engaging read! I've never really read an apocalyptic book before, so this was a first for me, and I'm counting it a success!
Since this is a prequel series to the Safe Lands Trilogy, it was so fun seeing some of the "great grandparents and founders of life" as the safe lands characters knew it...when they were just teens trying to survive. Eli was so realistic and each character had their own 3D personality.
The beginning felt a little bit slow, though still intense and eerie, but the second half of the story really picked up the tension and I loved it. Jill is a master at action and suspense.
I can't wait for book #2!
Since this is a prequel series to the Safe Lands Trilogy, it was so fun seeing some of the "great grandparents and founders of life" as the safe lands characters knew it...when they were just teens trying to survive. Eli was so realistic and each character had their own 3D personality.
The beginning felt a little bit slow, though still intense and eerie, but the second half of the story really picked up the tension and I loved it. Jill is a master at action and suspense.
I can't wait for book #2!
April 2, 2021
Hi everyone, Its Christopher the reader here and the book we are here to talk about tonight is Thirst. *remember to leave a comment below, if you have read this book and maybe talk a bit about what you thought of it. This Book is the first out of 2 in the series. I was gifted this book from one of my booktok friends on tiktok, I read this book for the first time in the month of march, It took me about 2 weeks to read as I just wanted to save it. With me tonight I have the hardback of the book, This was the only cover picture for the book that was available. I like the cover, I think It looks pretty cool.I am now going to talk about some of the book details. The age range for the book is 13-18, and was first published on the 21st of November in 2019. It was told using first person with it being in Erin's point of view. The book had 26 chapters. with each chapter being around 10 pages long and longer. All together the book had 256 pages which also includes a prologue at the start.
I found the storyline interesting, I thought that the characters were well-developed, I loved the character detail that the book had as it helped with coming up with art work (Coming soon). Another thing that I liked was that each character also had there own personality, I Enjoyed the level of action and plot twists that were included, I really liked the action, intense scenes I think there were written really well.I also liked the realism of the "world building". I found it realistic, I liked the comedy that was in the book here and there, I think it just helped it make it feel more realistic.
I Enjoyed how the story started, How it didn't just start in the middle of it all, It started right at the start. Which I think was great as we were where Erin and his friends were and we are discovering things at the same time. With everything I just found It really easy to imagine me being in the character's place, experiencing the new world that they were forced to come to know. When taking breaks when reading to get a drink I found myself debating to use the tap water and ended up just drinking bottled water just like they were doing in the book. I liked that the timeline of the story was told in a short time frame.
The start felt a bit slow paced but I found as you carry on reading the pace starts getting a bit faster, I did see a few mistakes here and there like words written and then the same word again but I don't think it took anything away from the book. I liked that it mentioned real movies, books and also songs that we as the reader could look up and listen to and watch, there was also a book music playlist at the end of the book which I think was really cool.
I liked Erin's relationship that he had with his sister, Lizzie. I liked their bond and also how they both came together and helped each other out when they needed it. To be honest I wasn't a huge fan of the character, Kaylee. To me she didn't seem that nice of a person throughout the book, I hope in the 2nd book that we will get a bit more of her and to get to know her more as a person and see a nicer side to her maybe. In this book I ship the main character with Hannah and hope that they may be together in the next book. The book kind of gave me The Maze Runner: The Death Cure vibe's in a way here and there. Which I liked as it's one of my favourite series, It got me into reading. I think the ending was good it made me want to read the next book straight away but its not out just yet but it will be soon.
My top 7 favourite characters from the book, starting at number 7 has to be, Erin's dad, Reinhold, Lizzie, Logan, Zach, Hannah and Erin. I would love for the book to be turned into a Movie or a TV Show, I think it would be awesome. If it ever did I would definitely go and watch it. For each book that I read, I rate it out of 10, so for this I'm going to give it 8.5 or 5/5 on GoodReads. Remember this was what I thought about the Book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself, as it will maybe be one of you're favourites, you never know.
I found the storyline interesting, I thought that the characters were well-developed, I loved the character detail that the book had as it helped with coming up with art work (Coming soon). Another thing that I liked was that each character also had there own personality, I Enjoyed the level of action and plot twists that were included, I really liked the action, intense scenes I think there were written really well.I also liked the realism of the "world building". I found it realistic, I liked the comedy that was in the book here and there, I think it just helped it make it feel more realistic.
I Enjoyed how the story started, How it didn't just start in the middle of it all, It started right at the start. Which I think was great as we were where Erin and his friends were and we are discovering things at the same time. With everything I just found It really easy to imagine me being in the character's place, experiencing the new world that they were forced to come to know. When taking breaks when reading to get a drink I found myself debating to use the tap water and ended up just drinking bottled water just like they were doing in the book. I liked that the timeline of the story was told in a short time frame.
The start felt a bit slow paced but I found as you carry on reading the pace starts getting a bit faster, I did see a few mistakes here and there like words written and then the same word again but I don't think it took anything away from the book. I liked that it mentioned real movies, books and also songs that we as the reader could look up and listen to and watch, there was also a book music playlist at the end of the book which I think was really cool.
I liked Erin's relationship that he had with his sister, Lizzie. I liked their bond and also how they both came together and helped each other out when they needed it. To be honest I wasn't a huge fan of the character, Kaylee. To me she didn't seem that nice of a person throughout the book, I hope in the 2nd book that we will get a bit more of her and to get to know her more as a person and see a nicer side to her maybe. In this book I ship the main character with Hannah and hope that they may be together in the next book. The book kind of gave me The Maze Runner: The Death Cure vibe's in a way here and there. Which I liked as it's one of my favourite series, It got me into reading. I think the ending was good it made me want to read the next book straight away but its not out just yet but it will be soon.
My top 7 favourite characters from the book, starting at number 7 has to be, Erin's dad, Reinhold, Lizzie, Logan, Zach, Hannah and Erin. I would love for the book to be turned into a Movie or a TV Show, I think it would be awesome. If it ever did I would definitely go and watch it. For each book that I read, I rate it out of 10, so for this I'm going to give it 8.5 or 5/5 on GoodReads. Remember this was what I thought about the Book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself, as it will maybe be one of you're favourites, you never know.
April 22, 2021
*Reading once more before reading Hunger...this book breaks my heart but in a hopeful way. SO WELL WRITTEN IN EVERY WAY! Nothing gory or graphic, but very realistic and Eli has to grow up QUICKLY in order to survive, even admitting in the narration that he will deal with his grief later and doesn't have the time to fall apart when survival mode is necessary. He describes trying to get the group together like herding kittens, which is humorous and true. My heart was pounding at the suspense of NOT knowing what would happen next. And yeah, Kaylee is a nightmare of a person to deal with, I kept shaking my head at her selfishness. But it's hilarious how Zach CONSTANTLY teases Eli about her. Am halfway through the book and my heart, I just want to encourage Eli, he is such a great kid*
It officially took me 2 days to read this, but it's a FAST read and it kind of leaves you intensely wanting more though it is not a cliff hanger ending. This book is such a heartbreaking story, but it's so good it PULLS you in and refuses to let go. Sensitive readers be aware, there are dead bodies (both human and animal) described in some detail at the beginning and loved ones are part of that (if you're like me, you're there with them trying to figure out what YOU would do in their shoes). Thankfully, this is Christian fiction so there are prayers, worship songs and even discussions about Rapture.
There is mention of a comet but it isn't experienced in the story, only mentioned. Makes me think something else is really the cause of this destruction, but we'll see. It just amazes me that in end of the world scenarios with fiction, there's ALWAYS evil people who want to ruin your day. If SO MANY humans have died so quickly, don't you want to help others? Or at least AVOID them? I truly hope humanity would surprise itself in a good way.
I did not read Captives so I'm just getting to know these characters and eager to know how each of them fare. I thought the story starts out brilliantly from Eli's perspective and it has every type of character you can imagine, Eli being the smartest and having the most heart. There is one character who literally disappears from the story, but it was SO GREAT because you don't want anyone to die, but there are definitely a few people that you would like to disappear.
Don't think I had a favorite character in this one (it would be Zach), but one I truly despised was Kaylee. Eli has a crush on her and even HE doesn't understand WHY, the way this girl behaves and how selfish she is. Her and some other characters are in complete denial that they're facing the end of the world thinking things will get back to "normal" at some point. I was just shaking my head at that, but everyone deals differently I guess. (using the water to make coffee when everything has changed?!)
One of my favorite scenes is after Eli makes it to his house trying to find out what happens to his family. Instead of panicking, like anyone would, he takes a deep breath and goes into survivor mode. It's a tangible change and from THAT MOMENT, he becomes the obvious leader and an unlikely hero for the story (he even sees himself as lacking, he believes he should have more strength and doesn't see himself equipped). However, his survivor mode and leadership abilities motivate the others to be more practical and even saves their lives more than once.
I really want him to end up with Hannah, but no idea what will happen there. Kaylee just needs to disappear with some other girls who want to mutiny the entire time...REALLY?! Rest in peace to the friends and family who perish in this story, so well written. Someone does survive and that ending is all I hoped it would be. Now eager for Book 2!
For another series with adults instead of kids, I highly recommend Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman.
It officially took me 2 days to read this, but it's a FAST read and it kind of leaves you intensely wanting more though it is not a cliff hanger ending. This book is such a heartbreaking story, but it's so good it PULLS you in and refuses to let go. Sensitive readers be aware, there are dead bodies (both human and animal) described in some detail at the beginning and loved ones are part of that (if you're like me, you're there with them trying to figure out what YOU would do in their shoes). Thankfully, this is Christian fiction so there are prayers, worship songs and even discussions about Rapture.
There is mention of a comet but it isn't experienced in the story, only mentioned. Makes me think something else is really the cause of this destruction, but we'll see. It just amazes me that in end of the world scenarios with fiction, there's ALWAYS evil people who want to ruin your day. If SO MANY humans have died so quickly, don't you want to help others? Or at least AVOID them? I truly hope humanity would surprise itself in a good way.
I did not read Captives so I'm just getting to know these characters and eager to know how each of them fare. I thought the story starts out brilliantly from Eli's perspective and it has every type of character you can imagine, Eli being the smartest and having the most heart. There is one character who literally disappears from the story, but it was SO GREAT because you don't want anyone to die, but there are definitely a few people that you would like to disappear.
Don't think I had a favorite character in this one (it would be Zach), but one I truly despised was Kaylee. Eli has a crush on her and even HE doesn't understand WHY, the way this girl behaves and how selfish she is. Her and some other characters are in complete denial that they're facing the end of the world thinking things will get back to "normal" at some point. I was just shaking my head at that, but everyone deals differently I guess. (using the water to make coffee when everything has changed?!)
One of my favorite scenes is after Eli makes it to his house trying to find out what happens to his family. Instead of panicking, like anyone would, he takes a deep breath and goes into survivor mode. It's a tangible change and from THAT MOMENT, he becomes the obvious leader and an unlikely hero for the story (he even sees himself as lacking, he believes he should have more strength and doesn't see himself equipped). However, his survivor mode and leadership abilities motivate the others to be more practical and even saves their lives more than once.
I really want him to end up with Hannah, but no idea what will happen there. Kaylee just needs to disappear with some other girls who want to mutiny the entire time...REALLY?! Rest in peace to the friends and family who perish in this story, so well written. Someone does survive and that ending is all I hoped it would be. Now eager for Book 2!
For another series with adults instead of kids, I highly recommend Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman.
September 8, 2021
A fast-paced, chilling dystopian thrill ride!
November 8, 2020
Such a good book
If it is by Jill Williamson, read it. You'll thank me later. Thirst is even better s book than I remember reading on Jill's blog. Six stars.
If it is by Jill Williamson, read it. You'll thank me later. Thirst is even better s book than I remember reading on Jill's blog. Six stars.
November 22, 2019
This was one intense read! Oh. My. Goodness. The slow-building tension from the very first chapter makes it very hard to put this book down. It was easy to imagine I was in the characters' place, experiencing one weird life change after another.
Eli's struggle with the role of a leader is completely relatable, whether you are 17 or 37. I felt for him so much. He does not want to be a leader, but no one else is stepping up. His goal is to get everyone to safety as quickly as he can so that someone else can be in charge. I like how it showed him struggling with insecurities and completely out of his element, and at the same time, having to push those feelings aside in order to keep everyone safe. He's constantly concerned for everyone's safety, and even when their group experiences serious setbacks, he tries not to dwell on the losses but keeps pressing forward.
The characters' various responses to the crisis and panic were completely on point. If you have ever been the person in charge of a group of people, you know how difficult it is to keep them focused on what's important. I felt for Eli so much.
It ends with a cliffhanger, but there's still a hopeful note. As I said, it is a short read, but so much happens in these few chapters. I would say the theme of part one is what it means to be a good leader. I have a feeling things are only going to get more complicated for Eli in part two, but I can't wait to find out what happens! If you enjoyed Safelands, you'll enjoy this book. And if you haven't read Safelands yet, this is a great introduction!
Eli's struggle with the role of a leader is completely relatable, whether you are 17 or 37. I felt for him so much. He does not want to be a leader, but no one else is stepping up. His goal is to get everyone to safety as quickly as he can so that someone else can be in charge. I like how it showed him struggling with insecurities and completely out of his element, and at the same time, having to push those feelings aside in order to keep everyone safe. He's constantly concerned for everyone's safety, and even when their group experiences serious setbacks, he tries not to dwell on the losses but keeps pressing forward.
The characters' various responses to the crisis and panic were completely on point. If you have ever been the person in charge of a group of people, you know how difficult it is to keep them focused on what's important. I felt for Eli so much.
It ends with a cliffhanger, but there's still a hopeful note. As I said, it is a short read, but so much happens in these few chapters. I would say the theme of part one is what it means to be a good leader. I have a feeling things are only going to get more complicated for Eli in part two, but I can't wait to find out what happens! If you enjoyed Safelands, you'll enjoy this book. And if you haven't read Safelands yet, this is a great introduction!
May 24, 2020
Can’t Wait for Next Book!!!
Since I read the “Safelands” trilogy when it was first published, it is really amazing to find out from where everything first happened. As always, Jill Williamson’s characterizations are great, and one feels truly immersed in their stories. I personally tend to forget that they are just teenagers until they do stupid teenager things and then I just want to roll my eyes and be the mom (or grandma) that I am and read on to find out how they get out of the situation.
Overall, a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy/dystopian novel.
Five stars ⭐️
Since I read the “Safelands” trilogy when it was first published, it is really amazing to find out from where everything first happened. As always, Jill Williamson’s characterizations are great, and one feels truly immersed in their stories. I personally tend to forget that they are just teenagers until they do stupid teenager things and then I just want to roll my eyes and be the mom (or grandma) that I am and read on to find out how they get out of the situation.
Overall, a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy/dystopian novel.
Five stars ⭐️
November 26, 2019
Thirst
Thirst Duology #1
By Jill Williamson
Eli McShane and his friends have been taking part in a wilderness survival adventure, never realizing that the skills they had learned would be needed just hours later. During the 2-weeks they were gone the world changed forever and people are dying everywhere. And it is into this unknown that they are about to enter.
Thirst is aptly named as the world's water supply has almost overnight become contaminated and there are no known means to purify it. Bathing, cooking, if your water comes from any source other than bottled water your hours are coming to a painful end if you use it.
Unprepared for his role as a leader, Eli does the best he can to secure supplies and gather what friends he has left on a trek back to the La Plata Mountain region of Colorado that they had been in when everything began (or ended). But hundreds of miles lie between them and their destination and there are unknown dangers that could very well cost them their lives. Along the way, he is forced to decide whether or not to help those he comes across.
Thirst keeps the reader in an almost continuous state of peril and suspense. For those who are familiar with Jill Williamson's previous works, this is the first book in a duology that is the origins story for her Safe Lands series. If you have not yet read any of her books this book is the perfect introduction as you do not need to have any familiarity with previous books to enjoy this action-packed thriller. If you like dystopian, Speculative, or thriller fiction this brings all three together in a well-balanced offering that will leave you wanting more!
I received a complimentary early proof from the author with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own honest opinion. I have since purchased a copy of this book.
Thirst Duology #1
By Jill Williamson
Eli McShane and his friends have been taking part in a wilderness survival adventure, never realizing that the skills they had learned would be needed just hours later. During the 2-weeks they were gone the world changed forever and people are dying everywhere. And it is into this unknown that they are about to enter.
Thirst is aptly named as the world's water supply has almost overnight become contaminated and there are no known means to purify it. Bathing, cooking, if your water comes from any source other than bottled water your hours are coming to a painful end if you use it.
Unprepared for his role as a leader, Eli does the best he can to secure supplies and gather what friends he has left on a trek back to the La Plata Mountain region of Colorado that they had been in when everything began (or ended). But hundreds of miles lie between them and their destination and there are unknown dangers that could very well cost them their lives. Along the way, he is forced to decide whether or not to help those he comes across.
Thirst keeps the reader in an almost continuous state of peril and suspense. For those who are familiar with Jill Williamson's previous works, this is the first book in a duology that is the origins story for her Safe Lands series. If you have not yet read any of her books this book is the perfect introduction as you do not need to have any familiarity with previous books to enjoy this action-packed thriller. If you like dystopian, Speculative, or thriller fiction this brings all three together in a well-balanced offering that will leave you wanting more!
I received a complimentary early proof from the author with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own honest opinion. I have since purchased a copy of this book.
December 20, 2019
What a great prequel. I had loved The Safe Lands trilogy, but admittedly never cared about what happened before that. However, once I saw that Jill was going to finish and publish Thirst, I decided to give it a try, and I am so glad that I did!
When the world as they know it starts to end, Eli and his friends are oblivious for two full weeks. By the time they realize what is happening, the fight for survival is already in full swing. I loved this concept and enjoyed seeing Eli react in the moment, while still unsure if he should believe what he's seeing.
Eli steps up pretty quickly and cobbles together a way to take care of everyone with him, even when those people argue at every turn. I related a lot with Eli's planning methods and his frustration at having to be the leader, especially when no one wanted to listen to him.
Despite my irritation with a certain character at the end, , I'm super excited for the next book and wish that it wasn't going end after just one more.
I have provided an honest review after having received an ecopy from the author.
When the world as they know it starts to end, Eli and his friends are oblivious for two full weeks. By the time they realize what is happening, the fight for survival is already in full swing. I loved this concept and enjoyed seeing Eli react in the moment, while still unsure if he should believe what he's seeing.
Eli steps up pretty quickly and cobbles together a way to take care of everyone with him, even when those people argue at every turn. I related a lot with Eli's planning methods and his frustration at having to be the leader, especially when no one wanted to listen to him.
Despite my irritation with a certain character at the end, , I'm super excited for the next book and wish that it wasn't going end after just one more.
I have provided an honest review after having received an ecopy from the author.
November 22, 2019
Say dystopian and I automatically get depressed. So many of today's YA novels give a break outlook on the future. So it's not my go-to genre.
BUT...
Not so with Thirst, the first in a Dystopian duology by Jill Williamson! I was CAPTIVATED from page one, and held my breath until the final page turned! And such HOPE, such HUMANITY, such HUMOR!
Williamson had crafted a story that, by all rights, should be bleak and hopeless. Instead, Thirst is filled with faith and light.
Don't get me wrong: tragedy occurs, and it's heart-wrenching. But amid the sorrow and pain for some very memorable characters (I wanted to smack Logan a few times myself!), the reader walks away with a fairly satisfying and uplifting experience.
I say fairly because, after all, a sequel is coming, so expect a pesky cliffhanger!
I received a complimentary copy of Thirst from the publisher,and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
BUT...
Not so with Thirst, the first in a Dystopian duology by Jill Williamson! I was CAPTIVATED from page one, and held my breath until the final page turned! And such HOPE, such HUMANITY, such HUMOR!
Williamson had crafted a story that, by all rights, should be bleak and hopeless. Instead, Thirst is filled with faith and light.
Don't get me wrong: tragedy occurs, and it's heart-wrenching. But amid the sorrow and pain for some very memorable characters (I wanted to smack Logan a few times myself!), the reader walks away with a fairly satisfying and uplifting experience.
I say fairly because, after all, a sequel is coming, so expect a pesky cliffhanger!
I received a complimentary copy of Thirst from the publisher,and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
December 23, 2019
Jill Williamson is a favorite author. Her award-winning Blood of Kings trilogy remains a favorite coming-of-age tale, and her Kinsman Chronicles, written for adults, is an excellent read as well. Thirst is a new prequel to her Captives series, written for young adults.
Jill's characters are well-developed, grow during the tale, and have realistic friction and disagreement as they try to understand and survive a water-borne epidemic. It's a wild account of desperation, uncertainty, leadership, honor, and hope. It will definitely appeal to young adults, and is recommended for those who enjoy solid writing in a realistic dystopian world.
Jill's characters are well-developed, grow during the tale, and have realistic friction and disagreement as they try to understand and survive a water-borne epidemic. It's a wild account of desperation, uncertainty, leadership, honor, and hope. It will definitely appeal to young adults, and is recommended for those who enjoy solid writing in a realistic dystopian world.
July 23, 2021
If you think COVID is bad...
Jill Williamson nailed it with this book. This has got to be one of her best. Written from the perspective of Eli, a high school student. Eli must lead a group of people (mostly teens like himself) through some harrowing encounters in the midst of a huge pandemic. Along the way, he and his friends pick up a few "strays" who are in real danger. Loved the characters and cant wait to read Hunger.
Jill Williamson nailed it with this book. This has got to be one of her best. Written from the perspective of Eli, a high school student. Eli must lead a group of people (mostly teens like himself) through some harrowing encounters in the midst of a huge pandemic. Along the way, he and his friends pick up a few "strays" who are in real danger. Loved the characters and cant wait to read Hunger.
April 18, 2020
Thirst pulls you in from the first page, and the adrenaline rush rarely slows down. A youth group camping trip returns from a retreat in the woods, only to discover that most of the earth's water sources have been contaminated by a comet, killing a large percentage of the population. They have to band together to try to salvage what's left of their families - and forage for themselves as they head toward a rumored safe water source.
Perhaps reading this book during a worldwide pandemic was poor timing on my part, but I felt a kinship with these characters as a result (although their situation is much more dire than my own). Williamson does an excellent job developing the characters, their relationships, and realistic survival conflicts. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Perhaps reading this book during a worldwide pandemic was poor timing on my part, but I felt a kinship with these characters as a result (although their situation is much more dire than my own). Williamson does an excellent job developing the characters, their relationships, and realistic survival conflicts. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
July 9, 2023
Okay, okay. This is definitely one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a while. I was PLEASANTLY SURPRISED! 😁 The biggest thing that stood out to me was the characters. They act and sound like ACTUAL HUMANS and not some dialogue researched by the author. Eli is a natural born leader and I can't wait to see more of him in Hunger.
The vibes from this book is so great. It's like a Christian Station 11. 😜 GREAT JOB AUTHOR! I read this on my Kindle, but I'm gonna buy the paperbacks. This baby's gotta be in my hands.
The vibes from this book is so great. It's like a Christian Station 11. 😜 GREAT JOB AUTHOR! I read this on my Kindle, but I'm gonna buy the paperbacks. This baby's gotta be in my hands.
November 11, 2021
I loved the concept of this book and the style of the writer. I liked how to author wrote a book that followed the traditional dystopian type storyline while also keeping the story clean and throwing in Christian characteristics without the entire novel being a sermon. I liked how the book was wrapped up nicely at the end with a good moral to the story. I felt like it was a nice bow on top to close the book.
March 7, 2021
From the moment I started reading this book I felt connected to the characters. In a very real way I was able to see how me myself would react. I would probably be a lot like Eli. I feel like I would struggle to understand why God was doing this. In a real way I think I can tell how I would feel, because of COVID-19. During this time I have struggled to see all that God has done, but I have also see so much changed in my heart.
I love the way that Eli was able to use past knowledge to help better equip him and those around him to survive during this difficult time. He was able to some what keep a level head during such a difficult time. I love the characterization we see.
This book was the best dystopian book that I have ever read. Finding a good dystopian book is always a difficult task. Finding this book was amazing because of the fact that a was a Christian view on a dystopian book. Never before have I found any books that was a dystopian Christian story and I cannot was for Jill Williamson's next book!!!
I love the way that Eli was able to use past knowledge to help better equip him and those around him to survive during this difficult time. He was able to some what keep a level head during such a difficult time. I love the characterization we see.
This book was the best dystopian book that I have ever read. Finding a good dystopian book is always a difficult task. Finding this book was amazing because of the fact that a was a Christian view on a dystopian book. Never before have I found any books that was a dystopian Christian story and I cannot was for Jill Williamson's next book!!!
July 18, 2022
Fantastic apocalyptic thriller! Read it in a single sitting. Well-paced story with great character depth. Having lived in Phoenix for a bit, I could envision every scene as it unfolded! Ready to move on to the next book in the series. Highly recommended. Clean YA novel appropriate for middle school and up.
June 10, 2020
Getting Thirsty Yet???
The book has you at the edge of your chair, wondering who would be next or what bad thing would happened next. Then there would be a blessing g which made you want to read more. Very well written, to keep you locked intoreading.
The book has you at the edge of your chair, wondering who would be next or what bad thing would happened next. Then there would be a blessing g which made you want to read more. Very well written, to keep you locked intoreading.
December 16, 2020
Good Story
I liked the story and the way it was laid out. More of an adventure than a post-apoc survival. Pacing was a little odd as I realized the story was almost over haha. Disappointed in how they ended it for the main character, though its not devastating.
I liked the story and the way it was laid out. More of an adventure than a post-apoc survival. Pacing was a little odd as I realized the story was almost over haha. Disappointed in how they ended it for the main character, though its not devastating.
July 2, 2022
Dying world
A prequel to the Safe Lands trilogy. Jill Williamson does a great job of mixing the usual teenage troubles with life or death situations. Mild romance, and good portrayal of what being a leader is.
A prequel to the Safe Lands trilogy. Jill Williamson does a great job of mixing the usual teenage troubles with life or death situations. Mild romance, and good portrayal of what being a leader is.
August 27, 2023
A mild adventure following a group of kids surviving an apocalypse type event. They meet a few new friends along the way and teen hormones run rampant as they realize that they might be the last living people that they will ever see.
May 29, 2024
Very realistic. I didn't like the agression so I just skipped to the end of the book to see how it all turned out. Sue me. It felt too much like I was there, that's how realistic it felt to me.
March 4, 2020
Don't drink the water!
Most of the population didn’t know this of course so they are already dead by the time Eli and his friends return from their camping trip. To survive you have to scavage safe water and watch out for all the people who’d take advantage of a bunch of kids.
I love survival stories and this one did not disappoint. Eli is honest, humble, and smart. A leader who doesn’t want to lead. I also liked most of the other characters and there’s even that person that you hate to love because they always cause trouble. This was a fun, fast read and I can’t wait for the next book.
Most of the population didn’t know this of course so they are already dead by the time Eli and his friends return from their camping trip. To survive you have to scavage safe water and watch out for all the people who’d take advantage of a bunch of kids.
I love survival stories and this one did not disappoint. Eli is honest, humble, and smart. A leader who doesn’t want to lead. I also liked most of the other characters and there’s even that person that you hate to love because they always cause trouble. This was a fun, fast read and I can’t wait for the next book.
July 10, 2021
This book... completely blew me away.
It had me hooked right from the start, as I have my own fears of something happening to a parent when they're going to pick me up, the situation got my heart pounding, eager to see what was next, and it held my attention until the last page, where I put it away, still somewhat dissatisfied and eager for Hunger to come out, as it still hadn't when I read it.
I will admit, there were a few times where it did get a bit too creepy for my tastes, and the apocalypse is not generally my favorite thing to read about, but I cared for all the characters and felt like I connected to them deeply, I was emotionally charged during the entire read, and I can't wait to get my hands on Hunger.
It had me hooked right from the start, as I have my own fears of something happening to a parent when they're going to pick me up, the situation got my heart pounding, eager to see what was next, and it held my attention until the last page, where I put it away, still somewhat dissatisfied and eager for Hunger to come out, as it still hadn't when I read it.
I will admit, there were a few times where it did get a bit too creepy for my tastes, and the apocalypse is not generally my favorite thing to read about, but I cared for all the characters and felt like I connected to them deeply, I was emotionally charged during the entire read, and I can't wait to get my hands on Hunger.
December 13, 2025
Behold, the raging complaints I have for this novella. I read this before the Safe Lands, so all the worldbuilding techniques were spoiled for me, and also that I don't have the physical copy in my hand, and was instead forced to read it on ebook.
Jokes aside, Thirst is a solid prequel with some great atmosphere, and it doesn't shy away from dark topics, like mass death and disease, despite being a "Christian" piece. And I love that. Besides that, Jill's first-person is always incredible, and I was rooting for Elias the whole way. Christian teen or not, you might like this - give it a shot.
Jokes aside, Thirst is a solid prequel with some great atmosphere, and it doesn't shy away from dark topics, like mass death and disease, despite being a "Christian" piece. And I love that. Besides that, Jill's first-person is always incredible, and I was rooting for Elias the whole way. Christian teen or not, you might like this - give it a shot.
January 18, 2020
A thrilling read! Highly recommend if you’ve read the Safe Lands Trilogy (by Jill Williamson) or even if you haven’t the story is easy to follow. This book had me on the edge of my seat at times and keep me turning the page. There are some small romantic bits in the book and some death which may be bothersome to readers.
Here is a quote from Thirst that was inspirational.
“Oh, son. Leadership isn’t about control. It isn’t about bossing people around and having them jump to obey. It’s about working hard and being an example in words and deeds. It’s about empowering others to be the best they can be. It’s about knowing your people well, their strengths and weaknesses and motivations and the lies they believe about themselves. It’s speaking truth and encouragement to your people. It’s coaching them. It’s getting out of the way and encouraging them to be creative and contribute ideas. It’s wisdom and patience and empathy and trust and kindness and whole lot of grace.”
Here is a quote from Thirst that was inspirational.
“Oh, son. Leadership isn’t about control. It isn’t about bossing people around and having them jump to obey. It’s about working hard and being an example in words and deeds. It’s about empowering others to be the best they can be. It’s about knowing your people well, their strengths and weaknesses and motivations and the lies they believe about themselves. It’s speaking truth and encouragement to your people. It’s coaching them. It’s getting out of the way and encouraging them to be creative and contribute ideas. It’s wisdom and patience and empathy and trust and kindness and whole lot of grace.”
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